{"id":171,"date":"2025-07-28T15:41:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T22:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/?p=171"},"modified":"2026-01-22T10:27:02","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T18:27:02","slug":"investing-in-impact-how-the-oars-team-helps-deliver-climate-solutions-on-california-dairy-and-livestock-farms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/2025\/07\/28\/investing-in-impact-how-the-oars-team-helps-deliver-climate-solutions-on-california-dairy-and-livestock-farms\/","title":{"rendered":"Investing in Impact: How the OARS Team Helps Deliver Climate Solutions on California Dairy and Livestock Farms\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The CDFA Office of Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability (OARS) is dedicated to supporting California&#8217;s dairy and livestock farmers in their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As proof of that, the CDFA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars\/ammp\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Alternative Manure Management Program<\/a> (AMMP) and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars\/ddrdp\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dairy Digester Research and Development Program<\/a> (DDRDP) awarded nearly $25 million in April 2025 to support the implementation of manure management projects on farms across the state. But these awards represent more than funding\u2014they reflect months of technical work, partnership, and a shared commitment to climate-smart agriculture.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Behind each award is a rigorous, multi-layered review process led by the dedicated OARS staff and program partners. This process is designed to be fair, transparent, and results-driven, ensuring that projects selected will lead to long-term, measurable methane reductions and maximize social, economic and environmental co-benefits, like enhanced nutrient management and alternative revenue streams from waste products.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It begins with administrative and financial reviews to verify that applications meet the department&#8217;s requirements. Then, experts from academia all over the country conduct a comprehensive technical review, evaluating proposed projects based on their potential to reduce methane emissions and achieve other benefits. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After that, OARS invites the input of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), comprising state and federal agency individuals with expertise in manure management, methane reduction measures, environmental impacts, and permitting in California, playing a crucial role of making sure the CDFA is selecting the best applicants within the competitive pool of candidates. In preparing the funding recommendations, OARS considers applicants&#8217; past performance on previous grants, including their ability to complete projects on time, on budget, and deliver results. This careful and considered approach enables the selection of the most effective and impactful projects. Once the applicants are selected, the OARS team contacts each awardee and educates them on the next steps in the grant process, which are accomplished through emails, webinars, video calls, and engagement of OARS\u2019 free-of-charge technical assistance providers when possible.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One important note: the ideal time for public input\u2014especially regarding scoring criteria or program rules\u2014is during the drafting of the Request for Grant Applications (RGA), <em>before<\/em> CDFA accepts applications. Once rules are finalized and the application period begins, CDFA is unable to change them. That\u2019s why early engagement from the public, including producers, stakeholders, and advocacy groups, is crucial to shaping a program that serves all Californians. &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By supporting manure management practices that reduce methane emissions, CDFA OARS is driving meaningful change on California&#8217;s dairy and livestock farms and supporting the state&#8217;s climate and environmental goals. These efforts are making California a better place to live and grow food, with cleaner air and water, and a more resilient agricultural industry. The state investments in climate-smart agriculture are paying dividends, and the benefits will be felt for generations to come. As the state continues to lead the way on climate action, the CDFA OARS remains committed to supporting innovative solutions that benefit the environment, the economy, and the people of California.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Author: Roberta Franco<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The CDFA Office of Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability (OARS) is dedicated to supporting California&#8217;s dairy and livestock farmers in their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As proof of that, the CDFA\u2019s Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP) and Dairy Digester Research and Development Program (DDRDP) awarded nearly $25 million in April 2025 to support &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/2025\/07\/28\/investing-in-impact-how-the-oars-team-helps-deliver-climate-solutions-on-california-dairy-and-livestock-farms\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Investing in Impact: How the OARS Team Helps Deliver Climate Solutions on California Dairy and Livestock Farms\u00a0<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":172,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-171","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-informational","fallback-thumbnail"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/AdobeStock_289583412_Preview-e1753726652620.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":175,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/2025\/07\/28\/technical-assistance-program-builds-statewide-partnerships-in-climate-smart-and-conservation-agriculture\/","url_meta":{"origin":171,"position":0},"title":"Technical Assistance Program Builds Statewide Partnerships in Climate Smart and Conservation Agriculture\u00a0","author":"Sureena Johl","date":"July 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The OARS Technical Assistance (TA) Program is critical to realizing the OARS mission: \u201cto use the best available science and knowledge from the agricultural community to design and implement practical solutions to California\u2019s natural resource challenges that improve the environmental and economic sustainability of producing nutritious food, fiber, and energy.\u201d\u00a0\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Informational&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Informational","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/category\/informational\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Secretary Ross gives an inspirational talk to Technical Assistance Providers on the importance and impact of their work at the 2024 OARS TA Conference.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/TA-Conference_2024_1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/TA-Conference_2024_1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/TA-Conference_2024_1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/TA-Conference_2024_1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":63,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/2025\/03\/28\/sustainability-spotlight-manure-management-improvements-at-triple-c-dairy\/","url_meta":{"origin":171,"position":1},"title":"Manure Management Improvements at Triple C Dairy\u00a0","author":"Sureena Johl","date":"March 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"This grantee Q&A was conducted by Dr. Alyssa Louie with the help of Mr. Robert Camozzi and Ms. Stephanie Dehner (Triple C Dairy) in November 2024 to develop an AMMP project profile in partnership with the California Air Resources Board Climate Investments Policy Section.\u00a0 Owner and operator of Triple C\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Producer Success Story&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Producer Success Story","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/category\/producer-success-story\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Manure collection pit and screw press separator installed as part of the AMMP project.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-28-112156.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-28-112156.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-28-112156.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":193,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/2025\/08\/05\/a-note-from-our-director-august-2025\/","url_meta":{"origin":171,"position":2},"title":"A Note from Our Director | August 2025","author":"Sureena Johl","date":"August 5, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Dear Stakeholders,\u00a0 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\u2019s sustainability goals. Additionally, I want to take this opportunity to summarize the funding status of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Informational&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Informational","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/category\/informational\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"August 2025 OARS Director Report","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Blog-image-3-2.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Blog-image-3-2.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Blog-image-3-2.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Blog-image-3-2.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Blog-image-3-2.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":279,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/2026\/02\/02\/hilmar-cluster-making-a-real-difference\/","url_meta":{"origin":171,"position":3},"title":"Hilmar Cluster: Making a Real Difference\u00a0","author":"Sureena Johl","date":"February 2, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Through the implementation of anaerobic digesters, CalBioGas Hilmar LLC (Hilmar Cluster), working with Hilmar dairy farmers, are leading the way toward a more sustainable future for their surrounding community. \u00a0Cluster projects consist of a hub facility for centralized operations, including the collection of biogas from multiple dairy digesters. The hub\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Producer Success Story&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Producer Success Story","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/category\/producer-success-story\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":130,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/2025\/07\/15\/fernandes-family-farms-four-digesters-one-legacy\/","url_meta":{"origin":171,"position":4},"title":"Fernandes Family Farms: Four Digesters, One Legacy\u00a0","author":"Sureena Johl","date":"July 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Fernandes Family\u00a0 The Fernandes family has been dairying in California\u2019s San Joaquin Valley since the 1920s, when Frank Fernandes came over from the Azores and started milking cows during the Great Depression. A century later, his grandsons continue to dairy and have expanded on multiple facilities\u2014 and now, they\u2019re also\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Producer Success Story&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Producer Success Story","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/category\/producer-success-story\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":66,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/2025\/03\/28\/kautz-family-farms-success-with-sweep-grant\/","url_meta":{"origin":171,"position":5},"title":"Kautz Family Farms&#8217; Success with SWEEP Grant","author":"Sureena Johl","date":"March 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Kautz Family Farms, a 147-acre winegrape operation in Lodi, received a 2019 State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) grant award of $84,000. The SWEEP grant, part of California's effort to promote sustainable farming practices, supports growers in adopting energy-efficient technologies and water conservation practices that reduce their environmental impact.\u00a0\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Producer Success Story&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Producer Success Story","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/category\/producer-success-story\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Kautz Family Farms' Success with SWEEP Grant","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/SWEEP-Kautz.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/SWEEP-Kautz.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/SWEEP-Kautz.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/SWEEP-Kautz.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/SWEEP-Kautz.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=171"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":173,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171\/revisions\/173"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/172"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=171"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=171"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=171"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}