80267.
(a) For purposes of this section, “small- and medium-sized farms” means farms and ranches of 500 acres or less.(b) Of the funds made available by Section 80260, two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for purposes of protecting California’s agricultural resources, open spaces, and lands from climate resilience. Projects pursuant to this chapter shall have climate resiliency goals including:
(1) Improving soil health to allow for better water retention, carbon sequestration, and reduced soil erosion to improve resiliency from droughts and floods while improving water quality.
(2) Improve on-farm water efficiency to improve resiliency from multiyear droughts.
(3) Improve the state’s ability to respond to risks from invasive species.
(c) Of the funds made available by subdivision (b), one hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) shall be available to the Department of Food and Agriculture for improvements in climate resilience of agricultural lands and ecosystem health and allocated to eligible projects as follows:
(1) (A) Fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) for grants to promote practices on farms and ranches that improve soil health, accelerate atmospheric carbon removal or soil carbon sequestration, improve water quality, enhance groundwater recharge and surface water supplies, or improve fish or wildlife habitat.
(B) At least 35 percent of the funds allocated pursuant to this paragraph shall be allocated to projects that provide direct and meaningful benefits to farmers and ranchers in disadvantaged communities.
(C) Priority shall be given to small- and medium-sized farms and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
(2) (A) Forty million dollars ($40,000,000) for grants to promote on-farm water use efficiency with a focus on multiple benefit projects that improve groundwater management, climate resiliency, water quality, surface water use efficiency, drought and flood tolerance, or water supply and water quality conditions for fish and wildlife.
(B) At least 35 percent of the funds allocated pursuant to this paragraph shall be allocated to projects that provide direct and meaningful benefits to farmers and ranchers in disadvantaged communities.
(C) Priority shall be given to small- and medium-sized farms and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
(3) Forty million dollars ($40,000,000) for projects that promote the reduction of methane emissions from dairy and livestock operations and improved water quality through alternative manure management and handling, including, but not limited to, the creation of composted manure products. Projects shall not include the funding of anaerobic digesters.
(4) Twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) to be deposited in the Invasive Species Account established pursuant to Section 7706 of the Food and Agricultural Code for purposes of funding invasive species projects and activities recommended by the Invasive Species Council of California. Priority shall be given to projects that restore and protect ecosystem health.
(d) Of the funds made available by subdivision (b), fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available to the Department of Conservation for projects for the protection, restoration, and enhancement of farmland and rangeland, including, but not limited to, the acquisition of fee titles or easements, that improve climate resilience, open-space soil health, atmospheric carbon removal, soil carbon sequestration, erosion control, watershed restoration, conservation projects, water quality, water retention, and provide multiple benefits. In awarding funds for farmland and rangeland projects pursuant to this section, the Department of Conservation shall give preference to projects for small- and medium-sized farms At least 35 percent of the funds allocated pursuant to this section shall be allocated to projects that provide direct and meaningful benefits to farmers and ranchers in severely disadvantaged communities.