Healthy Soils Grant

The American Olive Oil Producers Association (AOOPA) was recently awarded two million dollars to support on-farm projects on olive orchards. Applications from Butte, Colusa, Fresno, Glenn, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, Sacramento, San Luis Obispo, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tehama, Tulare, and Yolo will be considered. Applicants must be either a California farmer growing olives for olive oil production; a California agricultural business entity involved in olive oil production; or a California nonprofit organization functioning as an agricultural operation engaged in olive oil production.

The maximum award amount is $200,000 to implement on-farm soil health practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and store carbon in soil, trees, and shrubs. Free technical support is available to help farmers implement eligible practices. The practices within the proposed project must be selected from the Orchard or Vineyard Agricultural Systems category of Appendix B of the HSP Guidelines and implemented within or adjacent to olive orchard acreage to benefit the production of olive oil.

What is the Healthy Soils Program?

The Healthy Soils Program (HSP) provides financial incentives in the form of grants to farmers and ranchers to implement conservation management practices that sequester carbon, reduce atmospheric greenhouse gasses (GHGs), and improve soil health. Eligible practices include, but are not limited to:

  • Compost
  • Cover Crop
  • Mulching
  • Hedgerow Planting
  • Windbreak/Shelter
  • Nutrient Management
  • Whole Orchard Recycling

Please review Appendix B: HS Practices Payment Scenarios, Rates, Requirements, and Implementation Guidelines for a full list of eligible practices.

Eligibility Requirements

All applicants are encouraged to complete the AOOPA HS Program Incentive Grant Eligibility Quiz prior to creating an account and starting an application. For applications to be considered, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Applicant is either a California farmer growing olives for olive oil production; a California agricultural business entity involved in olive oil production; or a California nonprofit organization functioning as an agricultural operation engaged in olive oil production.
  • Project must be located on agricultural operations in Butte, Colusa, Fresno, Glenn, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, Sacramento, San Luis Obispo, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tehama, Tulare, and Yolo Counties.
  • Grant recipients must be at least 18 years old.
  • Previous CDFA Healthy Soils Grant Recipients are not eligible to receive funds for implementing the same practice on the same field funded within the last calendar year. However, a new landowner or lessee may be eligible to implement the same practice on the same field previously funded.
  • Awards are limited to one per agricultural operation using a unique tax identification number per round of funding. If a unique tax identification number is used for multiple applications, only one can be funded.

Webinar

Application Walkthrough

Guidelines & Application

* Please note you will need to create an account with the WizeHive Platform. Please note the application will not open until July 29, 2024 at 8 AM PST.

Important Links:

CDFA HSP RePlan Tool

To complete the project design, all applicants must go to the RePlan Tool website. When at the main RePlan page, select the "Incentives Program" under Grant Program dropdown menu. Once the project design is completed, download both the PDF and Excel RePlan files onto your local computer.

Please be aware that the total Estimated GHG reductions (Metric Tons CO2 equivalent per year) should be greater than zero to be eligible for funding.

Request Free Technical Assistance

The Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems CSU, Chico will provide free technical assistance for all applicants in eligible counties. Please click the link above to submit a request.

Have a question about the application process? Join The Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems CSU, Chico HSP Application Cafe Hours on Tuesdays or Thursday now through the application deadline (August 26, 2024 at 5 PM PST).

Tuesdays 8:00am - 9:00am
Thursdays 3:00pm -4:00pm

Link to Join: https://csuchico.zoom.us/j/89068875958?pwd=a0ZHVDVxeC9vOVo0eWJBWDFjTHFrdz09

Tentative Timeline:

  • AOOPA Grant Guidelines Available: July 24, 2024
  • AOOPA Grant Application Opens: July 29, 2024 at 8 AM PST
  • Grant Application Deadline: August 26, 2024 at 5 PM PST
  • Administrative Review and Announce Awards: September 2024
  • Awardee Convening: October/November 2024

For general questions, please reach out to industryrelations@aoopa.org.

More information about the Healthy Soils Program can be found here: