By Valley Ag Voice Staff
With the new year, opportunities to apply for 2025 agricultural grant cycles are available for Central Valley growers.
SUSTAINABLE AG
The UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program is accepting grant proposals until Jan. 14 at 5 p.m. for projects aimed at building resilience and adaptability in farming and food systems.
These projects should help businesses and organizations respond to ecological, economic, and social changes while fostering sustainable practices and community well-being. UC SAREP’s program focuses on two priority areas.
The first supports farmers, ranchers, and land stewards in adopting regenerative agricultural practices, such as soil health improvements, organic and agroecological techniques, and diversified crop management. It also emphasizes building local supply chains, fostering fair labor practices, and creating networks among producers and stakeholders.
The second priority area aims to strengthen rural, urban, and Tribal communities by increasing access to sustainable and culturally appropriate foods, promoting worker welfare, minimizing environmental impacts, and enhancing connections between producers and consumers.
Eligible applicants include California-based farm and food businesses, nonprofits, Tribal and government entities, and educational institutions, but projects should demonstrate collaboration among diverse stakeholders, such as farmers, nonprofits, and academic experts.
UC SAREP Grants range up to $10,000, with one applied research grant of $20,000. Projects are required to be completed within a year (May 2025–April 2026), with no-cost extensions available.
Visit UC SAREP’s website to learn more at https://sarep.ucdavis.edu/grantsFY25-26.
KERN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The Kern Community Foundation is offering grants to eligible nonprofits to support unemployed and employed farmworkers. To be eligible, organizations must have a presence in Kern County, support farm workers, and meet the Kern Community Foundation’s eligibility guidelines.
The grant period will open in Spring 2025, and the grant period will run from 2025-2027 with each year granting no less than $100,000. The maximum amount for a single grant is $50,000.
Visit www.kernfoundation.org/grants to learn more.
HEALTHY SOILS
The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Healthy Soils Program provides financial assistance for conservation practices like cover cropping, compost application, and no-till farming to improve soil health and sequester carbon.
Eligible applicants include both conventional and organic farmers and ranchers, recognized Tribal governments, educational institutions, resource conservation districts, and nonprofits involved in projects with farmers or ranchers. This program provides up to $100,000 per project to implement soil health and conservation practices.
Applications for the program are typically open annually.