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The Western Agricultural Processors Association and the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association have been among the groups lobbying on behalf of ag equipment replacement programs, to ensure incentive funding remains available for farmers. Initiatives such as the Funding Agricultural Replacement Measures for Emission Reductions (FARMER) Program have already played an instrumental role in working towards emissions goals established by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).
“It’s achieving what the regulators want to see,” said Chris McGlothlin, Director of Technical Services. “That’s been the highlight that we’ve tried to demonstrate with CARB as well as the Legislature come January, is just the importance of the funding.”
The funding available for the FARMER program was reduced by half for the 2019-2020 fiscal year, despite significant achievements made from the program. Equipment replacements facilitated through the FARMER program have already generated substantial reductions in carbon dioxide equivalent, fine particulate matter, and nitrogen oxide. “To see the reductions we’ve been able to see through this program in two years has been incredible,” McGlothlin noted.
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