Association Again Calls for State Funding for FARMER Program and Ag Burn Alternatives

This past week, the Governing Board of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District held a discussion on their legislative platform at the state and federal levels.  Association President/CEO Roger A. Isom took the opportunity to call for more funding of the State’s program to replace older tractors and harvesters with the latest technology through incentives known as the FARMER program and the Ag Burn Alternatives program which provides significant incentives from grower to chip and incorporate their orchard waste.  While acknowledging the state is facing significant budget challenges, Isom highlighted the cost effectiveness of these programs, the significant emissions benefits generated through these programs and the widespread support from both sides of the aisle in the state legislature.  Isom commented “the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund has become the go to source for all projects, and the state only needs to fund those projects that get real emissions reductions.  These are real programs and we all need to get to the Capitol and be the “squeaky wheel”.  Isom further commented that these two programs where a priority for the Association and their members.