Tag: Healthy Soils Program

A Note from Our Director | August 2025

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Dear Stakeholders, 

I hope you enjoy this newsletter showcasing the accomplishments of our grantees and partners and giving you a peek at how we lead our programs to serve producers while contributing to the state’s sustainability goals. Additionally, I want to take this opportunity to summarize the funding status of OARS programs, so you know which opportunities are in the future. 

OARS expects to receive $65M in funding for our Healthy Soils Block Grant Program (HSP) and $40M in funding for our State Water Efficiency Enhancement Block Grant Program (SWEEP) from Proposition 4 – Climate Bond and we tentatively plan to offer all of that funding as part of one funding opportunity in fall 2025. Through Prop 4, OARS also expects to receive $15M for a new Equipment Sharing Program (ESP) that will require extensive stakeholder consultation before opening for applications in 2026. The legislature has not appropriated the Prop 4 funding, and the state is still in the process of finalizing rules and guidelines for using the funding. The timeline of these two key external processes may affect OARS’ timeline.  

All state funding appropriations have an “expiration date,” and it is always our goal to give grantees a generous grant term within that expiration date to allow for bumps in the road. To that end, we will keep pushing forward with refining framework for the HSP and SWEEP solicitations at our August 15th Environmental Farming Act Science Advisory Panel (EFASAP) meeting, followed by a written public comment period and simultaneous stakeholder workshops that will inform the final Request for Grant Applications. We look forward to your participation and help refining our block grant model. 

Our Dairy Plus Program, which is a subaward from the California Dairy Research Foundation of a grant funded by the USDA Alternative Markets for Producers initiative (formerly the Partnership for Climate Smart Commodities program), is ongoing but undergoing federal review and revision. This program funds infrastructure on dairies that reduces greenhouse gases and improves nutrient management, and we have approximately $58M remaining in the budget for new grants to producers. We are hopeful that we will be able to announce the results of the 2024 solicitation and run a new solicitation soon, pending a final and functioning grant agreement. At this time, there is no additional funding for the Alternative Manure Management Program and Dairy Digester Research and Development Program. 

Lastly, the Office of Pesticide Consultation and Analysis received a $1.5 million increase in spending authority and an increase in the amount of agricultural mill fee the office can use. Using reserve funding first, OPCA will use the spending authority to address increased research costs, meet the Program activities identified in the Sustainable Pest Management (SPM) Roadmap, and perform increased consultative work for the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), as required by Assembly Bill (AB) 2113 (Chapter 60, Statutes of 2024). In the short term, the increase will also go towards funding our Biologically Integrated Farming System (BIFS) grant program at $1-3 million a year and support for the California IR-4 Project. As AB 2113 related work increases, OPCA will increase spending on research awards related to regulatory work and decrease BIFS Funding. 

We will be in contact with you through our mailing list with all updates related to our grant programs. If you know organizations who are likely to be good applicants or partners for these programs, particularly those that serve socially disadvantaged and underserved producers, please encourage them to sign up for our mailing list and reach out to us directly for more information.  

May the rest of your summer be full of delicious in-season California berries, stone fruit, and tomatoes. I know I’ve been doing my part to support that part of our agricultural economy. 

Sincerely, 

Dr. Tawny Mata
OARS Director
CDFA Science Advisor

Collaborative Orchard Studies Improve Efficiency and Sustainability 

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State and industry representatives visit Bowman Orchards.
State and industry representatives visit Bowman Orchards.

Almonds are California’s #1 export crop for good reason. No place in the world has a climate better suited to consistent, high-quality almond production. Furthermore, the constricting labor market in the state has encouraged farmers to move towards almonds, with their relatively lower maintenance. With 1.5 million acres planted with almonds – out of no more than 9 million irrigated acres overall – it should be no surprise that California has also become the center of research into sustainable almond production. And it is heartening to know that this research has benefits for the management of other orchard crops, and for the efficacy of state programs. 

It has increasingly made sense to combine research projects in the same orchards, describing the system in a more complete way than any single researcher can do. To this end, three collaborative projects stand out especially. 

At Paramount Farms, near Lost Hills, a diverse team of researchers studied effects such as: 

  • nitrate leaching 
  • fertilizer off-gassing as the GHG nitrous oxide 
  • fertilizer nitrogen (N) distribution within trees 
  • remote sensing of N needs 
  • water use 
  • plant water stress 
  • plant chlorophyll levels 
  • irrigation techniques 
  • nutrient cycles 
  • measuring and predicting nut yields and qualities. 

According to the researchers, this project defined the modern accepted guidelines for N management in Almond, including producers overseas.  The work has changed industry practices and reduced fertilizer inputs and the impacts of excess N. 

For more information about this project you can contact Patrick Brown, phbrown@ucdavis.edu. 

At Bowman Farms, near Modesto, scientists have been focusing on long-term N management through testing and modeling of:  

  • high-frequency (low-concentration) N fertilization through the irrigation system 
  • N leaching into groundwater, especially as affected by distribution of irrigation water and N 
  • soil permeability prediction systems 
  • almond tree water use at different ages 
  • groundwater recharge effects  

According to the researchers, the Bowman long-term studies are longest-running to date for a single almond orchard.  

For more information about this project you can contact Thomas Harter, thharter@ucdavis.edu. 

At TriNut Farms in Stanislaus County, the emphasis has been on climate-smart practices, and particularly on combining (“stacking”) them, to identify synergies and tradeoffs. While assessing 

  • whole-orchard recycling 
  • biochar at planting 
  • compost 
  • cover crops,  

Researchers are studying their effects on: 

  • soil health 
  • soil carbon 
  • tree nutrition from the soil 
  • biodiversity 
  • orchard productivity 
  • nutrient cycling 
  • ground-truthing remote sensing of tree development with Ceres AI 

According to the researchers, they are also monitoring commercial orchards across the Central Valley to see how these practices perform at scale. 

For more information about this project you can contact: Sat Khalsa: sdskhalsa@ucdavis.edu. 
 

The funding of these projects has come from various sources, including CDFA’s Fertilizer Research and Education Program, which is funded by an excise tax on fertilizer sales; federal Specialty Crop Block Grants, which are administered by CDFA; other federal sources; grower members of the Almond Board and Pistachio Research Board; and industry. 

The completeness of the data gained from these orchards allows important insights. Models for predicting N management effects on the environment are being developed, including for use in state programs; growers are benefiting from more efficient fertilizer and water management; and other practices, such as Whole Orchard Recycling, compost application, and groundwater recharge, have been have been validated by new data, preparing them for more public support. The outcomes and findings of such projects can help form the decisions of growers who apply for HSP and SWEEP funding, as they design their future orchard management. 

OARS staff will continue to visit these project sites and monitor results to design science-based improvements to our incentive grant programs. 

On the Ground in Solano County: Celebrating Local Leadership and Innovation in Climate-Smart Agriculture 

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On Thursday, April 17, the Office of Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability (OARS) joined the Solano County Farm Bureau for a farm tour through Yolo and Solano County. This wasn’t just any field visit—this tour highlighted the power of local decision-making in advancing climate-smart agriculture. 

Thanks to funding from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), the Solano County Farm Bureau was a recipient of a both Healthy Soils and SWEEP Block Grant. With this grant, they were able to facilitate their own application process—empowering the local community to identify, prioritize, and implement projects that are specifically tailored to the region’s unique agricultural and environmental needs. This localized approach allows for more customized support, streamlined communication, and hands-on technical assistance that resonates with producers and partners on the ground. 

Seeing Water Efficiency and Healthy Soils in Action 

Our tour kicked off at Robben Ranch, where we witnessed a State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) project in action. With a $40,000 grant, the ranch installed a tailwater recycling system and flow meter to improve irrigation efficiency and reduce water waste. Farm Manager Aaron Black and Solano County Farm Bureau’s, technical assistance provider Katie Simpson-Johnson of Blankinship & Associates shared how their collaboration helped bring this project to life—from application to implementation—ensuring the system would have long-term benefits for both the farm and the environment. 
 
Next, we visited Tim Bolla, of Bolla Farms, a recipient of the Healthy Soils Program (HSP), who is implementing several practices – compost application, hedgerow establishment, riparian forest buffer planting, and range planting. With support from the Solano Resource Conservation District, Tim’s project is enhancing soil health, increasing biodiversity, and sequestering carbon—key goals of the Healthy Soils initiative. 

We then met Sean McNamara, of Sierra Orchards, an organic farmer leading the way in sustainable innovation. Sean is repurposing walnut shells to create his own compost, participating in Whole Orchard Recycling, and has also benefited from past SWEEP funding to enhance water use efficiency by installing drip irrigation. His multi-faceted approach to farming underscores how different programs can work together to create synergies that drive long-term resilience. 

Our final stop was at Sparks Ranch, where Karina Sparks is leveraging SWEEP funding and technical assistance to replace an outdated irrigation pump and install a network of soil moisture probes and pressure sensors. These upgrades are expected to reduce energy and water use, while improving crop management and productivity. 

Why it Matters 

Throughout the day, we heard directly from growers, grant administrators, and technical assistance providers about why these funding opportunities matter—not just for farm viability, but for environmental and ecological sustainability. The projects we visited are improving soil health, conserving water, reducing energy use, boosting biodiversity, and increasing resilience to climate extremes. 

What stood out most was the value of local leadership. By enabling organizations like the Solano County Farm Bureau to manage their own grant application solicitations, producers can design projects that reflect local conditions, foster trust, and deliver more personalized support. 

OARS is proud to work alongside these partners to advance California’s climate smart agriculture goals. We’re grateful for the growers and organizations who hosted us, and we look forward to supporting more projects that keep our agricultural lands thriving for generations to come. 

For a full list of Healthy Soils Block Grant Recipients click here.  

For a full list of SWEEP Block Grant Recipients click here.  

Healthy Soils Block Grant Organizations Innovate to Give Farmers Hands-on Help and Advice

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The Healthy Soils Program (HSP) Block Grant Pilot is designed to promote widespread adoption of healthy soils practices. Healthier soils provide more nutrients, retain more water, are more resilient to extreme weather, and sequester more carbon. Through a competitive selection process, CDFA awarded 14 HSP Block Grants to recipient organizations in December 2023. These organizations have been working closely with growers on developing healthy soils project proposals and proper completion of practices. They have also been innovating new ways to provide technical assistance, in the field and beyond. 

Soil sampling at Martin Family Farm. Matt Tooney – Project Manager and Conor Higgins – Mobile Irrigation Lab Manager, Yolo County Resource Conservation District, Katie Brazelton

Solano County Farm Bureau partnered with Solano and Contra Costa Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs) and has awarded 68 healthy soils projects to farmers. Together, the partners have been providing several technical assistance services, including language assistance, on-site soil sampling, plant ordering and distribution, and detailed practice implementation recommendations. The Healthy Soils Program requirement for soil sampling has served as a great opportunity to demonstrate to the growers how they can sample their soil and interpret results of soil health metrics. The team guides farmers through checklists of the practice and documentation requirements, as well as providing practice recommendations – for example, counseling on species for plantings and hedgerow maintenance planning. For farmers making plantings, they have combined orders and bought plants directly from wholesalers on behalf of the growers, making the prices per plant cheaper and taking the onus of quality control off of the farmers. And for Spanish- and Hmong-speaking farmers, they have been able to provide translation services, even coordinating compost purchase and delivery on behalf of the growers. Lastly, they share their knowledge and experience of other support opportunities, from federal to local agencies. 

Soil sampling with the Harveys. Farmer Rita Harvey; Conor Higgins – Mobile Irrigation Lab Manager, Yolo County Resource Conservation District

Farm Bureau staff member Katie Brazelton has found that growers tend to feel more confident in tackling their HSP projects when they see a team of people ready to help them succeed, especially when those team members are farmers too (as the Farm Bureau is farmer-led): “My husband is a 4th generation farmer, so I approach the grant with that perspective in mind. I’m here to help you be successful so don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I don’t know all the answers, but I have a team of people that will help us, and I can always double check with CDFA when necessary.” Through this process, they are cultivating relationships between farmers, the Farm Bureau, the RCDs, and the UCCE that will last beyond the HSP grant term. These are resources that growers can add to their “toolbox” for their farming operations going forward. 

Boosting Soil Health: A Walnut Grower’s Success Story with the Healthy Soils Program

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Farming practices are rapidly evolving, and sustainability is at the forefront of this transformation. In this case study, we explore how a California walnut grower successfully enhanced soil health, improved water conservation, and reduced pest issues by leveraging the Healthy Soils Program (HSP). Through a strategic combination of composting, mulching, and cover cropping, the grower achieved remarkable results while working to transition his orchard to organic farming.

Overcoming Farming Challenges with the Healthy Soils Program

Farming is never without its challenges, and one walnut grower faced a particularly persistent nematode infestation that was harming his yields. Nematodes are microscopic pests that can significantly damage plants, and one of the grower’s walnut orchard blocks was struggling with their effects. It was also discovered that plants suffering from water stress or nutrient deficiencies are more susceptible to nematode damage. The grower was concerned about building organic matter and soil health in order to transition successfully to organic while building resistance to pests and diseases. At the same time, saving water had become a priority for him, and he was also concerned about the residues from pesticides entering the air and water on his farm.

The Healthy Soils Program’s Impact

Through the Healthy Soils Program, the grower was able to implement several key practices aimed at improving soil health and mitigating the challenges he faced:

  1. Composting: Applying compost to the soil to improve nutrient cycling and enhance carbon sequestration. This was implemented where the nematode problem was most severe. 
  2. Mulching: the application of almond shells every fall to reduce evaporation of surface water , while building organic matter in the soil and contributing nutrients like potassium. 
  3. Cover cropping was implemented alongside these practices as a preexisting effort.  
  4. Additionally, the farmer received technical assistance to optimize the implementation of these practices.  

Achieving Results: Healthier Soil, Reduced Pest Infestations, and More Efficient Farming

The combination of these practices produced impressive results:

  • Compost helped to reduce the nematode infestation: Compost releases nutrients and/or pest regulating compounds that enhance plant resistance to nematode damage and decrease nematode pest populations.  
  • Cover crops helped to reduce the nematode infestation: Nematode-suppressive cover crops provide added value in this case. 
  • Mulching conserved soil moisture and reduced weed pressure. Mulching also regulates soil temperature from extreme conditions that would otherwise adversely impact plant growth and soil organisms.  
  • Both compost and mulching aided the cover crop’s growth.  
  • All of these practices help increase the soil’s water holding capacity through organic amendments and increased root exploration. 

The Bigger Picture: Why Soil Health Matters

This case study is an excellent example of how improving soil health can address multiple farming challenges at once. By implementing a Healthy Soils Practices, this walnut grower was able to combat pests, conserve water, reduce reliance on chemicals, and build a foundation for long-term farm sustainability. The Healthy Soils Program provided the technical and financial support needed to make these changes possible, showing that healthy soils are key to a more resilient farming system.

If you’re considering improving your farm’s soil health or transitioning to more sustainable practices, the success of this walnut grower shows that with the right support, it’s possible to create a thriving ecosystem that benefits both your crops and the environment.

Click here to learn more about the Healthy Soils Program and how it can help your farm.

“Organic farming is not easy, but participation in the Healthy Soils Program greatly supported my farm transitioning to an organic system, and helped improve the overall health of the orchard. Another advantage of the mulching and composting is soil nutrient balancing. There is no question about it that my soils have increased fertility and nutrient balance through adding compost and mulch. I am very thankful for the program funding.” – Leonard Loewen, of Loewen Family Farm