CULTIVATING SUSTAINABILITY
2025 Climate-Smart Grant Update for Blue Diamond Member-Growers
What’s Next in Light of the Recent Changes to the Grant Program? While there was some good progress that came from the Climate-Smart Grant program in 2024, it is challenging to see that year three (launched in February 2025) is still uncertain. Several programs, including the Climate-Smart Program, are under review by the new administration to determine the program’s future. We were recently made aware the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) ended a crucial contract for the implementation of Whole Orchard Recycling, effectively stopping our ability to process new or existing applications for the recently launched practice. The Partnerships for Climate- Smart Commodities funds fall under the discretion of the Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, who was sworn in on February 13.
With the delays and pending decision, we understand the impact on our growers and as of March 19, we are still awaiting payment for growers who implemented Climate-Smart Grant practices in 2024. We have requested clarity from the USDA, as the timing of payments remains under their control. Blue Diamond continues to advocate for payment for all practices that were implemented by growers last year. Blue Diamond growers should have received a letter by mail in March indicating that since a significant amount of time has passed since we learned about our grant’s uncertainty we have decided to pause the application intake and processing for all practices until further notice. This is to to minimize the costs incurred to them and our cooperative. It was a difficult decision, but we believe it is in the best interest of our growers and Blue Diamond . Once we receive direction from the USDA on the status of the grant, we will determine the path forward. To reiterate, Blue Diamond is pausing application intake and processing for all practices, until further notice. We greatly appreciate our growers’ continued engagement with Blue Diamond ’s stewardship efforts and their patience as we await additional information. Blue Diamond will continue to provide updates as necessary.
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ALMOND FACTS
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