Tractor replacement program to improve Valley air quality has uncertain future

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Old tractors person been junked and replaced by caller machines nether a programme designed to amended aerial prime successful the Valley.

Manuel Cunha of the Nisei Farmers League says ag emissions person burned 30% cleaner since 1998.

"That emanation goes from this to thing truthful small, and the reductions are fast," helium said. "Fourteen 1000 tractors person been replaced successful the Valley."

Growers wage a information of the replacement tractor, truthful tiny farmers with nether 100 acres tin get 80% of a caller tractor covered.

With funds moving out, the Valley Air District fto farmers cognize the programme would beryllium halted.

"We received conscionable implicit 2,000 applications since we fto the dealers and the ag assemblage cognize that we were going to beryllium temporarily shutting down the program, the exertion process," says Todd DeYoung, Valley Air District Grants Director.

The tractor replacement programme has received adjacent to $500 cardinal since 2017.

"This year, obviously, things are tight, and truthful we are precise hopeful that we are going to beryllium receiving backing successful this year's budget," DeYoung said.

"To marque this programme happen, it requires funds from the state," Cunha said. "It is the astir cost-effective per ton programme retired there."

DeYoung says it's gotten tougher to unafraid funds implicit the past fewer years, but notes the Valley aerial betterment has been clear.

"It's an contiguous payment you spot successful the simplification of harmful pollutants, which is NOx and particulate matter," helium said.

The programme adjacent expanded to see backing to regenerate aged harvesting equipment.

The Valley Air District says it plans to support moving with the governor's bureau and authorities legislature successful hopes of securing much funds for the program's future.

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