As we step into 2026, I want to take a moment to reflect on our progress in 2025 and share what lies ahead for OARS in the coming year. At OARS, we remain committed to building a sustainable and thriving future for California’s farmers and ranchers. Shifts in climate and the environment continue to challenge producers to adapt and innovate. In the last year, sharp changes in the costs of doing business, regulations and markets have layered additional challenges.
The resilience of our state’s producers is impressive and I’ve enjoyed every opportunity I’ve had to visit farms and ranches and learn not only how producers are adapting to the present moment, but how they are preparing the ground for the next generation. It is our privilege in OARS to advanced science-driven solutions and strengthen partnerships to help producers navigate these challenges and plan for the future.
Key Highlights:
- CDFA Awards $24.82 Million from California Climate Investments for Methane Emission Reduction Projects on Dairy and Livestock Farms (April 10, 2025)
- CDFA’s OPCA Now Accepting 2025 – 2026 Proposals for Biologically Integrated Farming Systems (BIFS) Grants (June 4, 2025)
- CDFA Accepting Grant Applications for Adaptive IPM For Invasive Agriculture Pests (July 8, 2025)
- CDFA Strengthens Defense Against New World Screwworm with more than $500,000 in Funding for Surveillance, Training, and Integrated Pest Management (November 20, 2025)
- CDFA Awards $2 Million to Support Biologically Integrated Farming Systems (November 24, 2025)
- CDFA Awards $6.29 Million From California Climate Investment for Methane Emission Reduction Projects on Dairy and Livestock Farms (December 3, 2025)
Looking ahead, 2026 marks an exciting new chapter. Thanks to the passage of Proposition 4, the $10 billion Climate Bond approved by voters in November 2024, CDFA received critical new funding to expand climate-smart agriculture: $40 million for the State Water Efficiency Enhancement Program (SWEEP), $65 million for soil health and carbon sequestration practices that we will use to support the Healthy Soils Program (HSP), and $15 million to launch a new Equipment Sharing Program (ESP).
We are pleased to share that public comment is now open on the draft Application for Guidelines and Grant Award Procedures for both HSP and SWEEP. Your feedback during this public comment period is essential as we refine these programs and prepare to launch the next round of climate-smart investments. Visit our Climate Bond Funding for Climate Smart Agriculture webpage for more information.
I’m grateful for your continued dedication, and I look forward to the work we will do together to build a stronger, more resilient agricultural system for generations to come.
With Gratitude,
Dr. Tawny Mata