The Colusa County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 14 approved the application to administer another round of Funding Agricultural Replacement Measures for Emission Reductions (FARMER) Program for 2022-23.
The State Legislature allocated $150 million to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) this year to fund grants with air districts participating in a program to reduce air pollution by scrapping and replacing emission-controlled agricultural harvesting equipment, heavy-duty trucks, agricultural pump engines, tractors, and other equipment used in agricultural operations. Participating in the FARMER Program is an opportunity for the Colusa County Air
Pollution Control District to receive larger than usual allotment of grant funds to replace agricultural equipment, officials said. California air pollution control districts with at least one percent of the statewide emissions from agricultural equipment are able to apply for the grants.
The County has participated in the program since 2017-18, which funded about $1.3 million the the first year for 21 projects, mostly the replacement of old tractors.
Since the beginning, Colusa County has had or is in the process of completing 71 projects with a total of $1,296,660.09 in project funds and $83,393.91 in implementation funds in the program. The “Farmer 1” program has successfully closed as of 6/1/2021.
The old equipment is certified by the county as scrapped and unusable, officials said. ■