Dairy Producer Financial Resources
*This is NOT a complete list of all available grants for dairy producers
*UCCE does not promote any grant/loan listed, but has included the following programs as resources to the dairy community
Contents
California Department of Food and Agriculture
USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service
California Air Resources Board
California Department of Community Services and Development
California Certified Organic Farmers
California Department of Food and Agriculture
Alternative Manure Management Program
provides financial assistance for the implementation of non-digester manure management practices on dairy and livestock operations in California that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The program supports several project types focused on handling and storing manure in environmentally responsible ways, with the goal of limiting how much manure ends up in liquid, anaerobic environments where its decomposition produces methane.
Eligible practices include:
- Pasture-based management
- Alternative manure treatment and storage, such as compost bedded pack barns
- Solid separation
- Conversion from flush to dry scrape manure collection
Free technical assistance is available. Please contact Randi Black at rablack@ucanr.edu.
Application Period: July 23 to October 18, 2024
Supports farmers and ranchers to incorporate new sustainable agricultural practices into their systems. All of these practices build organic carbon belowground, and some aboveground, while reducing land-based greenhouse gas emissions. Improving soil health, and often providing physical soil protection and habitat, these projects increase the resilience of California’s farms and surrounding ecosystems to climate challenges.
27 Practices are available, including:
- Organic Soil Amendments: Compost, Mulch, Whole Orchard Recycling
- Annual Plantings: Cover Crops, Crop Rotations
- Permanent Plantings: Hedgerows, Windbreaks, Range Plantings
- Decreased Tillage: No-Till, Reduced Tillage
Free technical assistance is available. Please contact your region's UC ANR Technical Assistance Provider found here.
Application Period: January 22 to February 9, 2024
Dairy Digester Research and Development Program
Provides financial assistance for the installation of dairy digesters on California dairy farms.
Eligible projects include:
- Installation of anaerobic digesters
- Technologies that clean and condition biogas
- Equipment to upgrade biogas into renewable natural gas or other forms of energy
Application Period: July 23 to October 18, 2024
Competitive grants to help California dairy farms adopt advanced manure management practices. These sustainable strategies aim to reduce methane emissions, manage nitrogen and salt levels, and address key environmental challenges in dairy production.
The Dairy Plus Program supports enhancements to AMMP and DDRDP projects with certain eligible practices:
For new, in progress, or previously completed AMMP projects:
- Vermifiltration
- Manure solid separation via weeping wall
- Advanced solid-liquid separation with flocculants and/or bead filters
- Advanced solid-liquid separation by centrifuge
- Primary practice may be accompanied by subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) or aerated composting
For new, in progress, or previously completed DDRDP projects:
- Post-digester vermifiltration
- Post-digester advanced solid-liquid separation with flocculants and/or bead filters
- Post-digester advanced solid-liquid separation by centrifuge
- Primary practice may be accompanied by SDI using liquid manure digestate
Applicants must be applying for or been previously awarded an AMMP or DDRDP grant.
Application Period: July 23 to October 18, 2024
California Underserved and Small Producer Program
Facilitate support for small and medium scale California agricultural producers, or small and medium scale socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers through direct relief grants. Direct Assistance Providers act as administrators of the CUSP Direct Relief Grant Program and distribute relief grants to aid in addressing specific financial needs due to drought, extreme weather, and other climate impacts in California.
- Eligible Applicants: Small and medium scale California agricultural producers. “Small and medium scale” California producers are defined by this program as any farmer making up to $400,000 or any dairy operation making up to $1,000,000 in annual gross sales. Small and medium scale socially disadvantaged California farmers and ranchers. “Socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher” means a farmer or rancher who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group. “Socially disadvantaged group” means a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities. These groups include all of the following: (1) African Americans, (2) Native American Indians, (3) Alaskan Natives, (4) Hispanics, (5) Asian Americans, and (6) Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.
- Eligible producers may receive up to $20,000 in CUSP Drought Relief funds as well as up to $20,000 in CUSP Extreme Weather Relief funds (for a total of up to $40,000) within a 12-month period.
Application Periods:
- For Organic Producers, apply to CCOF
- January 5 to March 27, 2026
- April 6 to June 26, 2026
- July 6 to September 25, 2026
- October 5 to December 11, 2026
- For Small and Medium Scale and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers, apply to CAFF
Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program
Funds projects that maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency. Projects should support infrastructure in the middle-of-the-supply-chain for California food and farm businesses and other eligible entities. RFSI proposals must support the middle of the supply chain, which refers to stages 2. Processing and 3. Aggregation and Distribution. This program supports food system crops and products meant for human consumption (excluding meat and poultry products, which are funded through other USDA programs).
- Eligible Commodities: specialty crops, dairy, grain (for food), eggs, beverages, and other sectors, given that the products are meant for human consumption
- Eligible Applicants: agricultural producers or processors; groups of agricultural producers and processors; nonprofit organizations, local governments, and Tribal governments operating middle-of-the-supply-chain activities; and institutions
Application Period: June 7 to July 17, 2025
USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service
*To apply for any NRCS programs, please contact your local NRCS office.
*If you are a Sonoma or Marin County resident, please contact the Petaluma Service center at 707-794-1242, ext. 9041
*If you are a Mendocino County resident, please contact the Ukiah Service Center at 707-485-3233
Environmental Quality Incentive Program
EQIP provides technical and financial assistance to agricultural producers and forest landowners to address natural resource concerns, such as:
- Improved water and air quality
- Conserved ground and surface water
- Increased soil health
- Reduced soil erosion and sedimentation
- Improved or created wildlife habitat
- Mitigation against drought and increasing weather volatility
NRCS offers technical assistance at no cost.
Application Ranking Date: January 15, 2026
Helps farmers and ranchers make voluntary improvements that can boost energy efficiency on the farm. Financial assistance is available to inventory and analyze farm systems that use energy and identify opportunities to improve efficiency through the development of an Agricultural Energy Management Plan (AgEMP). Once an AgEMP or other qualifying energy audit has been completed, eligible producers can apply for EQIP assistance for the purchase, installation, or retrofit of certain buildings or equipment to improve energy efficiency.
Application Ranking Date: January 15, 2026
Conservation Stewardship Program
Producers develop a conservation plan that outlines and enhances existing efforts, using new conservation practices or activities, based on operation management objectives. Producers implement practices and activities in their conservation plan that expands on the benefits of cleaner water and air, healthier soil and better wildlife habitat, all while improving their agricultural operations. CSP offers annual payments for implementing these practices on operations and operating and maintaining existing conservation efforts.
Application Ranking Date: January 15, 2026
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program
protects the agricultural viability and related conservation values of eligible land by limiting nonagricultural uses which negatively affect agricultural uses and conservation values, protect grazing uses and related conservation values by restoring or conserving eligible grazing land, and protecting and restoring and enhancing wetlands on eligible land.
ACEP has two components:
- Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) help private and tribal landowners, land trusts, and other entities such as state and local governments protect croplands and grasslands on working farms and ranches by limiting non-agricultural uses of the land through conservation easements.
- Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE) help private and tribal landowners protect, restore and enhance wetlands which have been previously degraded due to agricultural uses.
Application Ranking Date: January 15, 2026
*To apply for any FSA programs, please contact your local FSA office.
*If you are a Sonoma or Marin County resident, please contact the Petaluma Service center at 707-794-1242, ext. 9062
*If you are a Mendocino County resident, please contact the Ukiah Service Center at 707-468-9223
A voluntary risk management tool for dairy producers. It offers financial assistance when the margin between the all-milk price and average feed cost falls below a coverage level chosen by the producer. Producers must provide production records and be in compliance with conservation regulations.
Enrollment Dates: January 29 to March 31, 2025
Dairy Indemnity Payment Program
Assists dairy producers who experience financial losses due to the contamination of their milk or the necessary culling of dairy cows because of residues, chemicals, toxic substances, or nuclear radiation or fallout. This program provides payments to producers who cannot sell their milk on the commercial market due to contamination, ensuring they can recover from these adverse events and continue their operations.
Enrollment Dates: Call FSA office
Payments to eligible dairy operations for milk that was dumped or removed without compensation from the commercial milk market because of a qualifying weather event in 2023 and/or 2024.
Applications due: January 23, 2026.
Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish
Offers financial aid to producers who suffer losses from specific adverse conditions not covered by other USDA disaster assistance programs. This includes losses due to disease, certain adverse weather events, and other qualifying conditions affecting livestock, honey bees, and farm-raised fish. ELAP provides critical support to help producers recover and sustain their operations.
Applications must be submitted by March 1 after the program year in which the loss occurred.
Livestock Forage Disaster Program
Offers financial support to livestock producers who experience grazing losses due to qualifying drought conditions or fire on federally managed rangelands. The program is designed to help producers recover from significant forage losses, ensuring the continuity of their operations and the well-being of their livestock. LFP provides payments to eligible producers to compensate for lost grazing opportunities and to help cover additional feed costs incurred due to the disaster.
Encourages agricultural producers and landowners to convert highly erodible and other environmentally sensitive acreage to vegetative cover, such as native grasses, trees, and riparian buffers. By enrolling in CRP, participants receive annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource-conserving vegetative covers. The program helps to improve water quality, control soil erosion, and enhance wildlife habitat, contributing to overall environmental health and sustainability. CRP contracts are typically 10 to 15 years in length.
Application Periods:
- General CRP: May 12 to June 6, 2025
- Continuous CRP: June 7 to July 18, 2025
- Grassland CRP: July 14 to Aug 8, 2025
Climate-Smart Agriculture and Farm Loan Programs
Offer financial support to farmers and ranchers seeking to adopt climate-smart practices. These programs aim to promote sustainable agricultural practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase carbon sequestration, and enhance the resilience of farming operations to climate change. The loans cover a wide range of activities, including conservation projects, renewable energy systems, and other climate-smart technologies.
Offer crucial financial support to farmers and ranchers impacted by natural disasters such as drought, flooding, storms, wildfires, earthquakes, and other declared disasters. These loans can be used to restore or replace essential property, cover production costs, pay essential family living expenses, and refinance certain debts.
Applications must be submitted within eight months after the disaster designation date.
Emergency Conservation Program
Offers financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers to repair and restore farmland affected by natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, wildfires, drought, and other calamities. ECP helps farmers and ranchers implement emergency conservation measures to rehabilitate damaged land, restore agricultural production, and prevent further environmental degradation.
Applications are accepted following a natural disaster event. Producers should apply as soon as possible after the disaster occurs to ensure timely assistance.
Organic Certification Cost Share Program
Provides cost share assistance to producers and handlers of agricultural products who are obtaining or renewing their certification under the National Organic Program (NOP). Certified operations may receive up to 75 percent of their certification costs paid during the program year, not to exceed $750 per certification scope.
Application Deadline: October 31, 2024
Offer vital financial support to farmers and ranchers for various operational needs. These loans are designed to assist with the purchase of essential items such as livestock, equipment, feed, seed, and supplies. Additionally, they can be used to cover costs related to minor improvements, family living expenses, and refinancing certain debts.
Offer essential financial support to farmers and ranchers aiming to purchase, develop, or expand their agricultural operations. These loans are available in different forms to meet a variety of needs, including the purchase of farmland, construction of farm buildings, and making improvements to existing structures and infrastructure.
Offer financial assistance tailored to the unique needs of beginning farmers, small-scale producers, and those engaged in niche farming operations. These loans provide funding for various operational expenses, including the purchase of livestock, equipment, feed, seed, and supplies. Operating Microloans provide up to $50,000 per loan.
Offer financial assistance tailored to the unique needs of beginning farmers, small-scale producers, and those engaged in niche farming operations. These loans provide funding for the purchase of farmland, the construction or improvement of farm buildings, and other capital expenditures. Ownership Microloans provide up to $50,000 per loan.
Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) Program
provides low-interest financing so producers can build or upgrade permanent and portable storage facilities and equipment. Eligible commodities include grains, oilseeds, peanuts, pulse crops, hay, hemp, honey, renewable biomass commodities, fruits and vegetables, floriculture, hops, maple sap, maple syrup, milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, eggs, meat/poultry (unprocessed), rye and aquaculture. Eligible facility types include grain bins, hay barns, bulk tanks, and facilities for cold storage. Drying and handling and storage equipment is also eligible, including storage and handling trucks. Eligible facilities and equipment may be new or used, permanently affixed or portable.
Support young individuals in pursuing agricultural projects that generate income and promote hands-on learning in farming, ranching, and agricultural business management. These loans help youth acquire practical experience and knowledge in agriculture, while encouraging the next generation of farmers and ranchers. Funds can be used to buy livestock, seed, equipment, and supplies, purchase, rent, or repair tools and equipment, and pay operating expenses for the project.
Loan Amounts: Up to $10,000 per eligible applicant.
*To apply for any RD programs, please contact your local RD office.
*If you are a Sonoma, Marin, or Mendocino County resident, please contact the Santa Rosa Office at 707-526-6797
Rural Energy for America Program Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement Grants & Loans
Provides grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and processing. Loan guarantees on loans up to 75 percent of total eligible project costs. Grants for up to 50 percent of total eligible project costs. Combined grant and loan guarantee funding up to 75% of total eligible project costs.
Application Period: July 1 to Sept 30, 2025
Provides affordable financing to develop or rehabilitate affordable rental housing for very-low to moderate income domestic, migrant, and seasonal farm laborers. It also provides funding used to increase the supply of affordable housing for farm labor and the ability of the farmer to provide affordable, decent, safe and sanitary housing for farm workers.
Application Period: This program accepts applications on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are depleted.
Helps U.S. agricultural producers enter into value-added activities that:
- Generate new products from raw agricultural commodities
- Create and expand marketing opportunities
- Increase producer income through enhanced product value and market reach
These grants support either:
- Planning activities (e.g., feasibility studies, business and marketing plans) - Up to $50,000
- Working capital needs (e.g., processing, packaging, advertising, inventory, and salaries) - Up to $200,000
Application Period: Opens January 15, 2026 and closes April 15, 2026
California Air Resources Board
Provides incentive funds to replace agricultural equipment with the cleanest available technologies. Eligible projects include off-road agricultural equipment, heavy-duty trucks used in agricultural operations, agricultural utility terrain vehicles (UTV), and stationary agricultural pump engines.
- Bay Area AQMD - Marin and Southern Sonoma County
- Northern Sonoma County APCD - Northern Sonoma County
- Mendocino County AQMD - Mendocino County
Application Deadline: End of January 2026
Provides monetary grants to private companies and public agencies to clean up their heavy-duty engines beyond that required by law through retrofitting, repowering or replacing their engines with newer and cleaner ones.
- Bay Area AQMD - Marin and Southern Sonoma County
- Northern Sonoma County APCD - Northern Sonoma County
- Mendocino County AQMD - Mendocino County
Contact your Air Quality District to apply.
California Department of Community Services and Development
Farmworker Housing Energy Efficiency and Solar PV
Provides no-cost rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and energy efficiency upgrades to low-income farmworker households to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower energy costs for participants. Currently provides services in two regions that include 18 counties in California that have the highest farmworker populations. Sonoma County is included within Region 1.
Contact CSD to apply.
Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
Focuses on advancing on-farm sustainability solutions by funding innovative producer-driven research and outreach. This grant program involves agricultural producers (main applicants) and technical advisor(s) implementing projects to address identified needs in sustainable agriculture.
Grant Max: $35,000 for 1-3 year projects
Application Period: Opens 2026
Involves agricultural technical advisor (main applicant) and producers implementing projects to address identified needs in sustainable agriculture. With the collaboration of at least three producers, projects must integrate research and education aiming to advance the three components of sustainable agriculture- environmental, economic, and social- and use innovative educational outreach to disseminate new knowledge to producers and other agricultural stakeholders.
Max Grant: $85,000 for 1-3 year projects
Application Period: Opens 2026
Farmers and ranchers can receive up to $25k to implement climate-smart practices that sequester carbon.
Application Period: Opens 2026
Zero Foodprint works with local jurisdictions to make the best use of this compost by directing it to farms and ranches where it can sequester carbon and promote healthy soil. The program works to provide compost rebate credits when you purchase compost from approved vendors. Rebates must be used within 30 days of rebate reservation.
Max Grant: 1,000 tons of compost and $20,000 annually
Application Period: Opens 2026
California Certified Organic Farmers
Provide financial support to farmers who want to shift into to organic production. These grants and technical assistance are available to farmers and ranchers in California who are interested in transitioning to organic production. Program participants receive funding, 1:1 organic technical assistance, access to mentorship, and business training opportunities over a three-year period.
Max Award: $10,000 per year for 3 years
Application Period: May 4 to June 4, 2026
Funds projects that preserve agriculture, protect biodiversity, connect our community, and build climate resilience. Awards of up to $50,000 each are available to Marin agriculturalists.
Application Period: January 7 to February 13, 2026
Fund-a-Farmer Welfare Improvement Grant
For farms looking to…
- Improve the lives of their farm animals. Projects could include:
- Transition to pasture-based systems
- Expand animals’ access to well-managed pasture
- Improve the living conditions of their food animals
- Note: Farmers do not need to hold or be seeking certification for this category
- Grants for farmers pursuing animal welfare certification to one of these certifying agencies
- Certified Animal Welfare Approved (AWA) and affiliated certifications by A Greener World
- Certified Humane
- Global Animal Partnership (GAP) Animal Welfare Certified (steps 4 to 5+)
- Grants for animal welfare certified farmers. Projects could include:
- Maintain any of the following certifications
- Certified Animal Welfare Approved (AWA) and affiliated certifications by A Greener World
- Certified Humane
- Global Animal Partnership (GAP) Animal Welfare Certified (steps 4 to 5+)
- Projects related to the marketing, sales, and distribution of welfare-certified products.
- Expand animals’ access to well-managed pasture
- Improve the living conditions of their food animals
- Maintain any of the following certifications
Max Grant: $3,500
Application Deadline: January 8, 2026
Fund-a-Farmer Systems Change and Innovation Grant
Farms looking to...
- Develop business plans/feasibility studies for significant changes to an operation including conversion to pasture or adoption of alternative breeds
- For example: A feasibility study to see if a farm can move from an enclosed operation to a pasture-based one
- Install the infrastructure necessary to convert from a non-pasture to a pasture-based operation.
- For example: Hogs raised in open hoop houses, closed barns or with little or no access to pasture being moved to a pasture-based system
- Adoption of alternative breeds including sourcing genetics, housing accommodations, feed changes, marketing
- For example: Farms who would like to switch from conventional breeds of poultry to higher welfare slower growing or heritage breeds
- Develop co-operative or other forms of shared marketing among pasture-based farms including the development of cooperative agreements and necessary documents
- For farms interested in developing a cooperative market for pasture-based products
Max Grant: $10,000
Application Deadline: January 8, 2026
Kinder Ground projects are funded based on the potential to make a lasting difference. We also evaluate the opportunity to encourage adoption of similar principles elsewhere on the farm and in the community. Kinder Ground will support infrastructure upgrades or resources, equipment needed to adopt practices, training or education aimed at improving animal welfare, the competence of caregivers, or increasing understanding about animal welfare of dairy and beef cattle, poultry, goats (fiber, dairy or meat) and sheep (fiber or meat) in production systems. While there is no specific farm size or number of animals required, hobby farms, sanctuaries, or farmsteads keeping animals for personal use will not be considered for our grants. Grants are typically awarded for less than $10,000.
Application Deadlines: April 1 and September 1