Climate Smart Agriculture in San Diego County

Differences seen in biochars, based on feedstock

Everything Biochar

December 10, 2025

By Michael Jaquez

Biochar application will be a new conservation practice for the next Healthy Soils Program. A training on biochar called, "Growing with Biochar," was offered to teach technical assistance providers (And the Climate Smart Agriculture Program Community Education Specialists) on all things biochar, and was a…

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Colorado River Basin: Immersive Modeling for a Brighter Future

October 28, 2025

By Michael Jaquez

The Colorado River Basin provides a large portion of water to San Diego County residents and farmers. It is extremely important to the livelihoods of many, but the Colorado River Basin faces critical water shortages, and a reduction in inflow that threatens reservoir levels, primarily Lake Powell and Lake…

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Photo of pastures with chicken schooners

The Climate Smart Agriculture Program: Our Impact

August 26, 2025

By Michael Jaquez

The Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) Program was created through a collaboration between the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR). The primary goal of the CSA team is to increase the adoption of climate-smart…

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Update: Healthy Soils Program Incentive Grant; New Practices

August 19, 2025

By Michael Jaquez

The Healthy Soils Program, a funding opportunity through the California Department of Food and Agriculture, recently added three new conservation practices. In future incentive program solicitations, eligible farmers and ranchers will be able to apply for biochar application, prescribed indigenous…

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Healthy Soils Program Soil Health Pilot

May 30, 2025

By Michael Jaquez

The Healthy Soils Program (HSP) Incentive Grant, offered by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), provides funding to farmers and ranchers in California, to implement soil conservation management practices with the goal of increasing soil health and carbon sequestration, and…

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Cattle on a field with a single hot wire

Why Grazing Management Matters

April 1, 2025

By Michael Jaquez

Producers that have pastureland or rangeland that also have grazing livestock (Cattle, sheep, goats…) should develop good grazing management practices. Stellar grazing management allows for a pasture to be grazed in a sustainable way that will prevent damage to the pasture and provide ample nutrition to the…

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San Diego Healthy Soils Program Demonstration Project

October 30, 2024

By Michael Jaquez

The California Department of Food and Agriculture offers Healthy Soils Program demonstration project grants to fund on-farm projects that involve data collection, demonstrating various conservation management practices, and providing an opportunity for local growers to see the effectiveness of these...

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What's that Smell?!

August 7, 2024

By Michael Jaquez

When it comes to animal housing, manure management requires thought and consideration. Much of this decision depends on the size of the operation, species of animal, and the overall goals of your farming practices.

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Sheep in the Vineyard?

May 24, 2024

By Michael Jaquez

Historically, farmers raised both crops and livestock because they are mutually beneficial.

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Want Healthy Soil?

March 27, 2024

By Michael Jaquez

The Healthy Soils Program incentive grant provides funding to implement a variety of conservation management practices that improve soil health, sequester carbon, and reduce greenhouse gases.

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All About SWEEP

March 5, 2024

By Michael Jaquez

The State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) is a grant funding opportunity offered by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and administered by the Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation (OEFI).

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Meet Michael: Community Education Specialist

March 5, 2024

By Michael Jaquez

Michael Jaquez is our newest Community Education Specialist with the Climate Smart Agriculture team at University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources.

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INTRODUCTION

The Climate Smart Agriculture Program at the University of California Cooperative Extension San Diego County focuses on programs and strategies to manage the impacts of climate trends on agricultural production in San Diego County.

We provide technical assistance resources to local organizations, farmers, and ranchers, to support sustainable agricultural production, while contributing to soil health, water efficiency, and energy conservation. Our clients include agricultural producers, government agencies, researchers, educators, consultants and other public and private agricultural service providers.