Applications due August 31 for FARMER funding to upgrade agricultural trucks, equipment, reduce pollution
SACRAMENTO — Funds to replace old agricultural equipment and vehicles are available starting Monday for 17 of California’s smaller air districts. Replacement with cleaner equipment helps reduce emissions of harmful diesel exhaust and greenhouse gases, and improves local air quality.
The statewide Funding Agricultural Replacement Measures for Emission Reductions (FARMER) program received $212 million in fiscal year 2021-22. Approximately $8.5 million is specifically designated for districts that each contribute less than 1 percent of total statewide emissions from agricultural equipment.
The first application period for the 17 “shared pool” districts kicks off Monday, August 1, and runs through August 31, 2022. FARMER funding is administered by California’s regional air districts, and farmers apply by submitting an application to their local air district.
To be eligible, vehicles and equipment must be engaged in agricultural operations. Eligible project categories include:
- On-road heavy-duty trucks;
- Off-road vehicles, such as tractors;
- Stationary and portable engine sources, such as agricultural pumps;
- Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTV), or small tractors, (eligible for replacement with electric UTV); and
- Infrastructure engaged in, or supporting, agricultural operations.
Since the FARMER Program first launched in 2018, projects implemented statewide will reduce 1,120 tons of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5), 18,700 tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx), and 169,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gases.
The 17 shared-pool districts were designated to ensure farmers operating in those smaller districts have the opportunity to access FARMER funding. The pool is managed by Placer County Air Pollution Control District.
The 17 districts are:
Amador County APCD | Mendocino County AQMD |
Antelope Valley AQMD | Modoc County APCD |
Calaveras County APCD | North Coast Unified AQMD |
Eastern Kern County APCD | Northern Sierra AQMD |
El Dorado County AQMD | Placer County APCD |
Great Basin Unified APCD | Shasta County AQMD |
Lake County AQMD | Siskiyou County APCD |
Lassen County APCD | Tuolumne County APCD |
Mariposa County APCD |
|
As administrator of this shared pool district funding, Placer County APCD is not participating in this round of FARMER. Placer County farmers are urged to contact Placer APCD directly for ag equipment replacement opportunities using other funding sources.