The Healthy Soils Block Grant Program, with a $5 million allocation from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), supports California citrus growers in adopting conservation management practices that improve soil health and sequester carbon. This initiative is a collaborative effort between the California Citrus Quality Council (CCQC), California Farm Bureau (CAFB), and Xerces Society. The California Bountiful Foundation, the 501(c)(3) science and research nonprofit arm of the California Farm Bureau, oversees all administrative and financial aspects, including reporting and on-farm project verifications. The Xerces Society provides technical expertise in pollinator plants for hedgerows and similar management practices, aligning with the foundation's strategic priority of environmental stewardship and sustainable farming.
The program's core objective is to enhance climate change resilience within the citrus sector, aid growers in environmental stewardship, and help them meet sustainability demands from buyers and consumers. It advocates for and provides financial incentives for practices that increase soil carbon storage, reduce greenhouse gases, improve soil retention, and bolster pollinator populations. A significant focus is on offering guidance to citrus growers on sustainable farming practices, particularly through pollinator hedgerows and other management techniques. This directly reflects the foundation's theory of change, which posits that providing financial support and technical expertise will lead to widespread adoption of beneficial practices, ultimately resulting in improved environmental outcomes.
Target beneficiaries include citrus growers in 11 specified counties: Fresno, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Tulare, San Diego, Placer, and Ventura. Special consideration and a 25% allocation of grant funds are directed towards supporting veterans, Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (SDFRs), and women. SDFRs encompass groups facing racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice, including African American, Native American, Alaskan Native, Hispanic, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander individuals. This highlights an impact goal of fostering equity and inclusivity within the agricultural community.
Expected outcomes and measurable results include funding 20-45 on-farm projects over three years. These projects will focus on eligible practices such as compost application, conservation cover, cover crops, hedgerow planting, mulching, nutrient management, various residue and tillage management techniques, whole orchard recycling, and windbreak establishment. Each on-farm project may receive up to $200,000, dependent on its size and the number of practices implemented. Benefits of participation include enhanced plant health, increased crop yields, prevention of soil erosion, improved water quality and retention, support for carbon sequestration, reduced greenhouse emissions, and fostered biodiversity and wildlife habitats, all of which contribute to the broader impact goals of environmental health and sustainable agriculture.
