The Natural Resources Conservation Service in California announced the funding through its Environmental Quality Incentives Programs to
incentivize farmers to retire old inefficient engines on off-road mobile or stationary agricultural equipment.

The money is in addition to $13 million awarded earlier this year. It is available in 36 counties, including Fresno, Kings Madera and Tulare counties. Producers have to come up with about half of the funds needed to voluntarily swap out older engines for newer, more efficient ones that are nearly 75% cleaner. Stationary, portable and heavy-duty off-road mobile systems are included as part of the program.

"This program has been so successful that we wanted to make more funding available for the large number of farmers and ranchers still requesting assistance this year,” said Ed Burton, NRCS State Conservationist for California. “We’ll be
able to help more producers than we did in 2009.”