Rice Incentive Program

Purpose: Fund rice conversion projects on areas with highly organic soils in the Delta. Description: The goal of the Rice Incentive Program is to fund rice conversion projects on areas with highly organic soils in the Delta to 1) stop or reverse ongoing subsidence, 2) reduce greenhouse gas emissions, 3) maintain agricultural viability of land below sea level, and 4) provide overwintering habitat for resident and migratory birds. Rice projects should occur only on soils with a high percentage of carbon within the deeply subsided portion of the Delta. The Program is intended to support farmers, including historically underserved farmers, who otherwise cannot convert their fields to rice due to inability to pay or finance high upfront conversion costs. The Program will provide funding to two or three eligible entities that will work with farmers to convert their existing row crops to rice. Eligible entities include Federal, State and local public agencies including special districts and joint powers authorities and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status. The selected eligible 2 entities must also provide technical assistance on rice farming, field conversion, and other related practices to enrolled farmers during the program. Eligibility Requirements Eligible Applicants: Nonprofit Public Agency Tribal Government Eligible Geographies: The legal Delta. Important Dates Application deadline The date (and time, where applicable) by which all applications must be submitted to the grantmaker. Time listed as “00:00” equates to midnight. 10/30/26 00:00 Expected award announcement The date on which the grantor expects to announce the recipient(s) of the grant. March 2027 Period of performance The length of time during which the grant money must be utilized. October 30, 2026 Funding Details Total estimated available funding The total projected dollar amount of the grant. $3,508,642 Expected number of awards A single grant opportunity may represent one or many awards. Some grantors may know in advance the exact number of awards to be given. Others may indicate a range. Some may wish to and wait until the application period closes before determining how many awards to offer; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display. 2 – 3 Estimated amount per award Grant opportunities representing multiple awards may offer awards in the same amount or in varied amounts. Some may wish to wait until the application period closes before determining per-award amounts; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display. Dependent Letter of Intent Required? Certain grants require that the recipient(s) provide a letter of intent. No Requires Matched Funding? Certain grants require that the recipient(s) be able to fully or partially match the grant award amount with another funding source. No Funding Source: The funding source allocated to fund the grant. It may be either State or Federal (or a combination of both), and be tied to a specific piece of legislation, a proposition, or a bond number. State Funding Source Notes: Chaptered on July 5, 2024, Senate Bill (SB) 867, the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024 (SB 867 93020(a)(4)) (Proposition 4 Climate Bond) provided the Conservancy with $29. Uses $3.5 million of funds. Chaptered on September 6, 2022, the Amended Budget Act of 2022 (Assembly Bill 179, Item 3875-101-0001 of Section 111) provided $36 million for projects. Uses $8,642 of the total funds, Funding Method: The manner in which the grant funding will be delivered to the awardee. Funding methods include reimbursements (where the recipient spends out-of-pocket and is reimbursed by the grantor) and advances (where the recipient spends received grant funds directly). Reimbursement(s) How to Apply State agencies/departments recommend you read the full grant guidelines before applying.

Purpose: Fund rice conversion projects on areas with highly organic soils in the Delta. Description: The goal of the Rice Incentive Program is to fund rice conversion projects on areas with highly organic soils in the Delta to 1) stop or reverse ongoing subsidence, 2) reduce greenhouse gas emissions, 3) maintain agricultural viability of land below sea level, and 4) provide overwintering habitat for resident and migratory birds. Rice projects should occur only on soils with a high percentage of carbon within the deeply subsided portion of the Delta. The Program is intended to support farmers, including historically underserved farmers, who otherwise cannot convert their fields to rice due to inability to pay or finance high upfront conversion costs. The Program will provide funding to two or three eligible entities that will work with farmers to convert their existing row crops to rice. Eligible entities include Federal, State and local public agencies including special districts and joint powers authorities and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status. The selected eligible 2 entities must also provide technical assistance on rice farming, field conversion, and other related practices to enrolled farmers during the program. Eligibility Requirements Eligible Applicants: Nonprofit Public Agency Tribal Government Eligible Geographies: The legal Delta.