About this archived opportunity

Through this solicitation SWEEP will award approximately $21 million to California agricultural operations investing in irrigation systems that reduce GHG emissions and save water. The maximum grant award is $200,000. The maximum grant duration is 18 months. Recipients must complete projects no later than 18 months after the start of the grant agreement. California farmers, ranchers and California Native American Tribes are eligible to apply. CDFA will reserve twenty-five percent (25 percent) of the funds for farmers and ranchers who identify as belonging to a socially disadvantaged group as defined by the Farmer Equity Act of 2017. The proposed SWEEP project must be on a California agricultural operation. Projects must result in estimated water savings and GHG emission reductions. SWEEP project strategies include: Tools for irrigation scheduling, irrigation system changes or improvements, fuel conversion, improved energy efficiency of pumps, low pressure irrigation system. CDFA supports innovative projects and recognizes there is variability in irrigation systems throughout California. For this reason, applicants may propose project components that do not fit into the above strategies as long as the comprehensive project will result in estimated water savings using the SWEEP quantification tools. Examples of components that CDFA may fund through SWEEP as part of a comprehensive water-saving and GHG-reducing project include: On-farm water storage (e.g., rainwater capture, surface water reservoir), Irrigation automation, Surface water interconnection or recycled water interconnection, Sub-surface drip irrigation including manure effluent mixing and application systems.