Santa Cruz County at a Glance

Agricultural Producers

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Top Commodities

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USDA Payments

$3.7M

Subsidy Recipients

Land Value?

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Cropland Rent?

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22 USDA programs currently accepting applications. Find programs for your farm →

32 farmers in Santa Cruz County received $3.7M in 2024

Average payment: $115,033 per recipient

Program Breakdown — Santa Cruz County

Santa Cruz County, California received $3.7M in total farm subsidies (2024).

Disaster Payments $1.1M

Crop Insurance Subsidies $1.3M

Total $3.7M

Top Recipients — Santa Cruz County (32 total)

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

1. American Abalone Farms LLC — Davenport, CA 95017

$207,602

2. Lakeside Organic Gardens LLC — Watsonville, CA 95076

$139,242

3. Pacific Coast Berries LLC — Watsonville, CA 95077

$129,393

4. Af Farms LLC — Freedom, CA 95019

$101,320

5. M.F.D. — Royal Oaks, CA 95076

$100,299

6. Fernandez Farms LLC — Watsonville, CA 95076

$92,692

7. Chapala Berry Farms Inc — Watsonville, CA 95076

$51,478

8. Sweet Organics, Inc — Royal Oaks, CA 95076

$35,409

9. C.L. — Santa Cruz, CA 95062

$32,436

10. D.O. — Watsonville, CA 95076

$31,761

11. Reiter Berry Farms Inc — Watsonville, CA 95076

$26,963

12. Shinta Kawahara Company Inc — Watsonville, CA 95076

$24,494

13. Z.R.E. — Watsonville, CA 95076

$22,018

14. M.A.H. — Salinas, CA 93915

$20,784

15. Sun Valley Berries LLC — Watsonville, CA 95077

$19,203

16. Coastal Vista Farms LLC — Castroville, CA 95012

$16,879

17. Pajaro Valley Farm LLC — Watsonville, CA 95076

$5,940

18. F.L.M. — Watsonville, CA 95076

$5,062

19. Marsalisi Farms LLC — Corralitos, CA 95076

$5,034

20. Beauregard Vineyards, LLC — Santa Cruz, CA 95060

$4,560

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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)

Program Details · Fact Sheet (PDF)

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

Program Details · Fact Sheet (PDF)

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)

Program Details · Fact Sheet (PDF)

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

Program Details · Fact Sheet (PDF)

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

Program Details · Fact Sheet (PDF)

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

Program Details · Fact Sheet (PDF)

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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

Data Sources

Subsidy Payments: EWG Farm Subsidy Database (2024 USDA FOIA data)
Program Details: USDA Service Center Locator

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.

USDA Subsidy Payments in Santa Cruz County, California

Find Programs for Your Farm

Data Sources