The OARS Technical Assistance (TA) Program is critical to realizing the OARS mission: “to use the best available science and knowledge from the agricultural community to design and implement practical solutions to California’s natural resource challenges that improve the environmental and economic sustainability of producing nutritious food, fiber, and energy.”
The CSA TA Grant Program plays a key role in reducing the barriers farmers and ranchers face in accessing OARS incentive programs—especially for small-scale producers and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. By funding a statewide network of trusted organizations, OARS ensures that producers have access to direct, hands-on support that helps them build resilience and long-term sustainability in their operations.
What Does Technical Assistance Include?
Technical Assistance Providers (TAPs) are embedded within OARS’ Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP), State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) and Healthy Soils Program (HSP) to guide producers through every step of their participation. TAPs support farmers and ranchers as they:
- Learn about available funding
- Plan and design conservation or sustainability projects on their farms
- Navigate and apply for OARS funding
- Manage their grant awards
- Implement and complete projects on the ground, fine-tuning to optimize benefits
In addition to one-on-one support, TAPs also conduct outreach and education in their regions, sharing success stories that highlight the real-world benefits of OARS-funded projects, and participating in the annual CDFA OARS Technical Assistance Conference.
While the program is designed to be robust, the amount of technical assistance a producer receives can vary depending on several factors, including program complexity, location, and the capacity of the TA provider. It’s also important to note that producers need to be proactive in communicating with their TA providers to get the most from the services available. Ideally, assistance is available for every stage shown in the OARS technical assistance framework (see figure).
Some programs, like those focused on methane reduction, may have less technical assistance built in—mainly because these projects are often engineering-heavy and the companies doing the installations typically handle most of the planning and implementation. However, producers involved in methane-related projects can still receive technical assistance for grant management and reporting through OARS-supported providers.
OARS represents a uniquely Californian approach to sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship. By investing in on-the-ground support and tailoring it to meet the diverse needs of California’s agricultural producers, OARS is helping lead the nation in equitable and practical climate-smart farming solutions.
