GHG-01: Develop a Carbon Farming Program
Measure Description
In Progress
The County aims to increase the carbon sequestration potential of natural and working lands in the county. The County will achieve this by developing and implementing a carbon farming program to encourage carbon farming practices like using compost, crop rotation, improved grazing practices, and tillage management. The program will be designed to promote sustainable agricultural practices that enhance soil health, improve the health of vegetation, and contribute to mitigating climate change impacts in the county.
Implementation Status
Updated 8/24/2026
UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) regional farm advisors conduct applied research, provide science-based outreach and education, and help growers address on-the-ground challenges. Sacramento County helps to fund the UCCE Capitol Corridor partnership, which delivers carbon farming education, assists farmers in applying for financial incentives, and provides technical support for program implementation and monitoring. UCCE is widely recognized by regional farmers and prioritizes outreach to underserved and non‑English‑speaking producers. They also maintain an up‑to‑date webpage on climate‑smart agriculture programs: https://ucanr.edu/county/capitol-corridor/climate-smart-agriculture-program. In addition to funding, Sacramento County is exploring additional ways to support UCCE’s carbon farming work.
Regional Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs) are special districts that serve local farmers and help manage grants related to carbon farming. In 2024, four Sacramento County farms were awarded $566,983 through the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Healthy Soils Block Grant as part of the Central Sierra Healthy Soils Program. Through this program, producers receive both technical assistance and cost-share funding to implement conservation practices that improve soil health, increase water-holding capacity, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Collectively, the participating farms will apply approximately 2,938 tons of compost annually across 420 acres through 2027/2028, resulting in an estimated annual reduction of 1,872 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (MTCO₂e). Building on the success of the program, the Central Sierra Conservation Hub—a collaborative partnership of RCDs delivering conservation programs across the region—is pursuing a second round of CDFA Healthy Soils Block Grant funding. If awarded, the next phase is expected to launch in spring 2027, expanding technical assistance and funding opportunities for additional Sacramento County agricultural producers. Additionally, four farms in Sacramento County were awarded CDFA Conservation Agriculture Planning Grants in 2026. This grant funding allowed three farms to complete Carbon Sequestration and Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Management Plans and one to complete a Carbon Sequestration and GHG Mitigation Assessment. Implementation of the plans would reduce emissions by roughly 1,194 MTCO2e/year. The County aims to support the RCDs in future grant applications.
Beyond carbon farming, the County provides free self‑serve compost to residents from March through October at four sites, using compost generated from local residential organic waste. In 2025, the Self‑Serve Compost Program distributed approximately 3,500 tons of compost to residents and nonprofits. The County also provides free compost deliveries to community gardens and offers Compost and Climate Webinars for residents.
Actions
Action GHG-01-a
Action Description: Initiate a partnership with Carbon Cycle Institute (CCI) and the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Capital Corridor unit, or other similar organizations, to develop a carbon farming program that engages farmers, ranchers, and land managers to share carbon farming best practices, provide grant application assistance for carbon farming practices, and track data on soil management practices.
Action GHG-01-b
Action Description: Establish a County staff role or identify adequate support through partnerships with non-profit organizations (or a combination of both) to support implementation of a carbon farming program, including managing incentives, outreach, grant application support, and reporting under the program.
Action GHG-01-c
Action Description: Develop a farming practices and soil management reporting incentive, in which County staff will assist farmers, ranchers, and land managers in preparation of carbon farming grant applications if farmers, ranchers, and land managers commit to annual reporting on soil management and carbon farming practices. UCCE has staff who assist with grant applications (free of charge) that can support in this effort.
Action GHG-01-d
Action Description: Encourage reporting of soil management practices by facilitating optional reporting on current practices to all farmers, ranchers, and land managers during annual crop report data collection, including acres where the following practices are applied. Soil management practices include:
- application of compost/biochar,
- grazing management on irrigated pastures,
- reduction in fallow land,
- Increase of perennial crops, and
- strip tilling or tillage reduction.
Action GHG-01-e
Action Description: Work with UCCE and other partners to provide links to information on relevant current and upcoming carbon farming and healthy soil grant opportunities on the County's website, including semi-annual reviews and updates to grant opportunities. Include a hyperlink to this list in any external communications, such as newsletters or engagement materials for other programs. Examples of known potential funding sources related to carbon farming are included in Appendix F (Greenhouse Gas Reduction Measures County Cost Analysis and Potential Funding Sources).
Action GHG-01-f
Action Description: In partnership with CCI and UCCE, or other similar organizations, develop a Carbon Sequestration Agricultural Practices for Sacramento County study that includes the following information:
- Carbon sequestration practices suited for Sacramento County land including:
- compost application,
- nonsynthetic fertilizer application,
- grazing management,
- rotational cropping, and
- tilling practices.
- Co-benefits of implementing carbon sequestration practices.
- A list of a variety of financial and technical resources that are available to assist farmers and ranchers in implementation.
Action GHG-01-g
Action Description: In partnership with the Sacramento County Farm Bureau and other organizations such as CCI or UCCE, develop and share educational materials about soil management and carbon farming best practices, such as a "Carbon Sequestration Agricultural Practices for Sacramento County" study, and information about soil management reporting and grant application assistance.
Action GHG-01-h
Action Description: Continue to provide free or reduced cost compost produced by County contracted organics processing facilities to residents in the county on a first come, first served basis.
Action GHG-01-i
Action Description: Establish a terrestrial/agricultural carbon finance committee to identify finance mechanisms and funding sources to support the ongoing development and implementation of carbon farming programs in Sacramento County. This could include, but not limited to, assessment of participation in the voluntary carbon markets; the development of a local carbon or ecosystem marketplace; revolving loan funds; matching funds that can be used in conjunction with outside funding, and/or state funding.
Objectives
Create a County program to increase carbon farming to achieve:
Application of compost instead of synthetic fertilizer to approximately 25,000 acres of cropland by 2030, and 113,000 acres of cropland by 2045.
Grazing management to improve rangeland conditions, applied to approximately 13,000 acres by 2030 and 61,000 acres by 2045.
Decrease fallow frequency or add perennial crops to rotations applied to approximately 7,000 acres by 2030, and 32,000 acres by 2045.
Tillage reduced, eliminated, or changed to strip tilling on approximately 1,000 acres by 2030, and 4,000 acres by 2045.