USDA restarts cost-share aid to biomass farmers and processors
"Incentives will resume this summer for farmers, ranchers and forest landowners interested in growing and harvesting biomass for renewable energy," said the USDA in announcing a "restart" of the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP).
Senators unveil bill to repeal corn ethanol mandate
Portions of the Renewable Fuels Standard that effectively mandate the use of corn-based ethanol would be repealed under a bill introduced by Sens. Dianne Feinstein of California, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Jeff Flake of Arizona.
Biomass program thins national forest of dead, diseased trees
More than 200,000 tons of dead or diseased trees were removed from national forests this summer through a program that offsets the harvest and transport cost for delivering plant materials to biomass refineries, said USDA.
Bio-energy programs get $625 million in farm law funding
Congress included $625 million in guaranteed funding for bio-energy programs in the 2014 farm policy law, says Jonathan Coppess of U-Illinois at farmdoc daily.