Explore funding opportunities to support rangeland management, conservation, and sustainable ranching. While conservation easements secure the long-term protection of working lands, these grants focus on restoration, habitat health, and stewardship projects. They provide resources for landowners to enhance soil, water, wildlife habitat, and the agricultural productivity of their land; all of which help strengthen and sustain the benefits of a conservation easement.
Do you have a project that you need funding for? Fill out this application and we will contact you if we find a grant or funding available that fits your project!
Landowner Grants are those that provide direct funding to applicants that may be ranchers, farmers, or landowners.
These grants can only be applied to by organizations like nonprofits, RCDs, and agencies. California Rangeland trust has the ability to apply in partnership with you. If you see a project or program that is in your interest, submit an application below:
This is a list of disaster relief funding programs that support farmers and ranchers recovering from wildfires, as well as other natural disasters such as droughts, floods, storms, and extreme weather events, offering assistance for land repair, livestock losses, damaged crops, and emergency recovery needs.
The Emergency Conservation Program provides financial and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers to help them repair farmland and conservation structures damaged by natural disasters.
The Livestock Indemnity Program compensates producers for livestock deaths or reduced market value caused by eligible natural disasters.
The Tree Assistance Program (TAP) provides financial assistance to growers to replant or rehabilitate trees, bushes, or vines lost or damaged due to natural disasters.
FSA Emergency Farm Loans provide low-interest financing to help producers recover from production and physical losses caused by declared natural disasters.
Contact your local USDA Service Center to get started!
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Category: Federal (USDA Farm Service Agency – FSA)
Purpose: Protects grasslands, rangeland, and pastureland from conversion while supporting grazing operations, wildlife habitat, and long-term grassland health
Funding: Annual rental payments (based on % of county pasture rental rates) + cost-share for certain conservation practices
Deadline: Signup periods are announced annually by USDA FSA
Scope: Nationwide
Who Can Apply: Landowners and producers with eligible grassland; ranchers may apply directly
Key Features: Allows continued grazing/haying; maintains working lands; supports biodiversity and forage stability; 10–15 year contracts
Next Steps: Contact your local USDA FSA Service Center
Category: Federal (USDA NRCS)
Purpose: Supports existing conservation efforts while enhancing grazing, soil health, wildlife habitat, and more
Funding: Payments vary based on acres and conservation activities, subject to program limits.
Deadline: Apply anytime; state ranking dates apply (CA Oct 3, 2025)
Scope: Nationwide
Who Can Apply: Individual ranchers and farmers — apply directly
Key Features: Enhances current conservation practices; payments reflect base plus new activities
Next Steps: Contact your local NRCS Service Center
Category: Federal (USDA NRCS)
Purpose: Provides financial and technical assistance for conservation practices addressing natural resource concerns
Funding: Varies by project scope and practice
Deadline: Applications accepted year-round; first cutoffs announced soon
Scope: California
Who Can Apply: Farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners in California
Key Features: Supports soil health, water conservation, wildlife habitat enhancement, air quality management
Next Steps: Contact your local NRCS Service Center
Category: Federal (USDA-NIFA via Western SARE)
Purpose: Supports innovative, rancher-driven research and outreach to advance sustainable agriculture
Funding: Up to $35,000 per project
Deadline: Annually in late October
Scope: Western U.S., including California
Who Can Apply: Applicants must meet minimum farm income or experience requirements, which vary by year.
Key Features: On-farm research, demos, field trials, workshops, farmer-to-farmer education
Next Steps: Check program website for current funding opportunities.
Category: State (CDFA)
Purpose: Funds on-farm practices that build soil health, increase carbon sequestration, and reduce GHG emissions
Funding: Funding amounts vary by practice and funding cycle
Deadline: Opens periodically; currently closed
Scope: California statewide
Who Can Apply: California farmers, ranchers, and agricultural operations that own or control the land (including lessees with landowner approval)
Key Features: Supports new soil-building practices like compost, cover crops, reduced/no-till, mulching, hedgerows, and more
Next Steps: Check program website for current funding opportunities
Category: Federal (USDA Forest Service Programs)
Purpose: Provides technical and financial support for forest management on private lands, including ranch woodlands
Funding: Varies; includes planning and implementation
Deadline: Rolling
Scope: Nationwide
Who Can Apply: Ranchers with woodlands
Key Features: Supports forest management, restoration, and planning
Next Steps: Check program website for current funding opportunities
Category: State (California)
Purpose: State-funded monarch and pollinator habitat grant opportunities that open periodically to support habitat restoration projects on working lands, including rangelands, to benefit monarch butterflies and other pollinators.
Funding: Varies by funding cycle.
Deadline: Stay up to date with funding cycles and application periods.
Scope: California.
Who Can Apply: Ranchers; nonprofits and other eligible entities may apply on behalf of or in partnership with land stewards.
Key Features: Supports pollinator- and monarch-friendly habitat restoration and management practices on agricultural and rangeland systems.
Next Steps: Check program website for current funding opportunities
Category: State / Regional
Purpose: Supports forest restoration, wildfire risk reduction, and habitat enhancement on private lands to improve forest health and community resilience.
Funding: Varies by project; supports planning and implementation activities.
Deadline: Stay up to date with funding cycles and application periods.
Scope: Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake, and Solano counties, California.
Who Can Apply: Private landowners; landowner associations; nonprofits partnering with private landowners.
Key Features: Supports forest management, restoration, and fuel reduction projects that reduce wildfire risk and enhance ecosystem health.
Next Steps: Check program website for current funding opportunities.
Watch: Application Support Video
Category: Local (Amador Resource Conservation District)
Purpose: Improves wildfire resilience for residential properties by supporting vegetation management and fire-smart landscaping around homes.
Funding: In-kind support; eligible participants receive free vegetation clearing and defensible space services.
Deadline: Stay up to date with program availability and application periods.
Scope: Amador County, California.
Who Can Apply: Disabled, senior, low-income, and veteran residents of Amador County.
Key Features: Provides vegetation clearing within defensible space zones around homes; promotes defensible space, home hardening, and fire-smart landscaping; may include demonstration or volunteer-supported sites.
Next Steps: Check program website for current funding opportunities.
Category: State (California Department of Food and Agriculture)
Purpose: Supports alternative manure management practices that reduce methane and greenhouse gas emissions from livestock operations
Funding: Varies; competitive grants
Deadline: Periodic / Not rolling (check for active funding rounds)
Scope: California
Who Can Apply: California dairy and livestock producers
Key Features: Funds non-digester practices such as dry scrape systems, composting, solid separation, and pasture-based manure management
Next Steps: Check program website for current funding opportunities
Contact/Resources: CDFA Alternative Manure Management Program
Category: Federal (USDA), but administered by State Office
Purpose: To assist agricultural producers in creating new products, expanding marketing opportunities, and increasing income through value-added activities.
Funding: 1:1 matching, up to 50k for planning grants, up to 200k for Working Capital grants.
Deadline: Stay up to date with funding cycles and application periods via program website
Scope: Nationwide
Who can apply: Agricultural Producers and Groups, Farmer or rancher cooperatives, majority-controlled producer-based business ventures
Key Features: Generates new products from raw agricultural commodities, increases producer income through enhanced product value and market reach
Next steps: Check program website and portal for current funding opportunities
User Guide: Click here to view the user guide
Category: State
Purpose: To facilitate support for small and medium scale California agricultural producers, or small and medium scale socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers through direct relief grants
Funding: Funding is distributed through various direct Assistance Providers throughout the state via the 2024 CUSP Extreme weather and Other Climate Impacts direct relief program.
Deadline: Stay up to date with funding cycles and application periods via program website
Scope: California
Who can apply: Small and Medium scale ag producers (any farmer making up to 400,000 or dairy up to 1,000,000 in annual gross sales, small and medium socially disadvantaged farmer or ranchers.
Key Features: Program funds Technical Assistance providers to assist farmers or ranchers with applications.
Next Steps: Check program website for current funding opportunities
Category: State
Purpose: To sequester atmospheric carbon in the form of soil organic carbon, resulting in myriad co-benefits for the public ranging from climate resilience to improved nutrient density.
Funding: Maximum request is $25,000, minimum request is $1,500. Grants awarded on the basis of “Cost per Ton” of CO2e sequestered.
Deadline: Stay up to date with funding cycles and application periods via program website
Scope: California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington
Who can apply: Ranchers and Farmers
Key features: Uses CDFA’s online tool “COMET-Planner” to score applications
Next Steps: Check program website for current funding opportunities
Category: State (Sierra Nevada Conservancy)
Purpose: Enhances wildfire resilience and forest health in forests and watersheds within the Sierra-Cascade region by supporting projects that reduce wildfire risk and improve ecosystem resilience.
Funding: Varies by funding cycle; supported through state wildfire resilience investments.
Deadline: Stay up to date with funding cycles and opportunities.
Scope: Sierra-Cascade region, California.
Who Can Apply: Nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and tribal entities.
Key Features: Supports hazardous tree removal, fuel breaks, prescribed fire, and other fuels-reduction activities that protect communities and landscapes.
Next Steps: Check program website for current funding opportunities
Category: Nonprofit / Restoration Grant (Wildlife Conservation Board block grant administered by Point Blue)
Purpose: Supports wildlife-friendly restoration and habitat improvement projects on farms and ranches, with a focus on equity and access for underserved land stewards.
Funding: Varies by project; supported through a multi-year block grant allocation.
Deadline: Stay up to date with funding cycles and application periods.
Scope: California.
Who Can Apply: Farmers and ranchers applying with Point Blue’s ROOTS program process.
Key Features: Supports on-the-ground restoration and habitat resilience projects; prioritizes equity-focused outcomes and support for underserved producers.
Next Steps: Check program website for current funding opportunities.
Category: State (CAL FIRE)
Purpose: Supports wildfire risk reduction and resilience projects on private and working lands to protect communities and landscapes.
Funding: Varies by funding cycle.
Deadline: Stay up to date with funding cycles and opportunities.
Scope: California.
Who Can Apply: Ranchers usually participate through partner-led projects.
Key Features: Supports wildfire mitigation activities such as defensible space, fuel reduction, and landscape resilience projects.
Next Steps: Check program website for current funding opportunities.
Category: State (CalRecycle)
Purpose: Supports cleanup of abandoned or hazardous solid waste on farm and ranch properties to improve environmental and land health.
Funding: Varies; typically covers eligible waste removal and disposal costs.
Deadline: Rolling; subject to available funding.
Scope: California.
Who Can Apply: Ranchers, typically through Resource Conservation Districts or eligible partners.
Key Features: Removes abandoned or hazardous farm and ranch waste, reducing environmental risks and improving property conditions.
Next Steps: Check program website for current funding opportunities.
Category: State (CA Department of Conservation – Division of Land Resource Protection)
Purpose: Supports demonstration projects that improve soil health, climate resilience, and carbon sequestration on working lands.
Funding: Varies by funding cycle.
Deadline: Stay up to date with future funding opportunities.
Scope: California.
Who Can Apply: Nonprofits, Resource Conservation Districts, and public agencies; ranchers typically participate as project partners.
Key Features: Demonstrates climate-smart and soil health practices on agricultural and rangeland systems.
Next Steps: Check program website for current funding opportunities.
Category: State (CA Department of Conservation – Division of Land Resource Protection)
Purpose: Supports riparian restoration, habitat improvement, and soil health projects on working agricultural lands.
Funding: Varies by funding cycle.
Deadline: Stay up to date with future grant announcements.
Scope: California.
Who Can Apply: Nonprofits, Resource Conservation Districts, local agencies, and tribes; ranchers typically partner with eligible applicants.
Key Features: Supports habitat restoration, water quality improvements, and healthy soils practices on working lands.
Next Steps: Check program website for current funding opportunities.
Category: Private/Foundation (Cornell Lab – Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative)
Purpose: Builds organizational capacity for land trusts to integrate bird conservation into planning, outreach, and data use.
Funding: Up to $10,000 per project.
Deadline: Annual; stay up to date with proposal cycles.
Scope: Nationwide.
Who Can Apply: Accredited or non-accredited land trusts; partnerships with other organizations are eligible.
Key Features: Supports tools, training, outreach, and partnerships that strengthen conservation capacity.
Next Steps: Check program website for current funding opportunities.
Category: Private/Foundation (Cornell Lab – Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative)
Purpose: This grant supports on-the-ground habitat management and restoration
Funding: Up to $10,000 per project.
Deadline: Annual; stay up to date with proposal cycles.
Scope: Nationwide.
Who Can Apply: Accredited or non-accredited land trusts; partnerships with other organizations are eligible.
Key Features: Supports tools, training, outreach, and partnerships that strengthen conservation capacity.
Next Steps: Check program website for current funding opportunities.
Category: State (CA Department of Conservation – Division of Land Resource Protection)
Purpose: Funds watershed coordinator positions to advance watershed health, planning, and collaborative conservation efforts.
Funding: Varies by funding cycle; staff-focused support.
Deadline: Stay up to date with funding availability.
Scope: California.
Who Can Apply: Nonprofits, Resource Conservation Districts, and public agencies.
Key Features: Supports watershed coordination and planning with indirect benefits to agricultural and rangeland communities.
Next Steps: Check program website for current funding opportunities.
Category: State (CA Department of Conservation – Division of Land Resource Protection)
Purpose: Builds regional capacity for wildfire resilience, forest health planning, and implementation.
Funding: Varies by block grant and funding cycle.
Deadline: Stay up to date with funding availability.
Scope: California.
Who Can Apply: Nonprofits, public agencies, and regional collaboratives.
Key Features: Supports planning, prioritization, and capacity-building for wildfire resilience and forest health efforts.
Next Steps: Check program website for current funding opportunities.
Category: State (CA Department of Fish and Wildlife)
Purpose: Supports implementation of approved Natural Community Conservation Plans, including habitat restoration, monitoring, and adaptive management.
Funding: Varies by funding cycle; project-based awards.
Deadline: Stay up to date with annual funding cycles.
Scope: California.
Who Can Apply: Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribes connected to approved NCCPs.
Key Features: Supports habitat restoration, reserve management, monitoring, and planning activities.
Next Steps: Check program website for current funding opportunities
Category: State (Wildlife Conservation Board)
Purpose: Supports sustainable ranching while conserving oak woodlands through protection, restoration, and land management planning.
Funding: Varies by funding cycle; commonly supports easements, management plans, and habitat restoration.
Deadline: Rolling; subject to available funding.
Scope: California.
Who Can Apply: Nonprofits; projects may involve ranchers and private landowners as partners.
Key Features: Supports oak woodland conservation, sustainable ranching, and long-term land stewardship.
Next Steps: Check program website for current funding opportunities
