KENNEWICK — A longtime Kennewick business and a lawn mower manufacturer on Friday unveiled a new trade-in rebate program for mowers.

Cash 4 Junkers, modeled after the popular Cash for Clunkers car sales program, made its debut at Farmers Exchange, a family-owned business that's been a downtown fixture for almost 90 years.

The idea to emulate the auto rebate program was that of Keith Silliman, owner of Farmers Exchange. He convinced the Toro Company to launch the pilot program.

"Toro is buying into it to spur business," he said. Distributors also have agreed to partner with Silliman to bring savings to consumers when they replace their aging lawn mowers with new ones in stock at Farmers Exchange, he said.

Rebates range from $40 to $2,000. The program allows consumers to get some of the new Toro lawn mower models below dealership costs, Silliman said.

Silliman will be reimbursed by Toro later. The program runs through Oct. 1 or while supplies last.

To participate, customers need to bring in mowers to Farmers Exchange that are least five years old, of any make and in any condition, Silliman said.

The new mowers are more fuel-efficient, run cleaner than older models and help reduce pollution, he said.

The old mowers collected by the dealership will be recycled for metal. The dealership takes care of disposing old batteries, oil and fuel inside the machines, Silliman said. A bin with several old mowers was set up in front of the store Friday.

He said 2008 was a record year for his store.

"And 2009 is tracking steady," he said, largely because of homeowners with big yards and gentleman farmers. He added commercial sales have been flat.

"We hope the program works like it did for the auto industry," Silliman said.