Details of phase-out plan
The California Air Resources Board will phase out agricultural burning in the San Joaquin Valley by Jan. 1, 2025. As part of the gradual phase-out, CARB adopted the following recommendations:
- Vineyards: Prohibit burning at large operations in 2022; phase in prohibition for small operations while providing longer transition time.
- Citrus orchards: Reduce acreage thresholds effective Sept. 1; as of Jan. 1, 2022, ban all except for removals of 15 acres or less.
- Orchard removals: Effective 2022, prohibit burning of removal projects of 15 acres or less at large operations; phase in prohibitions for small operations while providing longer transition time.
- Almond, walnut, pecan prunings: As of Jan. 1, 2022, ban open burns of 20 acres or less at operations with more than 200 acres. The ban would extend to farms of more than 50 acres on Jan. 1, 2023.
- Raisin trays: Ban burning as of Jan. 1, 2024.
- Rice stubble: As of this year, open burning is limited to 20% of stubble per year of total acreage farmed by the operator.
Burning would be allowed to continue for rice field levees and banks; apple, pear and quince prunings and orchard removals; weed abatement for ponding and levee banks; and diseased beehives.
Permission for use is granted, however, credit must be made to the California Farm Bureau Federation when reprinting this item.
