Farmers and ranchers interested in reducing air quality emissions from off-road mobile or stationary agricultural equipment sources are invited to apply between April 30 and June 26, 2009, for grants from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.
"The primary goal of this new portion of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is to help farmers and ranchers attain the standards set by the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)," the agency said in a release.
Producers will continue to be encouraged to do air quality conservation, working through the agency's technical assistance and regular EQIP allocation.
Funded practices include the NRCS' combustions system air emissions management practice to improve high polluting, fully functional engines with reduced-emission technologies that meet or exceed current emission standards.
Other covered air quality practices will include conservation tillage, dust control on farm roads, precision pest control and manure injection, according to USDA.
