FARMER Program

The 2023 FARMER Application period August 1 - August 31.

Program Background

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 divers 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 emissions standards on engine manufacturers, emissions from these vehicles and equipment are 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 AB109 (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 agriculture operations." CARB staff has developed the Funding Agricultural Replacement Measures for Emission Reductions (FARMER) Program to meet the Legislature's objectives and help meet the State's criteria, toxic and greenhouse gas emission reduction goals.

Funding for the FARMER Program is dependent on the State Legislature's annual budget and varies from year to year.

Shared Allocation Pool

The Shared Allocation Pool (SAP) is specifically designated for the Air Quality Management and Air Pollution Control 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 APCD in accordance with the grant provisions outline in the agreement between CARB and Placer APCD. 

Resources

Forms & Templates (Coming Soon)