From the California Department of Food and Agriculture:
CDFA’s Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation (OEFI) is accepting applications for a new competitive grant program, the Water Efficiency Technical Assistance program (WETA).
The Budget Act of 2021 allocated $5 million to support technical assistance for water efficiency and nutrient management for California farmers and ranchers.
Resource conservation districts, non-profit organizations, University of California, California State University campuses, California community colleges, and California and federally-recognized tribes are eligible to receive funding to provide technical assistance. Supported activities include one-on-one assistance, on-site pump and irrigation system evaluations, and training in irrigation efficiency and nutrient management.
Applicants must have demonstrated expertise in on-farm irrigation water and energy use efficiency standards as well as on-farm nutrient management. Lead applicants are encouraged to partner with groundwater sustainability agencies, irrigation districts, and/or water quality coalitions to address local concerns and utilize existing outreach networks.
“This new program is going to benefit California farmers and ranchers broadly,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “We intend to see this program greatly expand access to critical technical assistance that will help farmers adapt for drought and climate resiliency.”
CDFA will host an informational webinar to provide an overview of program guidelines and application materials. Visit the CDFA OEFI technical assistance website at https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/technical/weta.html to review the application materials and to register for the webinar.
Applications will be accepted through January 19, 2022 by 5 PM, Pacific Time. Late applications will not be accepted.
