California Healthy Soils Program

The Healthy Soils Program aims to increase statewide implementation of conservation management practices that improve soil health, sequester carbon and reduce atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHGs). The Healthy Soils (HS) Demonstration Program funds on-farm demonstration projects that collect data, showcase conservation management practices and create a platform promoting widespread adoption of conservation management practices throughout the state.

Type A projects will demonstrate implementation of conservation management practices, measure field GHGs emissions, collect soil health data, and conduct analysis on cost/benefits for adoption of the proposed practice(s) and anticipated barriers.

Type B projects will demonstrate implementation of HSP conservation management practices, collect soil health data, and/or conduct analysis on cost/benefits for adoption of the proposed practice(s) and anticipated barriers.

• Nonprofit entities, University Cooperative Extensions, Federal and University Experiment Stations, city and community colleges, Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs), California Native American Tribes, and farmers and ranchers in partnership with one of the aforementioned entities are eligible to apply.

• Individuals are not eligible to apply. 

No current award ceiling, per-acre incentive rate, or cost-share percentage is published for this program. CDFA is mid-restructuring and the on-farm door is shut: "The Healthy Soils Program (HSP) is not currently accepting applications from farmers and ranchers." "CDFA is in the process of implementing a Block Grant model, which will expand access to funding through regional partners," and "Funding is not yet open for on-farm applicants." Producers "will be able to apply for funding at a later date through awarded Block Grant Recipients serving their region."

What the program pages do publish is the delivery mechanism and historical totals — useful context, but none of it is a term you can apply against today:

• Incentives have been paid as "fixed-rate, per-acre Incentives awarded directly by the CDFA." No rate table is on the live pages.

• Program to date: "2,340 On-Farm Projects Funded" and "$162.8 Million Awarded" across roughly "190,000 Acres Covered."

• Last Incentive round: "the 2024 Healthy Soils Incentive Program awarded and executed agreements for 155 grantees for a total of $10,030,719.54 in funding" (solicitation Jan 22 – Feb 9, 2024; now closed).

• Last Demonstration round: "eight projects for a total of $1,142,620.09 in funding for the 2023 HSP Demonstration Grant Solicitation" (application period Jun 29 – Aug 28, 2023). "HSP Demonstration Grant is not accepting applications."

Technical assistance is the one thing available at no cost: "Technical assistance is provided free of cost to the HSP incentives Program applicants and grant awardees." Watch this page — CDFA says it "will announce producer funding opportunities on this webpage once Block Grant Recipients are selected and regional programs are launched."

CDFA uses an online application platform to accept applications. The application portal link can be accessed through the HS Demonstration Program website. Applicants must create a user account to submit a grant application. All applications, supporting documents, and submissions are subject to public disclosure, including posting on the CDFA website.

• Request for Grant Applications 

• Application Questions 

• Frequently Asked Questions