Can include but are not limited to:

• Increased electric utility bills of 30% or more due to increased electricity rates
• Surface water costs if increase from year prior
• Cost of hauling water for livestock or crops (due to drought, not due to business model)
• Lowering ag well pumps if a primary source of water is lost
• Emergency upgrades to irrigation system (paired with conservation)
• Decreased crop yields/crop loss due to less water available or having to fallow land
• Drilling of new wells or repairs on existing wells if sole source of water for operation. 
• Use of funds for upgrading to a larger pump that draws more water, up to 40 horsepower

• CUSP is a reimbursement-based grant, so farmers should be prepared to demonstrate that they’ve had increased costs, new expenses, or an unexpected decrease in gross revenue due to drought.
• Applications are mainly evaluated based on the quality of their “supporting documentation. Applicants *must* submit one document, and may submit up to three.

Applications are mainly evaluated based on the quality of their supporting documentation. Receipts and documentation for reimbursement can go back no further than 2017.

Applicants must submit one document, and may submit up to three documents.

Good examples of effective documentation include:

• Profit & Loss/Schedule F statements comparing revenue from consecutive years
• Harvest or sales records comparing yields from consecutive years
• Notice from a Groundwater Sustainability Agency or other water utility company demonstrating a decrease in water supply or increase in water costs
• Receipts demonstrating increased costs for water infrastructure, such as a drip system, mulch or other materials to increase soil water-holding capacity
• Receipts from a water transport company
• Receipts for livestock feed
• Utility bills demonstrating increased electricity or water cost