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USDA SUBSIDY DATA · 2024 · EWG / FOIA

USDA Subsidy Payments in Santa Barbara County, California

Santa Barbara County received $15.3M in farm subsidies (2024).

Santa Barbara County at a Glance
Agricultural Producers
N/A
Top Commodities
N/A
USDA Payments
$15.3M
Subsidy Recipients
113
Land Value?
N/A
Cropland Rent?
N/A
22 USDA programs currently accepting applications. Find programs for your farm →
113 farmers in Santa Barbara County received $15.3M in 2024
Average payment: $135,542 per recipient
Program Breakdown — Santa Barbara County

Santa Barbara County, California received $15.3M in total farm subsidies (2024).

Disaster Payments $2.9M
Crop Insurance Subsidies $6.2M
Dairy Programs $8,408
Total $15.3M
Top Recipients — Santa Barbara County (113 total)

Businesses shown by full name; individuals shown by initials (FOIA/EWG data).

1. Rancho Bonita Farms — Santa Maria, CA 93455
$500,000
2. K.A.P. — Los Olivos, CA 93441
$176,838
3. Brassica Farms — Santa Maria, CA 93458
$148,197
4. Socal Berry Growers LLC — Ventura, CA 93003
$141,686
5. Carlyle Farming Company LLC — Camarillo, CA 93012
$131,714
6. Luis Family Ltd Partnership — Orcutt, CA 93455
$128,917
7. Rancho San Julian Cattle LLC — Lompoc, CA 93436
$121,764
8. Brothers Best Farming Inc — Arroyo Grande, CA 93421
$119,809
9. Fresh Venture Farms LLC — Oxnard, CA 93033
$117,083
10. Tres Osos Ranch Inc — Buellton, CA 93427
$103,607
11. Sunlife Farm Inc — Santa Maria, CA 93454
$95,021
12. Williams Livestock LLC — Buellton, CA 93427
$93,125
13. Teixeira Ranch Inc — Santa Maria, CA 93455
$84,230
14. C&l Farms LLC — Santa Maria, CA 93454
$63,304
15. Testaney Inc — Solvang, CA 93463
$53,579
16. Triangle E Farms — Maricopa, CA 93252
$53,104
17. M.M. — Santa Maria, CA 93454
$42,073
18. Mar Vista Berry II LLC — Santa Maria, CA 93455
$40,050
19. Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards Lp — Solvang, CA 93463
$34,019
20. I.R.M.F. — Santa Maria, CA 93456
$31,142
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How to Apply — Open Programs

These USDA programs are currently accepting applications. Visit your local NRCS/FSA office to get started.

ARC-CO (Agriculture Risk Coverage — County) FSA

Provides revenue loss protection when actual county crop revenue drops below a benchmark. Payment is automatic once enrolled — no claim needed.

Value: $8–$75/acre depending on crop and county revenue shortfall
Complexity: Low — sign election at FSA, 15 minutes
Where: Your local FSA office
Bring:
  • Photo ID
  • FSA farm number (FSA will have it on file)
PLC (Price Loss Coverage) FSA

Provides price protection when the national average price for a covered commodity drops below its reference price. Pays on base acres, not planted acres.

Value: $0–$125+/acre depending on how far price drops below reference
Complexity: Low — sign election at FSA, 15 minutes
Where: Your local FSA office
Bring:
  • Photo ID
  • FSA farm number
CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) FSA

Annual rental payments for removing environmentally sensitive land from production and planting conservation cover (grass, trees, buffers). 10-15 year contracts.

Value: $50–$300+/acre/year depending on soil rental rate in your county
Complexity: Medium — FSA evaluates your offer using Environmental Benefits Index
Where: Your local FSA office
Bring:
  • Photo ID
  • FSA farm number
  • Deed or lease for the land
  • Cropping history (last 6 years)
EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program) NRCS

Cost-share payments (typically 50-75%) for conservation practices: cover crops, fencing, water systems, nutrient management, erosion control, and more.

Value: Cost-share typically 50-75% of practice cost (90% for beginning farmers). Payment limits removed for FY2025.
Complexity: Low to apply (2-page form), then NRCS develops conservation plan with you
Where: Your local NRCS office
Bring:
  • Photo ID
  • Deed or lease
  • Description of conservation concerns
CSP (Conservation Stewardship Program) NRCS

Annual payments for maintaining and improving existing conservation practices. If you're already doing cover crops, no-till, or rotational grazing — you may already qualify.

Value: $4,000–$40,000+/year depending on acres and practices (minimum raised from $1,500 to $4,000 in FY2024)
Complexity: Medium — NRCS evaluates your existing conservation and scores it
Where: Your local NRCS office
Bring:
  • Photo ID
  • Deed or lease
  • Description of current conservation practices
Federal Crop Insurance RMA

Government-subsidized crop insurance. The government pays ~60% of your premium. Protects against yield loss, revenue loss, or both.

Value: Premium subsidy saves $5–$30+/acre; coverage at 50-85% of expected revenue
Complexity: Low-Medium — agent handles paperwork, you choose coverage level
Where: Through a private crop insurance agent (not FSA/NRCS)
Bring:
  • Production records (yield history)
  • Acreage information
  • FSA farm/tract numbers
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Farmer Success Stories — California

Real farmers in California share how USDA programs helped their operations.

FSA · Aug 15, 2025
Fridays on the Farm: Multi-Generational Farm Thrives in Northern California
More Success Stories →
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USDA Funding Rank — Santa Barbara County, California ?
113 subsidy recipients were funded in Santa Barbara County in 2024.
56th
percentile in California
Ranked 26th of 57 counties · $2.9M total
0th 50th 100th
What this means: Santa Barbara County receives more USDA funding than 56% of counties in California. This county receives a moderate level of federal farm support.

Want the full list of every subsidy recipient in Santa Barbara County?

See All Recipients on EWG →

Environmental Working Group publishes full USDA FOIA data.

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Find Programs for Your Farm

See every USDA subsidy, grant, and loan available in California — with deadlines and how to apply.

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Data Sources

All data is from public federal sources. Updated periodically — verify current details at your local USDA office.

Program information sourced from USDA. Eligibility described here is general guidance only. Confirm at your local FSA or NRCS office. FarmGrant is not affiliated with USDA.