The Almond Alliance offers various resources, including webinars, handbooks, and supporting documents for members and industry partners.
Industry Links
- CA Weekly Wholesale Feedstuff Prices – USDA Ag Marketing Service
- CA Feed and Grain Report – USDA Ag Marketing Service
- San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District
- Butte County Air Quality Management District
- Glenn County Air Pollution Control District
- Yolo Solano Air Quality Management District
- California Department of Food and Agriculture
- California Air Resources Board
- California Department of Water Resources
- California State Water Resources Control Board
- California Department of Pesticide Regulation
- California Fish and Game Commission
- California Natural Resources Agency
- United States Environmental Protection Agency
- United States Department of Agriculture
- United States Trade Representative
- Port of Oakland
- Port of Los Angeles
- Port of Long Beach
Incentives
Funding is available to almond growers, hullers, shellers, and processors from a range of organizations and government agencies. The below incentive programs matrix was created as a tool for the almond industry. The Almond Alliance encourages industry members to utilize these programs as you deem necessary.
California Air Resources Board (CARB) and San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District
The Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program (Carl Moyer Program) provides grant funding for cleaner-than-required engines, equipment, and other sources of air pollution. The Carl Moyer Program is implemented as a partnership between CARB and California’s 35 local air districts. CARB works collaboratively with the air districts and other stakeholders to set Guidelines and ensure the Program reduces pollution and provides cleaner air for Californians.
The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (District) is accepting applications for the Alternative to Agricultural Open Burning Incentive Pilot Program. This program provides incentives to commercial agricultural operations located within Air District boundaries to chip or shred agricultural material and use for soil incorporation or land application on agricultural land as an alternative to the open burning of the agricultural materials.
This program provides incentives for engine replacement (repower) of engines/motors used to power agricultural irrigation pumps. Funds are provided on a first come, first serve basis and applicants must obtain approval and have a signed, executed contract from the SJVAPCD prior to purchase of new equipment. Any equipment purchased prior to contract execution is ineligible as this is not a rebate program. Insentives for: Diesel to Diesel Repower, Diesel to Electric Repower (Includes Line Extension Option), Natural Gas / Propane to Electric Repower (Includes Line Extension Option).
The FARMER Ag Truck Replacement Program provides incentive funds for the replacement of heavy-duty diesel ag trucks. Funds are provided on a first-come, first-serve basis, and applicants must obtain approval and have a signed, executed contract from the SJVAPCD prior to the purchase of new equipment. Any equipment purchased before contract execution is ineligible, as this is not a rebate program.
Not currently accepting applications
The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) is currently accepting applications requesting monetary incentives to replace existing nut harvesters (equipment) with new low dust replacement equipment, according to the terms and conditions described in these guidelines.
The Agricultural Tractor Replacement Program provides incentive funds for the replacement of in-use, off-road mobile equipment that are engaged in agricultural operations as defined by the California Air Resources Board. Funds are provided on a first come, first serve basis and applicants must obtain approval and have a signed, executed contract from the SJVAPCD prior to purchase of new equipment. Any equipment purchased prior to contract execution is ineligible as this is not a rebate program.
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers in order to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits such as improved water and air quality, conserved ground and surface water, reduced soil erosion and sedimentation or improved or created wildlife habitat.
The Conservation Stewardship Program helps agricultural producers maintain and improve their existing conservation systems and adopt additional conservation activities to address priority resources concerns. Participants earn CSP payments for conservation performance – the higher the performance, the higher the payment.
The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) promotes coordination of NRCS conservation activities with partners that offer value-added contributions to expand our collective ability to address on-farm, watershed, and regional natural resource concerns. Through RCPP, NRCS seeks to co-invest with partners to implement projects that demonstrate innovative solutions to conservation challenges and provide measurable improvements and outcomes tied to the resource concerns they seek to address.
The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) provides financial and technical assistance to help conserve agricultural lands and wetlands and their related benefits. Under the Agricultural Land Easements component, NRCS helps Indian tribes, state and local governments and non-governmental organizations protect working agricultural lands and limit non-agricultural uses of the land. Under the Wetlands Reserve Easements component, NRCS helps to restore, protect and enhance enrolled wetlands.
The National Organic Initiative, funded through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), is a voluntary conservation program that provides technical and financial assistance for organic farmers and ranchers, or those interested in transitioning to organic. NRCS can help organic producers improve their operations or help producers’ transition to organic using a conservation plan tailored to their needs.
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) On-Farm Energy Initiative helps farmers and ranchers make voluntary improvements that can boost energy efficiency on the farm. This emerging agricultural trend produces benefits, including reduced input costs, increased productivity per unit of energy consumed by equipment and lighting, and reduced air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions caused when energy is generated for agricultural use.
Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) are competitive grants that drive public and private sector innovation in resource conservation. CIG projects inspire creative problem-solving that boosts production on farms, ranches, and private forests – ultimately, they improve water quality, soil health, and wildlife habitat.
The California Air Quality Initiative is designed to help agricultural producers meet air quality compliance requirements and offer opportunities to support practices that address impacts associated with greenhouse gases. Implementing conservation practices that reduce oxides of nitrogen (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOC), and particulate matter (PM) emissions from agricultural sources helps achieve and maintain the health- and welfare-based National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) in California.
Through the Bay Delta Initiative (BDI), NRCS and its local partners aim to address the critical water quantity, water quality and habitat restoration needs of the Bay Delta region by implementing voluntary conservation practices on private lands
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
USDA Rural Development’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) is offering grants up to $20,000 to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses install Renewable Energy Systems or make Energy Efficiency Improvements, and save money by reducing energy costs.
The Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program helps agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and/or marketing of new products. The goals of this program are to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase producer income. Applicants may receive priority if they are a beginning farmer or rancher, a socially-disadvantaged farmer or rancher, a small or medium-sized farm or ranch structured as a family farm, a farmer or rancher cooperative, or are proposing a mid-tier value chain. Grants are awarded through a national competition.
California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA)
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) conducts an annual competitive solicitation process to award Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funds to projects that enhance the competitiveness of California specialty crops. Specialty crops are fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and horticulture and nursery crops (including floriculture).
The State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) provides financial assistance in the form of grants to implement irrigation systems that reduce greenhouse gases and save water on California agricultural operations. Eligible system components include (among others) soil moisture monitoring, drip systems, switching to low pressure irrigation systems, pump retrofits, variable frequency drives and installation of renewable energy to reduce on-farm water use and energy.
The Healthy Soils Program stems from the California Healthy Soils Initiative, a collaboration of state agencies and departments to promote the development of healthy soils on California’s farmlands and ranchlands. The HSP has two components: the HSP Incentives Program and the HSP Demonstration Projects. The HSP Incentives Program provides financial assistance for implementation of conservation management that improve soil health, sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The HSP Demonstration Projects showcase California farmers and rancher’s implementation of HSP practices. On farm management practices that include but are not limited to: cover cropping, no-till, reduced-till, mulching, compost application, and conservation plantings.
CDFA’s Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP) provides financial assistance for the implementation of non-digester manure management practices in California, which will result in reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Each year, FREP solicits suggestions for research, demonstration, and education projects related to the environmentally safe and agronomically sound use and handling of fertilizing materials. The FREP grant program utilizes an annual request for proposals, and all proposals are reviewed by technical and scientific subject matter experts in order to make grant funding decisions.
California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB)
The Division of Financial Assistance (DFA) administers the implementation of the State Water Resources Control Board’s (State Water Board) financial assistance programs, that include loan and grant funding for construction of municipal sewage and water recycling facilities, remediation for underground storage tank releases, watershed protection projects, nonpoint source pollution control projects, etc. DFA also administers the Operator Certification Program.
Utility Districts
If you want to generate your own power, the Self Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) could be a good option for your home or business. SGIP offers rebates to residential, commercial, industrial, government and non-profit customers who install qualifying types of distributed generation to meet all or a portion of their own energy needs.
Incentives are available for any size eligible, electric- or natural gas-powered water pump to improve overall pumping efficiency. APEP personnel are available to assist in helping you complete the incentive rebate application form.
Irrigation Districts
As a publicly owned utility, TID works for you; and if we can help you save money on your bill, that’s good for everyone. Please take advantage of the rebates and programs on this page to help reduce your energy consumption and lower your electric bill.
The Merced Irrigation District offers customized and flexible customer programs to support our customer’ interests in energy efficiency projects. Our programs are designed to be accessible and easy to apply for. Many of our programs offer significant financial incentives toward the development of these environmentally friendly projects. The Merced Irrigation District allocates a significant portion of its collected public benefit program funds toward energy efficiency programs to their commercial and industrial customers. These programs are provided to qualifying commercial and industrial customers in the form of financial rebates and incentives for the retrofit of existing electrical equipment with more energy efficient equipment.
