Weather-Impacted Small Producer Relief

• Small and medium scale California agricultural producers. “Small and medium scale” California producers are defined by this program as any farmer making up to $400,000 or dairy operation making up to $1,000,000 in annual gross sales.
• Those who have not received funds from a CDFA CUSP Extreme Weather Relief Block Grant Recipient within the last 12 months.
  • Note: Producers may receive an additional $20,000 every 12 months for CUSP Drought funding. VCRCD will cross-check applicants with CDFA to ensure no repeat funds are awarded within that time period.

• Infrastructure Damage/Loss: Buildings, greenhouses, packing or storage facilities, hoop houses, shade structures, roads and pathways on farm property. Damage to greenhouse/high tunnel infrastructure due to extreme weather events. Emergency upgrades (impermanent) to infrastructure/equipment to prevent losses.
• Equipment Damage/Loss: Tractors, ATV/four-wheelers, small-scale mechanized equipment such as rototillers and walk-behind tractors, electric tools, hand tools, implements, fencing, irrigation (including poly pipe/plastic drip tape/pipe connectors), plastic mulch, well pump damage or loss.
• Expenses associated with soil erosion/mud or water damage and/or clean up/debris removal to areas of farm property, water removal/pumping services, generator purchase or rental, payments to service providers for clean-up/debris removal, survey companies, regrading of roads, repair of culverts or reinforcements after extreme weather events.
• Purchase or rental of flood control equipment: sub pump, sandbags, blocks, or bricks to reinforce/protect fields, retaining walls, or infrastructure/levy repair.
• Replacement of livestock feed, fertilizer, or other farm inputs or soil inputs (including compost and cover crop) destroyed by extreme weather events.
• Livestock mortality/beehive loss/livestock veterinary expenses or transportation/moving costs due to extreme weather events, decreased pasture or water availability.
• Water/soil testing to ensure food safety compliance after flood events.
• Replacement of crops: trees, nursery stock, perennial plant losses or payments to services for tree removal or replacement after extreme weather event.
• Crop Loss/Replacement: Annual vegetable production, perennial crops, and cover crops due to extreme weather (flooding, extreme heat/sunburn, wildfire): partial or full loss of crop in the field, damage that renders crop unable to be sold, inability or delays to plant/harvest due to extreme weather. Loss of yield/sales due to food safety concerns (mold, flooding, fire-residue, ash, or fire retardant). Loss of yield/sales due to decreased number of safe working hours or canceled markets (due to heat, flood, Air Quality Index (AQI), or mandatory evacuations).
• Labor: Repayment of short-term loans obtained by farmer to pay employees when no income, back payment of wages, additional living expenses incurred for (3-6) months after extreme weather events, moving expenses, hazard pay or increased labor expenses, such as personal protective equipment (PPE) purchases. Loss of farmer income due to injury incurred during extreme weather event. Mental health services incurred due to extreme weather event.
• Land Tenure: Additional costs incurred or land lease payments unable to be paid after extreme weather event, or if farmer/rancher needed to move operation to new location.

• Socially disadvantaged California farmers and ranchers. The Farmer Equity Act of 2017 defines “Socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher” to mean a farmer or rancher who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group. “Socially disadvantaged group” means a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities. These groups include all of the following: (1) African Americans, (2) Native American Indians, (3) Alaskan Natives, (4) Hispanics, (5) Asian Americans, and (6) Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.
• Due to the competitive nature of this grant, VCRCD is prioritizing one application per agricultural operation.
• At this time, VCRCD will be prioritizing funding for extreme weather events that have resulted in non-drought related damages. This is due to the active status of VCRCD’s Drought-specific Relief funding program. If you have primarily experienced drought-related losses, consider applying to our CUSP Drought Relief Program. When funds for local drought-only programs become low or expended, VCRCD will re-prioritize funding for drought-related costs.  

Note: Under no circumstances, short of exhausting funds, will any eligible applicant be denied access to CUSP services or funding consideration based on their operational status or social identity.