Active funding paths for sensor deployment and irrigation efficiency
Updated: March 3, 2026 | SWEEP paused, EQIP is the primary path
Management Analyst (Acting) - Grants and Agreements / Outreach Coordinator
NRCS, Fresno
Nick met Yissel at World Ag Expo (Feb 12, 2026). She sent follow-up links to EQIP, CIG, TSP, and CPAs.
NRCS/USDA
Max Funding
$450,000 per operation
Cost Share
75% standard, up to 90% for beginning/underserved farmers
Dedicated funding pool for Madera Irrigation District. $19.4M allocated for FY2023-2027 covering 96,500 acres. Soil moisture sensors, IWM plans, micro-irrigation upgrades all eligible. Applications accepted year-round on continuous basis.
PRIMARY PATH. Madera ID is a designated WaterSMART priority area with $19.4M dedicated funding. 1,500 acres citrus qualifies for $200K-$450K in cost-share. Walk into Madera County NRCS office and apply NOW.
Strong option. Apply at Tulare County NRCS office. Practice 449 + 441 for sensor-based IWM on citrus/tree nuts.
Strong option. Apply at Tulare County NRCS office. 16 entities can each apply separately. $450K per operation across all entities.
NRCS/USDA
Max Funding
Payment per practice completed
Cost Share
NRCS pays the TSP directly
Nick can register as a certified TSP for irrigation water management. NRCS pays TSPs directly to help farmers implement conservation practices. This means Nick gets PAID by NRCS to do what he already does - write IWM plans and help farmers with irrigation scheduling.
Nick writes the IWM plan as a TSP, NRCS pays him directly. Wylie gets the plan + sensors through EQIP.
Same - Nick as TSP writes IWM plans for Shannon entities, gets paid by NRCS.
Same - Nick as TSP for all 16 Ford entities. Revenue stream from NRCS for work he already does.
NRCS/USDA
Max Funding
Varies ($150K-$2M typical)
Cost Share
50% minimum match required
Funds development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches. AgWaterAI as a technology provider could apply for CIG to fund sensor deployment and AI-powered IWM across multiple farms. This is a PARTNERSHIP grant - AgWaterAI applies, farmers benefit.
AgWaterAI could apply for CIG to fund sensor deployment across Wylie managed properties. 50% match required.
Same CIG application could include Shannon properties as demonstration sites.
Ford properties with 9 years of data make ideal CIG validation sites.
NRCS/USDA
Max Funding
Up to $450K per agreement
Cost Share
75% cost share
Contribution and Partnership Agreements (CPAs), Deferral and Installment Agreements (DIAs), and Conservation Easement Management Agreements (CEMAs). These are partnership vehicles where AgWaterAI can partner directly with NRCS to deliver conservation services at scale.
CPA could fund AgWaterAI to deploy sensors + AI across all Wylie managed properties.
Same CPA could include Shannon as a demonstration partner.
Ford as anchor client in a CPA with NRCS - powerful for the AgWaterAI story.
NRCS/USDA
Max Funding
$4,000-$40,000/year (5-year contract)
Cost Share
Annual payments for conservation activities
Annual payments for maintaining and expanding conservation activities across entire operation. Stack on top of EQIP - get EQIP for sensor installation, then CSP for ongoing IWM management. Minimum $4,000/year payment.
Apply AFTER EQIP. $4K-$40K/year for 5 years on top of EQIP cost-share. Offsets AgWaterAI subscription.
Same - stack CSP on EQIP for Shannon entities.
Each of 16 entities can apply for CSP individually. Annual payments offset ongoing costs.
CDFA/State of California
Max Funding
$200,000 per entity per round
Cost Share
Up to 75% (can fund 100% if under $200K)
SWEEP solicitation is PAUSED. CDFA transitioned to block grant model. No Block Grant Recipient (BGR) covers Madera or Tulare County. Tulare County RCD and Tulare Irrigation District both applied and were REJECTED. New BGRs expected under Prop 4 cycle (~2027). All application materials are pre-built and ready.
NO BGR for Madera County. Cannot apply now. 16 applications pre-built for when Prop 4 cycle opens (~2027).
NO confirmed BGR for Tulare County. VCRCD may have informal coverage but unconfirmed and likely out of funds.
Same as Shannon. 16 applications pre-built. Cannot submit until a BGR covers Tulare County.
CDFA transitioned SWEEP from direct applications to a Block Grant Recipient (BGR) model. Only 9 BGRs were funded statewide in the 2023 round.
Madera County: ZERO BGRs cover Madera. No path to apply. The Wylies cannot access SWEEP right now.
Tulare County: Both Tulare County RCD and Tulare Irrigation District applied for BGR status and were REJECTED. VCRCD (Ventura County RCD) informally expanded beyond their service area but likely out of funds ($12M in requests vs $4.97M awarded).
Next opportunity: Prop 4 allocated $40M for SWEEP. New BGR solicitation expected late 2026 or 2027. All 16 Ford applications, Shannon applications, and Wylie applications are pre-built and ready to submit when it opens.
Sources: 3 independent deep research reports (Gemini, ChatGPT, Claude) all confirm these findings. CDFA Jan 2026 guidance confirms direct-to-CDFA is formally ended.
She's expecting to hear from us. Nick met her at World Ag Expo. Schedule the NRCS meeting this week.
Call (520) 345-8881Yissel.Martinez@usda.gov | NRCS Fresno, 4625 W Jennifer Ave #125, Fresno, CA 93722
AgWaterAI Internal - Confidential
EQIP = primary path. SWEEP = backup (when Prop 4 opens). Google Water RFI = $2.5M non-dilutive.