Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC)
The SALC Program funds the conservation of California agricultural lands to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support sustainable development through science-based planning and acquisitions.
Funder: California Department of Conservation
Due Dates: Rolling (Acquisition Phase 1 Pre-proposals) | December 1, 2025 (Acquisition Phase 2 Pre-proposals, Cycle A) | January 15, 2026 (Planning Pre-proposals & Acquisition Applications, Cycle A) | May 14, 2026 (Acquisition Phase 2 Pre-proposals, Cycle B) | June 17, 2026 (Planning & Acquisition Applications, Cycle B)
Funding Amounts: ~$58 million available in Round 11; up to 90% of easement value or fee title value (100% for tribes/priority populations); $60,000 for associated costs/project; no maximum award for acquisitions.
Summary: Supports California agricultural land conservation, GHG reduction, and sustainable development with grants for conservation acquisitions, planning, and organizational capacity.
Key Information: Acquisition pre-proposals are accepted on a rolling basis; planning and full applications have fixed deadlines.
Description
The Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC) is administered by the California Department of Conservation in partnership with the California Natural Resources Agency and the Strategic Growth Council. SALC provides grants to protect agricultural lands at risk of conversion to non-agricultural uses, support local planning for agricultural land protection, and build organizational capacity for conservation. The program is part of California Climate Investments and aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote economic growth, and foster sustainable development through strategic investments in agricultural land conservation and planning.
