LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Applications for funds to replace old agricultural equipment and vehicles are available starting Monday, Aug. 1.

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, or FARMER, program received $212 million in fiscal year 2021-22.

Approximately $8.5 million is specifically designated for 17 air districts that each contribute less than 1 percent of total statewide emissions from agricultural equipment.

The application period for the “shared funding pool” starts Monday, August 1, and runs through August 31, 2022. FARMER funding is administered by California air districts, and farmers apply by submitting an application to the Lake County Air Quality Management District, or LCAQMD.

To be eligible, vehicles and equipment must be engaged in agricultural operations. Eligible project categories include:

• On-road heavy-duty agricultrual 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.

Application forms and program details are available at http://www.capcoa.org/farmer-program.

Application forms must be submitted to the LCAQMD office at 2617 S. Main St., Lakeport, CA 95453, or submit by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Applications must be received at the LCAQMD office no later than Aug. 31, 2022, in order to be considered for funding.

Do not wait for the last minute, submit your application as soon as possible.