Funds Now Available To Dispose Of Used-Treated Grape Stakes

Contact: Brian Ziegler (559) 252-2191 ext. 117

FRESNO, Calif., April 28, 2005–Grape growers in eight central California counties can now get financial assistance from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to haul used wooden grape stakes treated with chromated-copper-arsenic to authorized disposal sites.

The NRCS has allocated $450,000 for growers in Kern, Kings, Fresno, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare counties wanting to apply for cost-share funds in order to dispose of chromate-copper-arsenate treated wood stakes. The application period to sign up for the funds is May 16 to June 17, 2005. The money is being made available through the air quality enhancement portion of the NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The approved disposal sites are:

American Avenue Landfill
18950 W. American Avenue
Tranquillity, CA 93668

Air quality enhancement is designed to provide cost share incentives and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers for installation of practices which reduce air pollution. The program targets statewide "airsheds" where levels of fine particulate matter (PM-10) have been classified as serious, severe, or extreme non-attainment areas as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These areas are subject to regulation under the federal Clean Air Act for emissions from specific agricultural activities which contribute to increased levels of particulate matter.

For qualified and eligible producers, the EQIP program will provide funds for disposal of used grape stakes to approved land fill facilities in place of burning or chipping. The elimination of burning will help reduce PM-10 emissions and to a lesser extent, potential groundwater pollution leaching from piled or chipped stakes.

Applicants must qualify as agricultural producers and provide evidence of ownership or control of the property which the application/contract will apply. The treated grape stakes must have been used or originate only from the applicants own property and not any other agricultural operation. Approved land uses for EQIP and this initiative include irrigated and non-irrigated cropland. Application ranking is competitive and based upon environmental benefit and cost effectiveness.

More information regarding this new EQIP initiative, eligible counties, cost-share rates and other application requirements can be found at www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/2005/eqip2005.html. For more information, contact the local NRCS office in each county or USDA-NRCS, 4974 E. Clinton Way, Suite 114, Fresno, CA 93727, (559) 252-2191 extension 110 or 121.

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