FARMER Program

Funding Agricultural Replacement Measures for Emission Reductions (FARMER) Program

California’s agricultural industry consists of approximately 77,500 farms and ranches, providing over 400 different commodities, making agriculture one of the State’s most diverse industries. Producers, custom operators, first processors, and rental companies own and operate approximately 160,000 pieces of off-road, diesel-fueled, mobile agricultural equipment statewide, in addition to stationary equipment, and on-road vehicles used in agricultural operations. Even with increasingly stringent emission standards on engine manufacturers, emissions from these vehicles and equipment are a significant source of air pollution. Reducing these emissions is necessary to meet federal ozone and particulate matter air quality standards.

In recognition of the strong need and this industry’s dedication to reducing their emissions, the State Legislature allocated $135 million to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) from Fiscal Year (FY) 2017-18 through Assembly Bill (AB) 134 (Committee on Budget, Chapter 254, Statutes of 2017) and AB 109 (Ting, Chapter 249, Statutes of 2017). The Legislature directed the use of the monies to “reduce agricultural sector emissions by providing grants, rebates, and other financial incentives for agricultural harvesting equipment, heavy-duty trucks, agricultural pump engines, tractors, and other equipment used in agricultural operations.” CARB staff has developed the Funding Agricultural Reduction Measures for Emission Reductions (FARMER) Program to meet the Legislature’s objectives and help meet the State’s criteria, toxic and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction goals.

Funding for the FARMER Program is dependent on the State Legislature’s annual budget and may vary from year to year.

The Shared Allocation Pool (SAP) is specifically designated for the 18 Air Quality Management and Air Pollution Control Districts (districts) with less than one percent of the statewide agricultural equipment emissions inventory, to ensure farmers in those districts have the opportunity to access FARMER funding and to streamline the implementation of the FARMER Program. The SAP is managed by Placer County Air Pollution Control District (Placer APCD) in accordance with the grant provisions outlined in the agreement between the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and Placer APCD.

Any of the following 18 Districts may participate in the FARMER Shared Allocation Pool with Placer APCD:

Amador County APCDModoc County APCD
Antelope Valley AQMDMojave Desert AQMD
Calaveras County APCDNorth Coast Unified AQMD
El Dorado County AQMDNorthern Sierra AQMD
Great Basin Unified APCDNorthern Sonoma County APCD
Lake County AQMDPlacer County APCD
Lassen County APCDShasta County AQMD
Mariposa County APCDSiskiyou County APCD
Mendocino County AQMDTuolumne County APCD

Applicant Process 

Applications are not currently being accepted for the Shared Allocation Pool. Please check back frequently, as application solicitation periods will be posted here as soon as they are decided.

  • The local district will review the applications for completeness and forward eligible applications to Placer County APCD for review.
  • Placer County APCD will provide the local district with a list of projects recommended for funding, along with maximum funding award amounts.
  • The local district will contact applicants regarding award status

Resources

FARMER Shared Allocation Pool Policies and Procedures Manual: Click Here

Air District Look-Up: https://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/moyer/source_categories/map.htm

Air District Contacts: https://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/moyer/air_district_contacts.htm

FARMER Website: https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/farmer-program

FARMER Guidelines: https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/documents/farmer-program-guidelines

Carl Moyer Website: https://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/moyer/moyer.htm

Carl Moyer Guidelines: https://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/moyer/guidelines/current.htm