The Resource Conservation District of Monterey County (RCDMC) Sustainable Agriculture Program (2024-2028)

APPLICATION REVIEW BEGINS: MARCH 5th, 2024*

*Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. If applicants meet eligibility criteria, they will be contacted to schedule an interview

PARTICIPANT SELECTION AND ENROLLEMNT:

Overview: We are looking for passionate, dedicated, and curious farmers to participate in a 4-year training program, from summer 2024-2028. In this program, participants will work with RCD Monterey County staff and partner organizations to develop conservation management plans to build soil health, reduce nutrient loss and improve sustainability on their farms. Participants will also participate in a peer learning network with 20-30 other farmers to develop skills, share knowledge and resources, and build community.

RCDMC staff will visit enrolled farms 4+ times/year to provide technical assistance and record information about your agricultural practices, yields, and sales. You will also join 2 group gatherings/year to share with and learn from other farmers in the RCDMC Sustainable Agriculture Program. These gatherings will include guest speakers on topics such as innovative cover cropping techniques, compost application, and marketing products as sustainable.

Benefits of participating in the RCDMC Sustainable Agriculture Program:

Receive financial incentives to implement conservation practices that include reimbursement for cover cropping, compost use and nutrient management planning
Improve irrigation management and fertilizer applications
Receive knowledge and resources to market your produce as sustainable and “Climate Smart”
Learn to track conservation practices and communicate conservation practices to customers
Learn about the successes and challenges experienced by your peers
Learn about other opportunities for funding

Program activities (to be completed with support of RCDMC staff):

Take soil tests and send them to the laboratory to measure the soil health of your farm at the beginning, middle, and end of the program
Each year, apply compost and cover crop to improve soil health
Each year, take soil nitrate quick tests with RCDMC staff every week for a full crop season (approximately 10 weeks) to monitor nitrate levels in the soil and determine when to apply fertilizer
Keep records of water and fertilizer applications
Work with a team of researchers from CSU Monterey Bay and UC Davis to monitor sustainability metrics, yields and sales
Each year, participate in:
- 4+ one-on-one meetings with RCDMC staff to discuss soil health on your farm
- 2 group gatherings to learn about other farmers’ soil health practices

Financial Incentives: If you and your farm business are selected to participate in the RCDMC Sustainable Agriculture Program, you will receive up to a maximum total material and financial benefit of $10,000 per year, including:

Free materials for soil testing and laboratory analysis
Free compost and cover crop seed
Two annual payments after successful implementation of conservation practices and recordkeeping

Eligibility: To be eligible, your farm must be located in Monterey County, Santa Cruz County, or San Benito County. You must also commit to growing at least one of the following crops in each year: broccoli, broccolini, broccoli rabe, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, celery, chard, kale, lettuce, or strawberry (this is a requirement of the funder). Priority will be given to smaller-scale farmers and those that fall under the US Department of Agriculture category of “Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers,” including Black, Indigenous, Latina/o/e, Pacific Islander, and Asian farmers and other farmers of color.

If you are selected for participation in the program, you will first be required to register with the Farm Service Agency (FSA). RCDMC staff can assist with the FSA registration process, but you will not be able to start program activities or receive financial incentives until FSA registration has been established.

How to apply: Complete the application form here. If you have any questions, you can contact Aysha Peterson (aysha.peterson@rcdmonterey.org) or Evelyn Nordberg (evelyn.nordberg@rcdmonterey.org) for more information.

Timeline:

March Application review begins on March 5, 2024
April Interview and selection process
May ~25 participants are selected for participation
June-August Participants complete enrollment process with Farm Service Agency
September Sustainable Agriculture Program kickoff meeting

The RCDMC Sustainable Agriculture Program will run from summer 2024 – summer 2028.

The RCDMC Sustainable Agriculture Program is funded by a Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) (Award Identifying Number: NR233A750004G099).

Apply Here