Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District 

CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

FOR FARMS IN INYO, MONO AND ALPINE COUNTIES

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND PLAN APPLICATION FORMS

December 19, 2008 

157 Short Street, Bishop, California 93514 

Tel: (760) 872-8211 

E-mail: farm@gbuapcd.org 
CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

FOR FARMS IN INYO, MONO AND ALPINE COUNTIES

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND PLAN APPLICATION FORMS

The very nature of producing food and fiber crops generates dust and small particulate 

matter, commonly referred to as PM-10 (Particulate Matter with an average size of 10 

microns or less—about one-seventh the diameter of a human hair). For many years farmers 

have worked to reduce the amount of dust generated from agricultural practices as a means 

of preserving topsoil, controlling certain dust-loving pest populations and maintaining good 

neighbor relations. 

In California, over the last few years attention has been focused on reducing dust and 

PM-10 emissions from on-farm activities as part of the effort to help improve the state’s air 

quality. Many areas of the state will never attain the federal or state PM-10 standards unless 

agricultural activities implement additional dust control measures. In addition, as more land 

is developed next to and within agricultural areas, dust that in the past did not impact 

people in their homes or at their jobs, is now having a direct impact on people’s health. In 

2004, the state passed a law known as SB 700 that makes agricultural operations subject to 

the same air pollution requirements as other commercial and industrial operations and 

requires farm activities to implement additional measures to control air pollution. 

The Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District (serving all of Alpine, Inyo and 

Mono Counties) has adopted rules to control dust emissions from agricultural practices in 

an effort to attain and maintain the federal and state standards for PM-10. The rules, Rule 

502 (Conservation Management Practices) and Rule 307 (Conservation Management 

Practices Plan Fee), require farmers to implement and document an annual plan to reduce 

dust and PM-10 emissions from on-farm sources, such as from unpaved roads and 

equipment yards, during land preparation, harvest activities and from other cultural 

practices. These plans are known as Conservation Management Practices (CMP) Plans. In 

order to recover the cost of plan processing and field inspections, the Air District will 

collect fees from those farms that must comply with the CMP requirement. 

►What is required?

Farm operators with 40 acres or more outside of residential areas or 10 acres or more 

within residential areas (5 or more residences within 1⁄4 mile of farm boundaries) of 

contiguous, or adjacent, farmland are required to prepare and implement CMP Plans for 

each crop they farm. 

►Conservation Management Practices Plan

A Conservation Management Practice is an activity or practice that farmers will implement 

on their farms to help reduce dust emissions. Examples of CMPs include activities that 

reduce or eliminate the need to move or disturb the soil; activities that protect the soil from 

wind, such as wind breaks and wetting the soil; equipment modifications that physically 

produce less dust; application of dust suppressants; speed reductions on unpaved roads and 
yards; and activities that reduce agricultural chemical applications through use of integrated 

pest management practices. 

This packet identifies the currently accepted, crop-specific practices to reduce PM-10 

emissions in each type of farming activity. The CMPs were developed by Air Districts 

throughout the state, representatives from the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation 

Service, Resource Conservation Districts, agricultural organizations and commodity 

groups, and other state and federal agencies. The latest list of CMPs can also be found on 

the California Air Pollution Control Officer’s Association (CAPCOA) Agricultural 

Sources Clearinghouse of Air Pollution Reduction Methods at: 

www.capcoa.org/Agclearinghouse/index.html

In order to assist farm operators with the preparation of CMP Plans, the District has 

prepared forms for Alfalfa (CMP 1) and Field and Row Crops (CMP 2). Additional 

forms for other crops or operations will be prepared as needed or upon request. The use 

of these forms is optional. Any CMP plan that meets the requirements of District 

Rule 502 may be submitted. Blank forms are included in this handout and may be 

photocopied as needed. The forms can also be downloaded from the Air District website 

located at www.gbuapcd.org/farm and filled in electronically.

Depending on the crop, farmers are required to implement five CMPs, including one from 

each of the following categories: 

• Land preparation and cultivation 

• Harvest activities 

• Unpaved roads 

• Unpaved equipment yards 

• Other cultural practices 

Confined animal feed operations (CAFOs) are also subject to the requirements of Rule 

502. CAFO operators should contact the District before preparing a plan to discuss these 

requirements. 

Each farmer with 40 or more contiguous acres outside residential areas or 10 or more acres 

near residential areas must complete a CMP Plan. Residential areas are defined as five or 

more residences within one-quarter mile of the farms boundaries. CMP Plans must include 

the following information: 

1) a map of the operation that designates where each CMP is being implemented; 

2) the General Information form (CMP A); 

3) the Unpaved Roads and Unpaved Vehicle/ Equipment Areas form (CMP B); and 

4) a form for each crop farmed (numbered CMP forms) 

A list of approved dust suppressants available for use to help reduce PM-10 emissions 

from unpaved roads and equipment yards is available upon request from the District or 

from our website at: www.gbuapcd.org/farm/Dustsuppressantproducts.pdf. 
The CMPs were designed to reduce air pollution and to provide farmers with flexibility in 

selecting measures. If a CMP in a category can't be implemented, then a grower may 

select an alternate CMP from another category. To allow flexibility and innovation, there 

is an “Other” practice in each category, which may be used if the new practice can show 

equal or greater emission reductions than the currently approved practice, and is 

approved by the District's Air Pollution Control Officer (APCO). 

►Deadlines

The CMP program phases in over a three year period. For agricultural operations in the 

Owens Valley PM-10 Planning Area (the southern Owens Valley between Tinemaha and 

Haiwee reservoirs, requirements begin in January 2006. For the Mono Basin, Coso 

Junction and Mammoth Lakes areas, requirements go into effect in January 2007. For the 

balance of the District, the CMP Plan rule is effective in January 2008. Please contact the 

District to determine which area your operation falls into. 

►Costs and fees

There is a flat fee (call the District to get the current fees quoted) for initial review and 

approval of a CMP Plan. This covers the cost of District personnel reviewing the plan and 

the first year of field inspections. The fee must be paid upon submittal of the CMP plan 

for review. 

Every year a CMP Plan annual renewal fee (call the District to get the current fees 

quoted) must be submitted to the Air District. The District will invoice approved plan 

holders for the annual fee. After five years, if there has been no change in the CMP plan 

and no CMP plan violations, the annual renewal fee will be reduced. 

A CMP Plan may be modified and resubmitted to the Air District at no cost anytime a 

practice or crop has changed. No CMP plan fees will be required if a District Permit to 

Operate is required for the operation (this would apply to very large operations only). 

►Contact information

District staff can assist anyone that needs help with the preparation of a CMP plan. Plans 

and inquiries should be directed to the District’s Bishop office. Contact information is: 

Great Basin APCD 

157 Short Street 

Bishop, CA 93514 

Tel: 760-872-8211 

Fax: 760-872-6109 

E-mail: farm@gbuapcd.org 

Website: www.gbuapcd.org/farm 
CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PRACTICES PLAN APPLICATION FORMS

The following forms are provided to assist agricultural operators in the Great Basin Air 

Pollution Control District with the preparation of Conservation Management Practices 

Plans. 

The use of these forms is optional. Any Conservation Management Practices plan that 

meets the requirements of District Rule 502 may be submitted. Operators with crops 

other than alfalfa, field crops or row crops should contact the District. Confined Animal 

Feed Operations should also contact the District before preparing a plan. 
157 Short Street, Bishop, California 93514 

Tel: (760) 872-8211 Fax: (760) 872-6109 E-mail: farm@gbuapcd.org 

CMP-A 

Revised: December 19, 2008 

Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District 

CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PRACTICES PLAN APPLICATION 

GENERAL INFORMATION

A Conservation Management Practices (CMP) plan is a requirement for all agricultural operation sites as specified in 

Section 5.0 of District Rule 502. The goal of this CMP plan is to reduce sources of PM10 emissions from agricultural 

operations. Attach CMP-A, B, C and all other applicable CMP Supplemental Application Forms to this sheet. By 

signing below, the applicant agrees to implement all Conservation Management Practices checked on the attached 

sheets. A fee of (call the District to get the current fees quoted) is due with submittal of this plan to cover the 

District’s cost of plan processing and field inspection for the first year. 

Name of Facility: 

Facility Location: 

Total Farm Acreage: 

Mailing Address: 

City/State/Zip code: 

Phone: Fax: 

Other (Cell): E-mail: 

Person Responsible: Title: 

Signature: Date: 

Please list the following information for the persons responsible for: 

Plan Preparation: Plan Implementation: 

 Same as Person Responsible Above? Same as Person Responsible Above? 

Name: Name: 

Title: Title: 

Address: Address: 

City/State/Zip code: City/State/Zip code: 

Phone: Phone: 

Fax: Fax: 

Other (Cell): Other (Cell): 

FOR DISTRICT USE ONLY 

 This CMP plan application has been verified to contain all supporting information required by the APCO to evaluate the 

application. CMP-A, B and C attached. All other appropriate CMPs attached. Fee paid. Date: ______

Reviewer: Initials: ____________ Date: 

APCO approval: Date: 

CMP

A
CMP-B 

Revised: June 10, 2005

Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District 

Supplemental Application Form 

Conservation Management Practices:

UNPAVED ROADS AND UNPAVED VEHICLE/ EQUIPMENT AREAS

Farm Name: CMP Plan Years: to 

Unpaved Road Mileage: Unpaved Vehicle/Equipment Areas Acreage: 

Unpaved 

Roads 

If daily vehicle trips are greater than or equal to75 on unpaved roads, select at least one of the following: 

 Dust suppressant, mi Washed gravel, mi 

 Paving, mi Water, mi 

 Road oil, mi Other (special approval reqd.), mi 

 

Please describe the specifics of the practice(s) chosen above: 

 

 

If daily vehicle trips are less than 75 on unpaved roads, select at least one of the following controls: 

 Access restriction (public access) mi Road oil, mi 

 Chips/mulches, mi Speed limit posted, mi 

 Dust suppressant, mi What speed? mph (15 mph or less) 

 Less than 10 vehicle trips on any day, mi Track out control, mi 

 Organic materials, mi Water, mi 

 Paving, mi Washed gravel, mi 

 Polymers, mi Wind barrier, mi 

 Other (special approval reqd.), mi 

Please describe the specifics of the practice(s) chosen above: 

 

 

Unpaved 

Vehicle/ 

Equipment 

Areas 

If average daily vehicle trips (on an annual basis) are ≥ 50 on unpaved equipment yards, or if average daily 

trips (on an annual basis) are ≥ 25 by three or more axle vehicles, or if maximum daily trips on any day ≥ 150 

during a 30 day period or less, select at least one of the following controls. 

 Dust suppressant, ac Vegetative material, ac 

 Paving, ac Washed gravel, ac 

 Road oil, ac Water, ac 

 Other (special approval reqd.), ac 

Please describe the specifics of the practice(s) chosen above: 

 

 

If average daily vehicle trips (on an annual basis) are < 50 on unpaved equipment yards, or if average daily 

trips (on an annual basis) are < 25 by three or more axle vehicles, or if maximum daily vehicle trips on any 

day are < 150 during a 30 day period or less, select at least one of the following controls: 

 Chips/mulches, ac Speed limit posted, ac 

 Less than 10 vehicle trips on any day, ac What speed? mph (15 mph or less) 

 Organic material, ac Paving, ac Water, ac 

 Polymers, ac Washed gravel, ac 

 Restricted access, ac Wind barrier, ac 

 Road oil, ac Other (special approval reqd.), ac 

Please describe the specifics of the practice(s) chosen above: 

 

 

CMP 

B
CMP-1 

Revised: May 16, 2005

Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District 

Supplemental Application Form 

Conservation Management Practices: ALFALFA 

Farm Name: CMP Plan Years: to 

Maximum Crop Acreage: 

Fallow Acreage Last Planted in Alfalfa: 

Land 

Preparation/ 

Cultivation 

Select at least one additional of the following CMPs. 

Note: 100% of the maximum crop acreage must be covered by the selected CMPs. 

 Cessation of activities during high winds, ac Multiple CMPs in another category 

 Chemigation/Fertigation, ac Night farming, ac 

 Combined operations, ac Non-tillage/chemical tillage, ac 

 Conservation irrigation, ac Soil moisture management 

 Equipment change/tech. improvements, ac Other (special approval reqd.), ac 

Please describe the specifics of the practice(s) chosen above: 

 

 

 

Harvest 

Select at least one of the following CMPs. 

Note: 100% of the maximum crop acreage must be covered by the selected CMPs. 

 Combined operations, ac Multiple CMPs in another category, ac 

 Equipment change/tech. improvements, ac Night harvesting, ac 

 Green chop, ac Shuttle system, ac 

 Large bales, ac Other (special approval reqd.), ac 

Please describe the specifics of the practice(s) chosen above: 

 

 

 

Other 

Select at least one of the following CMPs. 

Note: 100% of the maximum crop acreage must be covered by the selected CMPs. 

 Conservation tillage, ac Organic practices, ac 

 Cover crop, ac Surface roughening, ac 

 Fallowing land, ac Time of disturbance/planting ac

 Multiple CMPs in another category Other (special approval reqd.), ac 

Please describe the specifics of the practice(s) chosen above: 

 

 

 

CMP

1
CMP-2 

Revised: May 16, 2005

Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District 

Supplemental Application Form 

Conservation Management Practices: FIELD AND ROW CROPS 

Farm Name: CMP Plan Years: to 

Maximum Crop Acreage: 

Fallow Acreage Last Planted in Field/Row Crops: 

Land 

Preparation/ 

Cultivation 

Select at least one of the following CMPs. 

Note: 100% of the maximum crop acreage must be covered by the selected CMPs. 

 Bed/row size or spacing, ac Equipmt change/tech. imprvmnts, ac 

 Cessation of activities, ac Multiple CMPs in another category 

 Chemigation/fertigation, ac Mulching, ac 

 Combined operations, ac Night farming, ac 

 Conservation irrigation, ac Non-tillage/chemical tillage, ac 

 Conservation tillage, ac Transplanting, ac 

 Cross wind stripcropping, ac Other (special approval reqd.), ac 

Please describe the specifics of the practice(s) chosen above: 

 

 

 

Harvest 

Select at least one of the following CMPs. 

Note: 100% of the maximum crop acreage must be covered by the selected CMPs. 

 Combined operations, ac Pre-harvest soil preparation, ac 

 Equipment change/tech. improvements, ac Shed packing, ac 

 Hand harvesting, ac Shuttle system, ac 

 Multiple CMPs in another category Other (special approval reqd), ac 

 Night harvesting, ac 

Please describe the specifics of the practice(s) chosen above: 

 

 

 

Other 

Select at least one of the following CMPs. 

Note: 100% of the maximum crop acreage must be covered by the selected CMPs. 

 Cover crops, ac Soil moisture management, ac 

 Fallowing land, ac Surface roughening, ac 

 Multiple CMPs in another category Time of disturbance/planting, ac 

 Non-tillage/chemical tillage, ac Wind barrier, ac 

 Organic practices, ac Other (special approval reqd), ac 

Please describe the specifics of the practice(s) chosen above: 

 

 

 

CMP

2
Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District 

LIST OF CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

FOR AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS

Including Best Available Control Measures (BACM) and 

Best Available Retrofit Control Technology (BARCT) 

for Agricultural Practices 

Adapted from the 

California Air Pollution Control Officer’s Association (CAPCOA) 

Agricultural Sources Clearinghouse of Air Pollution Reduction Methods 

http://www.capcoa.org/ag.php

December 19, 2008 
Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District 

BACM/BARCT List of Conservation Management Practices for Agricultural 

Operations 

The CMP operation types include: 

A. Crop Farming (field/row crops and orchard/vineyard crops) 

B. Confined Animal Facilities (dairy, feedlot and poultry operations) 

C. Other Agricultural Activities 

The CMP categories for each CMP operation type are: 

A. Crop Farming 

 1. Field/row crops 

 a. Disking, tilling and land preparation 

 b. Harvesting 

 2. Orchard/vineyard crops 

 a. Disking, tilling and land preparation 

 b. Harvesting 

 3. Land application of fertilizers and pesticides 

B. Confined Animal Facilities 

 1. Feed preparation, storage and handling 

 2. Manure storage and handling 

 3. Waste management practices 

C. Other Agricultural Activities 

 1. Storage piles (piles of bulk materials such as dirt, aggregate, etc, excluding 

manure) 

 2. Unpaved roads 

 3. Unpaved traffic areas (parking lots, staging areas, etc.) 

 4. Open burning 

 5. Internal combustion engines 
A. CROP FARMING

1. FIELD/ROW CROPS

a. DISKING/TILLING/LAND PREPARATION

Alternate Till: Tilling alternate rows for weed management allows for 

approximately a 50% reduction in field activity. 

Bed/Row Size or 

Spacing: 

Spacing adjustments reduce the number of passes and soil 

disturbances by increasing plant density/canopy through 

reduction of row width. 

Cessation of Activities: 

No disking, tilling or other land preparation activities shall take 

place when active wind erosion is observed on a field and visible 

particulate matter leaves the property from which it originates. 

Chemigation/Fertigation Application of chemicals through an irrigation system reduces 

the need to travel in-field for application purposes. 

Combined Operations: 

Combine equipment to perform several operations during one 

pass, thereby reducing the number of passes necessary to 

cultivate the land. 

Conservation Irrigation: 

Conserving water through drip, sprinkler, underground lines, 

conserves water and reduces weed population and need for 

tillage. 

Conservation Tillage (no 

tillage or minimum 

tillage): 

Reduces the number of passes and the amount of soil disturbance. 

Improves soil because it retains plant residue and increases 

organic matter. 

Cover Crops: Use seeding or natural vegetation/regrowth of plants to cover soil 

surface and reduce wind erosion of soil. 

Cross Wind 

Stripcropping: 

Establish crops in strips across the prevailing wind direction and 

arranged so that strips susceptible to wind erosion are alternated 

with strips resistant to wind erosion. 

Equipment 

Changes/Technological 

Improvements: 

Use larger equipment, modify land planing and land leveling, 

matching the equipment to row spacing to reduce the number of 

passes. 

Fallowing Land: Temporary or permanent removal from production eliminates 

entire operation/passes or reduces soil disturbing activities. 

Mulching/Crop Residue 

Management: 

Applying or leaving plant residue or other material on the soil 

surface. Reduces wind entrainment of dust, and reduces weed 

competition. 
A.1.a. CROP FARMING: FIELD/ROW CROPS: DISKING/TILLING/LAND PREPARATION 

(CONTINUED) 

Night Farming: Operate at night when moisture levels are higher and winds 

tend to be lighter, thereby reducing dust emissions. 

Non-tillage/Chemical 

Tillage: 

Use flail mower, low volume sprayers, or heat delivery 

systems (as harvest pre-conditioner). Reduces or eliminates 

number of soil tillage passes. 

Organic Practices: 

Use biological control methods or non-chemical control 

methods. Reduces chemical use and number of application 

passes. 

Ridge Roughness: 

Establish ridges by normal tillage and planting equipment 

as close as perpendicular as possible to the direction of 

erosive winds. 

Soil Amendments: 

Apply organic or chemical materials to soil (e.g., gypsum, 

lime, polyacrylamide) to improve soil, increase moisture 

retention. 

Soil Moisture 

Management: 

Ensure adequate soil moisture levels at the time of tillage or 

soil maintenance to reduce dust emissions. 

Surface Roughening: 

In wind-prone areas, conduct surface roughening by 

bedding, rough disking, or tillage that leaves the surface 

covered with stable clods. 

Time of 

Disturbance/Planting: 

Time planting to coincide with the time of year when PM 

concentrations are less. 

Transplanting: 

Planting plants already in the growth state reduces number 

of passes and soil disturbances compared to seeding 

operations. 

Wind Barriers: 

Plant or maintain perennial or annual plants interspersed 

throughout a crop field as close to perpendicular as practical

to the direction of prevailing winds. 
A. CROP FARMING

1. FIELD/ROW CROPS

b. HARVESTING

Baling/Large Bales: 

Use balers to harvest crop, reducing PM10 emissions from 

crops traditionally harvested by chopping, truck passes, and 

residue burning. 

Combined Operations: Combine equipment to perform several operations during 

one pass. 

Equipment 

Changes/Technological 

Improvements: 

Modify equipment such as combines or cotton pickers, and 

harvesting equipment; increase equipment size to reduce 

number of passes; other technological improvements. 

Fallowing Land: 

Temporary or permanent removal from production (e.g., 

vineyard pull-out, wildlife wetlands conservation program) 

eliminates entire operation or substantially reduces 

activities. 

Green Chop: Harvest a forage crop without allowing it to dry in the field; 

reduces multiple equipment passes. 

Hand Harvesting: Harvest crop by hand thereby reducing soil disturbances by 

equipment. 

Night Harvesting: Implement cultural practices at night or when the humidity 

is high. 

Pre-Harvest Soil 

Preparation: 

Apply a light amount of water or other stabilizing material 

to soil prior to harvest. 

Shed Packing: Pack commodities in a covered or closed area. 

Shuttle System/Larger 

Carrier: 

Haul multiple or larger trailers/bins per trip thereby 

reducing the number of trips. 
A. CROP FARMING

2. ORCHARD/VINEYARD CROPS

a. DISKING/TILLING/LAND PREPARATION

Bed/Row Size or 

Spacing:

Spacing adjustments reduce the number of passes and soil 

disturbances by increasing plant density/canopy through 

reduction of row width. 

Cessation of Activities:

No disking, tilling or other land preparation activities shall 

take place when active wind erosion is observed on a field 

and visible particulate matter leaves the property from 

which it originates. 

Cover Crops: Use seeding or natural vegetation/regrowth of plants to 

cover soil surface and reduce wind erosion of soil. 

Equipment 

Changes/Technological 

Improvements:

Use larger equipment, modify land planing and land 

leveling, matching the equipment to row spacing to reduce 

the number of passes. 

Fallowing Land:

Temporary or permanent removal from production 

eliminates entire operation/passes or reduces soil disturbing 

activities. 

Floor Management:

Smoothing and flattening the soil surface after nut harvest 

to remove post-harvest residue. Reduces number of passes 

through elimination of disking. 

Grinding/ Chipping/ 

Shredding: 

Grind/chip/shred orchard prunings and incorporate into the 

soil. Reduces PM from burning crop residues. 

Mulching/Crop Residue 

Management:

Applying or leaving plant residue or other material on the 

soil surface. Reduces wind entrainment of dust, and reduces 

weed competition. 

Night Farming: Operate at night when moisture levels are higher and winds 

tend to be lighter, thereby reducing dust emissions. 

Organic Practices:

Use biological control methods or non-chemical control 

methods. Reduces chemical use and number of application 

passes. 
B.2.a. CROP FARMING: ORCHARD/VINEYARD CROPS: DISKING/TILLING/LAND 

PREPARATION (CONTINUED) 

Reduced Pruning: Reduce frequency of pruning to one time a year, or once 

every two years. 

Ridge Roughness:

Establish ridges by normal tillage and planting equipment 

as close as perpendicular as possible to the direction of 

erosive winds. 

Soil Amendments:

Apply organic or chemical materials to soil (e.g., gypsum, 

lime, polyacrylamide) to improve soil, increase moisture 

retention. 

Soil Moisture 

Monitoring:

Ensure adequate soil moisture levels at the time of tillage or 

soil maintenance to reduce dust emissions. 

Surface Roughening:

In wind-prone areas, conduct surface roughening by 

bedding, rough disking, or tillage that leaves the surface 

covered with stable clods. 

Time of Planting: Time planting to coincide with the time of year when PM 

concentrations are less. 
A. CROP FARMING

2. ORCHARD/VINEYARD CROPS

b. Harvesting 

Combined Operations: Combine equipment to perform several operations during 

one pass. 

Equipment 

Changes/Technological 

Improvements: 

Modify equipment such as combines or cotton pickers, and 

harvesting equipment; increase equipment size to reduce 

number of passes; other technological improvements. 

Fallowing Land: 

Temporary or permanent removal from production (e.g., 

vineyard pull-out, wildlife wetlands conservation program) 

eliminates entire operation or substantially reduces 

activities. 

Floor Management: 

Smoothing and flattening the soil surface after nut harvest 

to remove post-harvest residue. Reduces number of passes 

through elimination of disking. 

Hand Harvesting: Harvest crop by hand thereby reducing soil disturbances by 

equipment. 

Night Harvesting: Implement cultural practices at night or when the humidity 

is high. 

Pre-Harvest Soil 

Preparation: 

Apply a light amount of water or other stabilizing material 

to soil prior to harvest. 

Shed Packing: Pack commodities in a covered or closed area. 

Shuttle System/Larger 

Carrier: 

Haul multiple or larger trailers/bins per trip thereby 

reducing the number of trips. 
A. CROP FARMING

3. LAND APPLICATION OF FERTILIZERS/PEST CONTROL

Chemigation/ 

Fertigation: 

Application of chemicals through the irrigation system 

reduces the need to travel in the field for application 

purposes. 

Integrated Pest 

Management: 

A decision process that uses a combination of techniques 

including organic, conventional, and biological farming 

practices to suppress pest problems and thereby reducing 

the number of passes for spraying. 

Non-tillage/Chemical 

Tillage: 

Use flail mower, low volume sprayers, or heat delivery 

systems (as harvest pre-conditioner). Reduces or eliminates 

number of soil tillage passes. 

Organic Practices: 

Use biological control methods or non-chemical control 

methods. Reduces chemical use and number of application 

passes. 

Soil Amendments: 

Apply organic or chemical materials to soil (e.g., gypsum, 

lime, polyacrylamide) to improve soil, increase moisture 

retention. 
B. CONFINED ANIMAL FACILITIES

1. FEED PREPARATION, STORAGE AND HANDLING

Boot or Sock: Load feed into storage bins using a sock or boot in the feed 

delivery truck auger. 

Feeding Near Dusk: Reduces dust generating behaviors of animals. 

Restrict Hay Grinding 

Activities: 

Avoid hay grinding activities during the windiest times of the 

day, which are typically in the afternoons. 

Wet Feed During 

Mixing: Increase moisture feed levels to reduce excessive dust. 

Wet Material in 

Feedwagon: 

Avoid placing only dry material in feedwagons; rather mix wet 

feed with dry feed material. 

2. MANURE STORAGE AND HANDLING

Fibrous Layer in Dusty 

Areas: 

Add fibrous material to working areas. 

Freestall Housing: Use freestall housing with cement floor to allow for manure 

cleaning with a flushing system. 

Frequent Scraping and 

Manure Removal: 

Remove manure from open corrals. Conditions of removal, 

and frequency of removal may be specified. 

Pull-Type Manure 

Harvesting Equipment: 

Use a pull-type piece of equipment to leave an even corral 

surface. 

Removing Excess 

Water: 

Eliminate water leaks from troughs and trough piping, and 

comply with corral drainage standards. 

Shaded Areas in Open 

Corrals: 

Make available shaded areas in open corrals, which increases 

animal density and reduces animal movement. 

Sprinkling of Open 

Corrals: 

Ensure adequate corral surface moisture levels to prevent 

visible dust emissions or meet specified moisture conditions. 

Time-of-Day 

Scraping/Harrowing: 

Scrape/harrow in morning hours when moisture is typically 

higher. 
B. CONFINED ANIMAL FACILITIES

3. WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

Frequent Scraping 

and/or Manure 

Removal: 

Remove manure from open corrals. Conditions of removal 

and frequency of removal may be specified. 

Manure Disposal: 

Dispose of manure in accordance with prescribed 

procedures. This could include approved manure processing 

operations or other lands approved for the spreading of 

manure. 
C. OTHER AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES

1. STORAGE PILES (PILES OF BULK MATERIALS SUCH AS DIRT, AGGREGATE, ETC,

EXCLUDING MANURE)

Chemical Stabilization: Apply an approved dust suppressant at a sufficient quantity and 

frequency to prevent windblown dust. 

Covering: 

Install tarps, plastic or other material as a temporary covering. 

(Coverings should be anchored to prevent wind from removing the 

cover). 

Watering: Apply water at a sufficient quantity and frequency to maintain moist 

surface under windy conditions. 

Wind Sheltering: Enclose material in a three-sided barrier equal to or greater in height 

than the height of the material. 

2. UNPAVED ROADS

Access Restriction: 

Restrict public access to unpaved roads using signage or physical 

access restrictions (e.g., access barrier) and/or limit total trips to less 

than 10 per day. 

Paving: Pave unpaved roads. (Gives maximum PM-10 emissions reductions 

as long as paved surface is kept clean.) 

Road Treatments: 

Apply water, washed gravel, mulch, organic materials, polymers, 

dust suppressants, road oil or wood chips to the unpaved road 

surface area. 

Speed Limits: Control speed limits to 15 mph on unpaved roads through worker 

behavior modification, signage, or any other necessary means. 

Surface Modification: Cover unpaved road surfaces with a low silt-content material, such 

as gravel or recycled road base. 

Track-Out Area 

Improvements: 

Minimize dirt material tracked out onto public roadways by paving 

or chemically stabilizing, or applying gravel to the unpaved road 

surface for a distance of at least 100 feet from the public roadway. 

Track-Out Prevention: Check or clean the underside of all haul trucks before leaving the 

parking or staging area. 

Vegetation: Establish natural vegetation on unpaved surfaces no longer being 

used. 
C. OTHER AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES (continued)

3. UNPAVED TRAFFIC AREAS (PARKING LOTS, STAGING AREAS, ETC.)

Access Restriction: Restrict public access to unpaved traffic areas using signage 

or physical access restrictions (e.g., access barrier). 

Paving: Pave unpaved traffic areas. (Gives maximum PM-10 

emissions reductions as long as paved surface is kept clean.) 

Road Treatments: 

Apply water, mulch, organic materials, polymers, dust 

suppressants, or wood chips to the unpaved traffic surface 

area. 

Speed Limits: 

Control speed limits to 15 mph on unpaved areas through 

worker behavior modification, signage, or any other 

necessary means. 

Surface Modification: Cover unpaved surfaces with a low silt-content material, 

such as gravel or recycled road base. 

Track-Out Prevention: Check or clean the underside of all haul trucks before 

leaving the parking or staging area. 

Vegetation: Establish natural vegetation on unpaved surfaces no longer 

being used. 

Wind Barrier: 

Plant trees or establish other barriers on the typically 

upwind side of the traffic area to minimize windblown dust 

from the unpaved surface. 

4. OPEN BURNING

Eliminate Burning: 

Switch to a crop/system that would not require waste 

burning. Also, use practices such as shredding and chipping 

instead of burning. 

5. INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES

Note: CAPCOA is still in the process of developing appropriate BARCT/RACM for 

Internal Combustion Engines (ICE). Information will be provided when it becomes 

available.