CLIMATE SMART
AGRICULTURE
and
HEALTHY SOILS 2016 Sustainable Ag Expo
San Luis Obispo
November 15, 2016
Jenny Lester Moffitt
Deputy Secretary
California Agriculture
Food Production
In 2015, California’s farm production topped $47 billion
California has the most diverse food production in the country
Vibrant Rural Communities
California’s 76,400 farms and ranches cover 25.5 million acres
Photo Credit: USDA NRCS
Climate Change Vulnerability
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Vulnerability Index uses 4
sub indices:
1. Climate
2. Crop
3. Land use
4. Socioeconomic
When indices are combined, total agricultural vulnerability in some areas of the state is very high
Study by Jackson et al. UC Davis with funding from CEC
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California’s Climate Strategy
Climate Smart Agriculture
Climate Smart Agriculture is an integrated approach to achieving greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions while also ensuring food security in the face of climate change.
The concept is defined by three main pillars:
Sustainably increasing farm productivity and incomes.
Adapting and building resilience to climate change.
Reducing/removing greenhouse gas emissions, where possible.
California’s working lands offer substantial opportu-nities to reduce GHG emissions while building resilience to maintain our food and economic security.
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California’s Climate Smart
Ag Practices
Voluntary On-farm Practices Include:
Soil Carbon Sequestration
Manure Management
Water Management
Nitrogen Management
Integrated Farming Systems
On-farm Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency
Agricultural Land Conservation
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Electricity Petroleum Buildings Land-base Short-Lived
Milestones: Investments &
Achievements
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Electricity Petroleum Land-base Short-Lived
Over $180 million in investments in Climate
Smart Agriculture Programs since 2014
State Water Efficiency and Enhancement
Program (SWEEP)
Dairy Digester Research and Development
Program
Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation
Program
Healthy Soils Initiative
State Water Efficiency and
Enhancement Program (SWEEP)
$10 million – for 2014-15
$10 million – for 2015-16
$40 million – for 2016-17
$7.5 million – for 2016-18
…from the California Climate Investments fund (Cap and Trade Revenue $) for the California Department of Food and Agriculture to invest in irrigation and water pumping systems that reduce water use, energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
Photo Credit: USDA NRCS8
SWEEP Project Types
Water Conservation
Weather, Soil or Plant based sensors for irrigation scheduling
Micro-Irrigation or Drip Systems
-AND-
GHG Reductions
Fuel Conversion
Improved Energy Efficiency
Low Pressure Systems
Variable Frequency Drives
Reduced Pumping 9
5/17/2016
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• The SWEEP was implemented under the authority of the
Environmental Farming Act of 1995
Division 1, Part 1, Chapter 3, Article 8.5, Sections 560-568, Section 566 (a)
The department shall establish and oversee an
environmental farming program. The program shall
provide incentives to farmers whose practices promote
the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife
and their habitat
SWEEP AUTHORITY
3
PROJECT TYPES
Water Conservation•Weather, Soil or Plant based sensors for irrigation scheduling•Micro-Irrigation or Drip Systems
AND
GHG Reductions• Fuel Conversion• Improved Energy Efficiency• Low Pressure Systems• Variable Frequency Drives•Reduced Pumping
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Tentative Timeline for
2017 SWEEP
*Subject to change 10
Item Proposed Dates*
Request for Applications
releasedJanuary 2017
Grant Application Workshops January - February 2017
Applications Due February 2017
Application Review period February - April 2017
Announce grant awardees May 2017
Project Implementation
beginsMay 2017
Dairy Digester Research and
Development Program
Dairy digesters capture methane gas at dairy farms
and convert it into energy
Methane is approximately 21 times more potent than
carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas.
CDFA’s Dairy Digester Research and Development
Program (DDRDP) helps California dairies:
Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
Lessen energy demand by producing electricity or fuel on-
site
Reduce odors and pathogens
Potential to provide additional revenue stream through
production of by-products
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$11.1 million funded in 2015
Sustainable Agricultural
Lands Conservation ProgramFunds for agricultural conservation
easements and local ag protection
strategies to protect lands from conversion
to urban and rural residential development
2015-16 - $40 million
Easements on 18,988 acres
More Info at:
Department of Conservation and Strategic
Growth Council
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Agricultural Strategies and Outcomes
Agricultural Conservation Easements
Current SALC Project
Categories
Healthy Soils InitiativeAn Interagency Plan to Reduce Greenhouse Gases and
Improve Drought Resiliency by Innovating Farm and Ranchland
Practices.
Climate Benefit: Sequester and Reduce
Greenhouse Gases
Co-benefits
Increase water retention
Improve plant health and yields
Reduce sediment erosion and dust
Improve water and air quality
Improve biological diversity and wildlife habitat
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Land-base
Field Buffers
Examples of Practices
Managed Grazing
Photos: USDA NRCS
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Crop Residue, Cover Crop
Compost
Actions for the Healthy Soils
Initiative
Protect and restore soil organic matter in California’s
soil
Set goals for building soil organic matter
Identify sustainable and integrated financing
opportunities
To incentivize voluntary on-farm management practices
7.5 million for FY 2016-18 (SB 859)
Provide for research, education and technical
support
Increase governmental efficiencies to enhance soil
health on public and private lands
Promote interagency coordination and collaboration 17
Land-base
Incentive and
Demonstration Program
Objective: To build soil carbon and reduce agricultural
GHG emissions through incentive and demonstration
projects.
$7.5 million in the FY 2016-17 budget to develop and
administer a new incentive and demonstration program:
Incentives Program
Demonstration Projects
Framework
Eligibility, application and timeline
Management Practices, co-benefits
Grant size and matching fund requirements
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PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
PROCESS
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Current Status
Tentative Timeline for the 2017
Healthy Soils Incentives Program
Item Proposed Dates*
Public/stakeholder meetings and
program development (including GHG
Quantification Methodology)
November 2016 – April 2017
Notice of Funding availability
releasedMay 2017
Grant Application Workshops May – June 2017
Applications/Grant Proposals due June 2017
Proposal evaluation periods June – September 2017
Grant awardees announced September 2017
Project implementation begins October 2017
*Subject to change 20
Partnerships for Soil Health
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Public Comments,
Stakeholder Input,
State and Federal Agencies