UC ANR's Climate Smart Agriculture Program
What is Climate-Smart Agriculture?
Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) addresses the risks that climate change poses to agriculture. It encompasses practices that:
- Increase soil carbon
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Improve water use efficiency
Program Overview
In 2018, the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) developed a joint program to provide technical assistance in applying for and implementing Climate Smart Agriculture Incentives Programs, which helps agricultural producers build climate change resilience, increase water use efficiency, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
How do we provide technical assistance?
UC ANR's team of Community Education Specialists provide technical assistance, outreach, and education to increase the adoption of climate smart agriculture practices targeted at soil health, manure management, and water use efficiency across California.
To provide technical assistance, education, and outreach we:
- Establish and maintain grower connections
- Develop and present flyers, case studies, blogs, newsletters, and fact sheets
- Lead trainings, field days, on-farm visits, and workshops
- Participate in and communicate research findings
- Support project design, application, implementation, monitoring, and verification of CDFA's financial incentive programs
- Provide translation services and computer access
- Tailor assistance to support Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Priority Populations
Program Impacts
Since 2019, UC ANR's Climate Smart Agriculture Team has provided in-depth technical assistance to more than 1,300 farmers and ranchers in 25 counties. In September 2023, CDFA and UC ANR published an impact report of the program that has supported more than 420 successful projects that are expected to save an estimated 8.3 billion gallons of water and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 355,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent.
Program Team: Hope Zabronsky (CIWR/UC ANR), Nicki Anderson (CIWR/UC ANR Ventura County), Caddie Bergen (CIWR/UC ANR Merced County), Amber Butland (CIWR/UC ANR Fresno County), Amanda Charles (CIWR/UC ANR Sonoma County), Lizzeth Mendoza (CIWR/UC ANR Glenn County), Heather Montgomery (CIWR/UC ANR Sutter/Yuba Counties), Ana Resendiz (CIWR/UC ANR Imperial County), Bailey Smith-Helman (CIWR/UC ANR Santa Cruz County, Ben Faber (UC ANR Ventura County), Ruth Dahlquist-Willard (UC ANR Fresno County), Betsy Karle (UC ANR Glenn County), and Erik Porse (CIWR/UC ANR).
Program Support: CDFA Contract #19-1001-000-SO
Follow Our Blog: Climate Smart Agriculture
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CDFA’s 2023 SWEEP Incentive Grant is Open!
New Update! CDFA has opened the SWEEP application as of December 5th, 2023. SWEEP applications are open until January 26th, 2024. Funding will be announced and awarded February 2024. What is SWEEP? The CDFA's State Water Efficiency...
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2023 CDFA HSP and SWEEP Block Grant Pilot Programs
2023 CDFA HSP and SWEEP Block Grant Pilot Programs Just awarded! CDFA (California Department of Food and Agriculture) has released a list of organizations, that have been awarded to the Healthy Soils Program (HSP) and State Water Efficiency and...
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Healthy Soils and SWEEP Updates
Many growers have been asking for updates on upcoming SWEEP and Healthy Soils application rounds. Good news! CDFA has announced that both programs will be open for new applications this fall 2023. We still do not know exact dates, but CDFA did release...
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Welcome to our newest CES in Santa Cruz county, Bailey Smith-Helman!
Bailey Smith-Helman is our newest Community Education Specialist with the UC ANR Climate Smart Agriculture Program based in Santa Cruz County. She is excited to provide technical assistance to growers interested in climate smart agriculture practices....