Technical assistance is a key component of CDFA's Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) programs, including the Healthy Soils Program (HSP), the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP), and the Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP). The purpose of technical assistance is to provide direct and hands-on support to farmers and ranchers, ensuring they can effectively apply for and implement climate-smart practices incentivized by these programs. This assistance is particularly valuable for operations that may lack the technical expertise or resources to navigate the application process or implement the required practices. Technical Assistance Providers support interested producers, collect required information for the application and complete the assessment and quantification estimation tools that are required for an applicant to apply. These tools require baseline information to be collected and input into an online assessment tool to estimate the proposed project benefits, which can be a cumbersome and a technical task for busy producers.
Key Elements of Technical Assistance
One-on-One Support: Technical experts offer tailored guidance throughout the application and implementation process.
Enhanced Access to Funding: By assisting in the application process, technical assistance can increases the likelihood of securing incentive funding, particularly for small or under -resourced operations.
Language support: Although its not required, many of the Technical Assistance Providers will support growers with language support, either translating materials or facilitating tasks with growers using language support.
Implementation Assistance: Beyond the application process, assistance continues through the actual implementation of CSA practices, ensuring best practices are followed and funding is used efficiently. Additional assistance can be provided helping growers invoice and report to CDFA.
Capacity Building: CDFA works with the local Technical Assistance Provider to provide and/or facilitate training opportunities to expand regional knowledge on climate smart agriculture management practices.
Historically, when funding is appropriated for AMMP, HSP, or SWEEP, the Office of Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability (OARS) administers a Request for Proposals (RFP) to select qualified technical assistance providers, who work directly with farmers and ranchers to implement sustainable practices. For our Block Grant Programs, the Technical Assistance Providers are selected as part of the Block Grant Selection Process to ensure support is provided locally for the administering agencies. This process ensures that more agricultural operations can benefit from California’s climate and sustainability initiatives, driving forward the state’s environmental goals.
As part of CDFA's Technical Assistance portfolio, CDFA also supports the University of California Cooperative Extension with their efforts in supporting regional Community Education Specialists (CES). These CES are not tied to a specific funding cycle and are available to provide support on the three CDFA CSA programs as well as the CSA TAPs.
Technical Assistance for Producers and Providers
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) supports technical assistance (TA) providers by funding specialists who help farmers and ranchers access grants and implement sustainable practices. Through programs like AMMP, SWEEP, and HSP, CDFA ensures that producers—especially underserved communities—receive the guidance and resources needed to adopt climate-smart agriculture solutions.
Success Stories
Rosie Lee, a farmer in Merced County, switched from flood irrigation to drip systems and installed solar panels with the help of the Climate Smart Agriculture program. Thanks to hands-on technical assistance, she now saves 14.4 acre-inches of water annually and reduces greenhouse gas emissions—cutting costs while improving sustainability. Read More about her experience.
Zuppan Dairy, a 600-cow operation in Glenn County, tackled methane emissions by installing a manure solids separator system with funding from the Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP). With guidance from UC Dairy Advisors, they secured a grant to purchase equipment that improved manure handling, reduced greenhouse gases, and enhanced fertilizer efficiency.
Thanks to these upgrades, Zuppan Dairy will cut 4,059 metric tons of CO2e over five years—equivalent to removing 880 cars from the road—while saving over $13,000 annually on fertilizer costs. Their story shows how technical assistance helps farmers implement sustainable solutions that benefit both the environment and their bottom line.
Awarded TA Providers
CDFA has agreements with technical assistance providers (TAPs) around the state to provide one-on-one support to farmers and ranchers awarded through the Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP), the Healthy Soils Program (HSP) and State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP). Farmers and ranchers in need of implementation assistance associated with their current AMMP or HSP award may contact the TAPs indicated in the lists linked below:
