California State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP)

The State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) supports California's efforts to combat climate change and improve water management by promoting more sustainable on-farm agricultural practices. Administered by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), SWEEP helps farmers reduce greenhouse gas emissions and conserve water through the adoption of advanced, climate-smart irrigation technologies. The program's mission is to support the long-term viability of California agriculture by encouraging practices that make farms more resilient to drought, lower their environmental footprint, and improve water and energy efficiency.

SWEEP provides financial assistance to implement on-farm irrigation improvements that reduce water use and greenhouse gas emissions. Funding can be used to install or upgrade equipment and systems that improve irrigation efficiency and reduce energy consumption. Eligible practices include:

• Irrigation water management, including soil moisture monitoring, flow metering, and in-field Evapotranspiration (ET) stations

• Efficient irrigation system upgrades, such as drip irrigation

• Retrofitting existing systems to support lower-pressure components

• Pump repair or replacement

• Fuel efficiency changes to the pumping system, including renewable energy installation

• Farmers and ranchers with on-farm projects located completely within California.

• Individual farmers and ranchers must be at least 18 years old.

• Individual applicants must be actively engaged in agricultural production, operating as sole proprietors, single-member LLCs, or lessees managing agricultural land.

• Agricultural businesses and shared-property entities (trusts, estates, partnerships, LLCs, corporations including nonprofit public benefit corporations) must be registered with the California Secretary of State.

• California Native American Tribes, either federally recognized or listed on the Native American Heritage Commission's California Tribal Consultation List.

• The project must be on an irrigated agricultural operation producing row, vineyard, field, or tree crops, commercial nursery or nursery stock, or greenhouse food crops or flowers.

• Hemp cultivation fields are eligible, but medicinal and recreational cannabis fields are not.

• University farms are not eligible.

• Employees of the individual or entity that owns or leases the project land are not eligible.

• Individuals with a conflict of interest, such as Block Grant Recipient employees, board members, or their immediate family, are not eligible.

• A producer may receive funding for only one on-farm project, through only one Block Grant, per SWEEP funding cycle.

Impact (as of July 2025): approximately 82% of SWEEP Program projects have been completed. 1,320 on-farm projects funded; $156 million awarded (including block grants); an estimated 1 million MTCO2 reduction over the expected lifespan of the projects. In April 2024, CDFA awarded 9 projects for the 2023 SWEEP Block Grant, totaling $42 million in grant funding.

The State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) 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.

Funding is not yet open for on-farm applicants. Farmers and ranchers will be able to apply for funding at a later date through awarded Block Grant Recipients serving their region. CDFA will announce producer funding opportunities on the SWEEP webpage once Block Grant Recipients are selected and regional programs are launched.

Sign up for CDFA updates to be notified: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/CADFA/subscriber/new