Coastal San Luis Resource Conservation District (CSLRCD) staff draws on their combined years of experience to help provide local growers, ranchers and landowners with technical tools and plans to improve the health, function and productivity of their land. The right tools and a plan offer the best path toward land stewardship, healthy resources and sustained livelihoods.

RCD staff is available to provide one-on-one bilingual technical assistance to farmers and ranchers navigating the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Healthy Soils Incentives Program (HSP) and State Water Efficiency Program (SWEEP), from the application phase through implementation and monitoring. 

HSP INCENTIVE PROGRAM

The HSP Incentive Program provides financial incentives to California growers and ranchers to implement conservation management practices that sequester carbon, reduce atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and improve soil health. Practices include compost application, mulching, cover cropping, hedgerows and more. The HSP Incentives Program accepts applications annually. Visit the HSP website for more information.

STATE WATER EFFICIENCY PROGRAM (SWEEP)

SWEEP provides financial cost share for on-farm systems that increase water efficiency and reduce greenhouse gases. Upgrades such as solar arrays, Variable frequency drives and microdrip are eligible. SWEEP accepts applications annually. Visit the SWEEP website for more information. 

NEXT STEPS: HSP & SWEEP

Updated Sept. 30th, 2025

After piloting a “block grant” approach to HSP and SWEEP for the last few years, CDFA is expected to move forward with this new approach for future rounds of implementation funding. Rather than applying directly to CDFA, farmers and ranchers will apply for these programs through a “block grant recipient,” a regional partner who will administer the program at the local level. This approach helps spread funding more evenly throughout the state and allows for each region to prioritize locally important management practices and resource concerns.

CSLRCD, as part of the Central Coast Soil Hub, will apply for both HSP and SWEEP block grants. If awarded, we will work with the other RCDs on the Central Coast to administer these funds in support of local farmers and ranchers. Funding will likely be available no earlier than mid-to-late 2026, and we are not guaranteed to receive funding for our region. We will share updates here and on the Central Coast Soil Hub newsletter. 

At various intervals, CSLRCD organizes field tours that highlight some of the soil health practices included in the program, such as the compost application on orchards at Avila Valley Barn.

The Healthy Soils Program stems from the California Healthy Soils Initiative, a collaboration of state agencies and departments to promote the development of healthy soils on California’s farmlands and ranchlands.

Partners: San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau

Funders: CDFA

RCD Contact: Rhealynn Ravarra, rravarra@coastalrcd.org