What is Climate Smart Ag?
Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) addresses the risk that the agriculture industry faces due to changing climate conditions. It encompasses management practices that increase soil carbon, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve on-farm efficiencies, and promote sustainable land practices. CSA promotes increasing agricultural productivity, building resiliency to climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Contact Your Community Education Specialist for more information
Heather Montgomery is our local Technical Assistance Provider in Sutter and Yuba Counties. Contact Heather for more information on climate-smart agriculture or if you need assistance with the CDFA's incentive programs.
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
Please complete the interest survey to be included on Heather's mailing list for notices when the grants become available.
Complete the Climate Smart Ag survey
2024 Crop and Livestock Reports
Sutter County Report (PDF, 2.0 MB)
Yuba County Report (PDF, 1.6 MB)
Grant Updates
Grants available to growers and ranchers in the Yuba-Sutter area:
- 2026 Growing Urban Agriculture Microgrant Program Application - Open now! Closing Jan.2nd, 2026 - Apply Here
- Zero Foodprint - Restore Grant grants up to $25K for farmers and ranchers implementing regenerative practices. Applications re-open 2026 (Closed for now)
- Zero Foodprint - Compost Connector Compost solutions for California farmers, vendors, and jurisdictions. Grants open in 2026.
- AgWest Farm Credit - New Producer Grant. Creating opportunities for new producers. Applications available March - May. View the grant requirements. (currently closed)
- USDA Farm Service Agency - Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Loans. View the details on guaranteed loans programs.
- Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Farmer/Rancher Research & Education Grant Program - The program focuses on advancing on -farm sustainability solutions by funding innovative producer-driven research and outreach. View further details. - Closed now - opens in 2026
- Mentors can get $50/hr. up to 6 hrs. for mentoring beginning farmers and ranchers. Mentors must have 10 years of experience to mentor someone. View the Farmers and Ranchers Mentorship Program
- California Underserved and Small Producer Program (CUSP) - Extreme Weather and Drought Relief Grants - Check the CDFA website for open applications. - Program Open
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Heather Montgomery at 530-822-7515 or email hmontgomery@ucanr.edu.
Resources
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Tools
CDFA Climate Smart Programs
Funding for non-digester related manure management practices that will result in a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Projects can be funded up to $750,000 and could consist of pasture-based management; alternative manure treatment and storage (such as compost bedded pack barns); and solid separation or conversion from flush to scrape in conjunction with some form of drying or composting of collected manure. Recipients are: dairy and livestock operators. Visit the AMMP for program status.
The HSP Incentives Program provides funding for practices that improve soil health, sequester carbon, and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These projects can be awarded up to $100,000 for farmers and ranchers and can include; compost application, range planting, and hedgerow planting. Visit the HSP WEBSITE for information on the program.
Funding to implement irrigation systems that reduce greenhouse gases and save water on California agricultural operations. Eligible projects could include; soil moisture monitoring, drip systems, switching to low pressure irrigation systems, pump retrofits, variable frequency drives, and installation of renewable energy to reduce on-farm water use and energy. These projects can be funded up to $200,000. Visit the SWEET Website for more information on the program.
CA CSA Team BLOG
The BLOG below is written by the Climate Smart Agriculture Team which spans all over the different regions of California. In California the temperature, terrain and soil are vastly different in many parts of the state, so topics are being written according to what is being grown in that region. It's a great way to see how other farmers and ranchers are thriving with all of today's challenges.