Weather-Impacted Small Producer Relief
CA Underserved & Small Producers (CUSP) Grant Program
Application Opening Soon!
Ventura County Resource Conservation District (VCRCD) was awarded $2 Million in funding to support agricultural operations impacted by extreme weather events! Extreme weather events include but are not limited to heat waves, freezes, flooding, heavy downpours, wildfires, and severe windstorms.
Eligible small and medium scale California agricultural producers can apply for up to $20,000 in relief funds for extreme weather events from 2017 onwards. Application assistance is FREE!
This project was supported by the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s California Underserved and Small Producers (CUSP) Grant Program.
Eligibility
- 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.
- Small and medium scale socially disadvantaged California farmers and ranchers. “Socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher” means 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.
- 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.
- Biologic pest or animal disease/quarantine or eradication measures: Costs associated with market loss, destruction/disposal of plant/livestock materials, increased costs for farmers to spray additional pesticides required by quarantine.
Fill out the online interest form linked here once available.
To expedite processing, applicants must submit their W9 along with their application.
Application Process
VCRCD is one of several block grant recipients (BGRs) for the CUSP Extreme-Weather Relief Direct Producer Grant Program. Please only apply to one BGR. Submitting applications with multiple BGRs will not result in additional funding for the applicant and will slow down processing time for all applicants. Thank you for your consideration.
Application Steps
- Submit the online interest form. Linked once available.
- Follow-up meeting and potentially an on-site visit with a Technical Assistance Provider (TAP) to discuss your application, grant requirements, and necessary supporting documentation.
- Submit required verification documentation to TAP, including a W9.
- Applicants review and sign final application before VCRCD submits it CDFA for consideration.
- Applicants will be notified of submitted application status once known by VCRCD. (ex. approved, needs revisions/more documentation, denied)
- Approved applicants coordinate with VCRCD for relief payment.
Start Gathering Your Application Documents Today
Common application documentation:
- Schedule F tax documents,
- Geotagged photos of damages/losses (how to take geotagged photos),
- Map of property with area impacted by extreme weather event noted,
- Receipts for replacement/repair expenses,
- Letter from insurer declaring loss,
- Estimated loss of revenue (include records of market sales for multiple years)
- USDA or California Governor’s office disaster or heat declaration,
- Agricultural Operation’s W9,
- More here.
Technical & Application Assistance Providers
Ventura County Resource Conservation District is providing both administrative and technical assistance for this grant. For those applicants outside of Ventura County and beyond VCRCD’s capacity, VCRCD may ask you to partner with your most local Technical Assistance Provider (TAP) to apply.
Emily Nye
Program Manager
emily.nye@vcrcd.org
805-764-5155
John Zecua
TAP
johnagustin.zecua@vcrcd.org
805-764-5153
¡Hablo español!
Jamie Whiteford
Executive Director
jamie.whiteford@vcrcd.org
805-764-5132
