The Ag Burn Alternatives Grant Program provides incentives to utilize an alternative practice for the disposition of agricultural material from orchard/vineyard removals as an alternative to open burning. In addition, the Program provides incentives for the purchase of new agricultural wood-chipping equipment to chip orchard and vineyard removals located within the San Joaquin Valley. Complete applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis while funds are available.
The Fleet Expansion program is currently oversubscribed and is no longer accepting new applications.
The orchard/vineyard removal option provides incentives to commercial agricultural operations located within District boundaries to chip agricultural material from orchard and vineyard removals and use for soil incorporation (whole orchard/vineyard recycling), on-site land application on agricultural land, off-site beneficial re-use (mulch, composting, land application near roadways for dust suppression, and other District approved beneficial re-use of the chipped material). Additionally, this option provides incentives for the use of air curtain burners, which may only be used to dispose of material with embedded wire, such as cordon (spur) pruned vineyard material.
| Project Type | Orchards | Cane-Pruned Vineyard |
Cordon-Pruned Vineyard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipping with soil incorporation (discing/ripping/whole orchard recycling) |
$600 per acre |
$800 per acre |
$1,300 per acre |
| Chipping without soil incorporation (land application of mulch or other on-site practices) |
$300 per acre |
$500 per acre |
$1,000 per acre |
| Air Curtain Burner (only for material with embedded wire, such as cordon-pruned vineyard) |
$1,000 per acre | Ineligible | $1,000 per acre |
| Off-site beneficial re-use (mulching/composting/land application near roadways for dust suppression) |
$600 per acre |
$800 per acre |
$1,300 per acre |
Additional incentive of $400/acre is provided for each incentive category to agricultural operations with 100 total acres or less within the San Joaquin Valley
* Final incentive may be less than the maximum incentive if the total eligible cost for the project is less than the maximum incentive or if the final project differs from the project as listed on the executed voucher.
The fleet expansion option provides incentives for the purchase of new agricultural wood-chipping equipment to chip orchard and vineyard removals located within the San Joaquin Valley. Eligible participants would include chipping and shredding contractors with demonstrated experience in providing services for the chipping of agricultural material and large farming companies that provide chipping services to other agricultural operations (with a commitment to offer services).
| Eligible Equipment | Maximum Incentive |
|---|---|
| New wood chippers, grinders and other equipment specifically designed for the purpose of processing woody ag waste | 65% of the Eligible Cost of the New Equipment |
Funding Cap: $2,000,000.00 per entity
