- Author: Ben Faber
Spotlight on SWEEP in Citrus
Shulamit Shroder, UCCE climate smart agriculture specialist - Kern County
In 2014, Bruce Kelsey in Kern County received a grant through the California Department of Food and Agriculture's State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP). He used the funds to set up 8-foot-wide plastic weed mats underneath his mature organic citrus trees. He also decreased his electrical consumption by about 30% and installed soil moisture sensors, a water flow meter, and a pressure-sustaining device.
Benefits
Labor: The installation of the weed mat was a labor-intensive process, but it ended up paying off in the long term. It diminished weed populations so that he no longer has to weed under his citrus trees. Now he only mows with a small mower in the lanes between his trees.
Water usage: His overall water usage decreased by about 10%. The weed mat decreased evaporation and weed pressure while the other devices allowed him to better manage and schedule his irrigation.
Drawbacks
Pests: Bruce experienced an increase in earwigs in the weed mat orchard. The plastic covering provided the perfect humid environment for the insects.
Organic certification: The weed mats will eventually start to disintegrate, which could contaminate his soil. To maintain his organic certification, he will have to rip them up once they start to break down. Smaller, younger trees do not protect the plastic from the sun, which quickly destroys the plastic. For this reason, he recommended against using weed mat in immature orchards.
Figure 1. Weed mat in place.
- Author: Ben Faber
The California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) is NOW accepting
applications for the HEALTHY SOILS PROGRAM!
This program provides cost-share to farmers and ranchers to implement soil health practices, including compost application, cover cropping, prescribed grazing, and much, much more!
The Ventura County Resource Conservation District will be hosting application assistance workshops to help :
Ranchers, vineyards, orchards, row crops, and mixed operations are all eligible
The max grant amount is $75,000
Applications due March 8th
Friday, January 18th 2:30 - 3:30PM
Active Adult & Community Center, 533 Santa Clara St., Fillmore, CA 93015
Tuesday, January 22nd 2:30 - 3:30PM
Help of Ojai, 111 W Santa Ana St., Ojai, CA 93023
Thursday, January 24th 2:30 - 3:30PM
Ventura County RCD Office, 3380 Somis Road, Somis, CA 93066
Monday, January 28th 2:30 - 3:30PM
Oxnard Public Library, Meeting Room B, 251 South A St, Oxnard, CA 93030
Workshops are FREE to attend, but we ask that you RSVP.
PLEASE contact Lexi Ballinger at
(805) 764-5135 or lexi.vcrcd@gmail.com to do so.
AND Also Take the Opportunity for:
The California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA)
STATE WATER EFFICIENCY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (SWEEP) Application Period is NOW OPEN!
SWEEP reimburses agricultural operations for projects that reduce BOTH greenhouse gas emissions and water use. Projects can include new pumps, irrigation system upgrades, soil sensors, valves, timers, and much more!
Ranches, vineyards, orchards, row crops, and potted plant operations are eligible to apply
Reimbursement max is $100,000
Applications due March 8th 2019
The Ventura County Resource Conservation District is hosting FREE SWEEP program workshops and FREE individual application assistance:
Friday, January 18th 3:30 - 4:30PM
Active Adult & Community Center, 533 Santa Clara St., Fillmore, CA 93015
Tuesday, January 22nd 3:30 - 4:30PM
Help of Ojai, 111 W Santa Ana St., Ojai, CA 93023
Thursday, January 24th 3:30 - 4:30PM
Ventura County RCD Office, 3380 Somis Road, Somis, CA 93066
Monday, January 28th 3:30 - 4:30PM
Oxnard Public Library, Meeting Room B, 251 South A St, Oxnard, CA 93030
Workshops are FREE to attend, but please RSVP.
To RSVP contact
Jamie Whiteford at
(805) 764-5132
- or -
jamiewhiteford.vcrcd@gmail.com.
- Author: Ben Faber
- Interested in increasing water productivity while saving money on water and energy bills?
- Considering cover crops, composting or planting a hedgerow?
- Would you like to convert from flush to scrape at your dairy/livestock operation?
Applications are now open for three grant opportunities through the California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA). Funding is available to farms and ranches for a variety of practices that can cut on-farm water and energy use, build soil fertility and reduce dairy methane and other greenhouse gas emissions, while providing economic benefit to the operations and enhancing community and environmental health.
Below are some examples of eligible projects for each program. To delve into the specifics of each program and how to apply, please see the CDFA website links to each program below.
State Water Efficiency & Enhancement Program (SWEEP)
Share the SWEEP application flyer!
- Applications due March 8, 2019
- Incentives grants for up to $100,000 available
- $9.5 million total available
Improve irrigation efficiency and reduce water and energy costs through projects like:
- Installation of solar panels for irrigation systems
- Micro-irrigation and drip systems
- Soil moisture monitoring, weather station, and telemetry equipment for irrigation scheduling
- Pump retrofits
- Low-pressure systems
- Variable frequency drives
Healthy Soils Initiative: Incentives Program & Demonstration Program
Share the Healthy Soils Program application flyer!
- Applications due March 8, 2019
- Incentives grants for up to $75,000
- Demonstration grants for up to $250,000 (must implement new practice(s) and do farmer-to-farmer outreach and field days)
- $15 million total available
Adopt/expand the use of 25+ eligible soil health practices. A few examples:
- Cover crop
- Compost
- Hedgerows, wind breaks, riparian plantings
- Prescribed grazing on pasture
- No-till or reduced till
- Mulching
- Silvopasture
- Crop rotations
Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP)
Share the AMMP application flyer!
- Applications due April 3, 2019
- Up to $750,000 for individual dairy/livestock operations
- Demonstration grants available (must do farmer-to-farmer outreach and field days)
- $19 – 33 million total available
Manage dairy/livestock manure in ways that can reduce water use and methane emissions, through projects like:
- Conversion from flush to scrape and/or solid separation of manure solids with alternative manure handling (e.g. daily spread, solar drying, composting, etc.)
- Compost bedded pack barns
- Pasture based practices, including conversion to pasture and increased time animals spend on pasture.
More Information & How To Apply
Matching grants from programs like USDA's NRCS EQIP are encouraged for AMMP and the Healthy Soils Program, but not required (EQIP match not permitted for SWEEP).
Some funding will be prioritized for awards to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, consistent with the Farmer Equity Act (AB 1348). CDFA will also give special consideration to projects located within or that show demonstrated benefits to severely disadvantaged communities (you can use this site to find out if you are located in such a community).
Go to CDFA's websites, linked above, for more detailed information and access to the applications.
/h2>/h2>/h2>/h2>- Author: Ben Faber
There is money out there to help with irrigation improvements. Along with USDA funding through The Natural Resources Conservation Service and many local Resource Conservation Districts, there are often funds from the state. In Ventura County there is a source of funding that is being made locally administered by the VC Farm Bureau. Check this out and follow some of the threads to find other local funding for improved water management.
VENTURA COUNTY AGRICULTURAL WATER AND ENERGY USE EFFICIENCY PROGRAM (AWUE)
Technical Assistance and Equipment Rebates
FACT SHEET
Funded by a State of California Proposition 84 Drought Grant*
The drought and groundwater sustainability goals are challenging farmers to use every drop wisely. To help, the State of California has awarded Ventura County a cost share grant with $1.2 million available for technical assistance and equipment rebates to improve agricultural irrigation and energy efficiency.
What does the funding cover?
The program will rebate farmers up to 60% of equipment upgrades that demonstrate quantifiable water and energy savings. This may include irrigation timers, meters, sprinklers, soil moisture sensors, drip tape and emitters, irrigation software, high efficiency pumps, pipes and valves. (Installation costs are not reimbursable due to grant restrictions.)
Who is eligible?
All commercial farms in Ventura County may complete the AWUE Interest Survey for the program. The farming operations with the greatest potential for savings will be invited to begin the program by signing the AWUE Cooperative Agreement (sample available for review at bit.ly/AWUE-grant).
How does it work?
Participating farms will have a free, on-site technical evaluation of operations and irrigation system(s) to develop a set of recommendations to improve water and energy efficiency. The evaluation may include a distribution uniformity (DU) test of the irrigation system(s) to determine if the system is applying irrigation water optimally, a review of irrigation scheduling vs. crop need, and other related practices and operational/testing equipment.
In conjunction with irrigation efficiency, opportunities for energy savings will also be evaluated. As a cooperative evaluation, innovative ideas that improve water efficiency will be explored for possible recommendation.
Equipment upgrades that are mutually agreed upon and implemented within one year at the farmer's upfront cost will be up to 60% reimbursed following a free post-project evaluation.
Are there other funding opportunities?
Farmers in Ventura County who meet certain requirements may also be eligible for funding from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to further offset equipment costs of the same water and energy efficiency improvements. This includes special assistance funding for farms located in these Calleguas Creek subwatersheds: Revolon Slough, Beardsley Wash, Las Posas Arroyo and Lower Conejo Arroyo. Contact Dawn Afman, NRCS at dawn.afman@ca.usda.gov or (805) 984-2358 x101 for more information.
What is the timing
The AWUE Interest Survey completed by any Ventura County commercial farmer are currently being accepted until funding is exhausted. Surveys will be ranked and those with the greatest potential water savings will be invited to begin the process. NRCS potentially coordinated equipment improvements will receive extra credit in the selection process.
How do I begin?
Visit bit.ly/AWUE-grant webpage for current grant information. It is recommended that you review the sample AWUE Cooperative Agreement on the webpage to fully understand the program conditions before deciding to complete the AWUE Interest Survey.
Questions?
For AWUE program information questions, please contact Nancy Broschart, Farm Bureau of Ventura County, at nancy@farmbureauvc.com or (805) 289-0155.
For field evaluation questions, please contact Jamie Whiteford, Ventura County Resource Conservation District, at jamie.k.whiteford@gmail.com or (805) 764-5132.
*This is a cooperative program supported under the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006, administered by the State of California, Department of Water Resources; and the Ventura County Watershed Protection District as the Grantee.
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AWUE Summary
- Author: Ben Faber
CACHUMA RESOURCE CONSERVATION DISTRICT
FOR SANTA BARBARA COUNTY GROWERS AND FARMERS
WATER CONSERVATION FUNDING AND TECHNICAL SERVICES WORKSH0P
Agenda
8:00 Sign-In
8:15 Breakfast and Technical Displays
9:00 Grower and Funding Talks
10:40 Discussion and
Monday, June 27, 2016 8:15 -11:30 am
Rincon Beach Club
Carpinteria
3805 Santa Claus Lane
Hear from growers who have used State and Federal funds to improve water use and operational efficiency and lern about new resouce conservation technologies from local agricultural and technical service providers.
Advance registration not required. For more information:
Anne Coates 805-455-2820 www.waterwisesb.org
Jamie Whiteford 805-764-5132 www.vcrcd.org