The Community Alliance with Family Farmers is accepting applications for the California Underserved and Small Producer Drought Relief Grant Program. The CUSP program provides grants up to $20,000 to reimburse producers for drought-related losses and expenses that occurred within the last three years.
Eligibility includes:
- Must be farming within California
- Preference is given to family farmers who are actively working the land, involved in day-to-day operations and derive a portion of their income from their operation
- Make a minimum of $10,000 and a maximum of $400,000 in gross annual sales
- Fifty percent of grants will be awarded to farmers of color, immigrant farmers and undocumented farmers
Allowable uses of funding include:
- Drilling new wells or repairing wells
- Increased utility bills by 30% or more (due to increased rates)
- Increased surface water costs
- Lowering ag well pumps
- Emergency updates to irrigation system, paired with conservation
- Decreased crop yields/crop loss due to decreased water availability
The CUSP Drought Relief Grant application is available in both English and Spanish online. The deadline is October 15.
Contact Darlene Ruiz at [email protected] with questions or for assistance with the application.