The Marin Agricultural Land Trust has launched a new fund aimed at helping farmers and ranchers implement innovative responses to climate change. Starting this fall, MALT will distribute small grants to Marin County agriculturalists who wish to reduce their climate footprints and make their operations more climate resilient. The trust intends to distribute $200,000 this fall in grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000. MALT will hold office hours on Aug. 28 and 29 to assist anyone interested in applying for the new program. The fund picks up where MALT’S recent drought-relief program left off. That two-year effort to help ranchers through the recent historic drought distributed nearly $1 million to help strengthen water infrastructure improvements. “The drought is over for now, but the need for climate resilience is still there,” said Lily Verdone, MALT’s executive director. “We want to help farmers and ranchers across the county to be able to transition to a more resilient future.” MALT will consider all climate-smart proposals that increase water security, build soil health or reduce the use of fossil fuels. These might include converting gas engines to electric power, installing rain catchment systems or solar power panels, and adopting robotic technologies to replace fuel-burning farm equipment. Techniques for reducing the release of methane from manure will also be supported. MALT will accept applications through Sept. 10 and intends to distribute the grants in October. The program will be open to all Marin ranches, not only those that are part of the MALT network. The trust plans to offer a second round of grants next spring. Find more information at https://malt.org/small-grants/.