WASHINGTON – USDA Farm Service Agency Acting Administrator Val Dolcini on Wednesday announced the deadline for project area proposals for the Biomass Crop Assistance Program. To be considered, proposals must be submitted to the applicable state office by close of business, May 27.

Dolcini said the country “that harnesses the power of clean, renewable energy will be” the country to lead the 21st century. She said the program “can help rural communities save money, create jobs and improve air quality while reducing the demand for fossil fuels,” and encourages “all those interested in participating in this program to contact their Farm Service Agency state office for details.”

The Biomass Crop Assistance Program was authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill and provides incentives to eligible farmers, ranchers and forest landowners for the establishment and production of biomass crops for heat, power, bio-based products and biofuels. The program’s “project areas are specific geographic areas where producers grow eligible biomass crops. Producers then receive annual payments for growing those crops.”

The Biomass Crop Assistance Program “provides financial assistance to owners and operators of agricultural and non-industrial private forest land who wish to establish, produce, and deliver biomass feedstocks.” It provides two categories of assistance. One of these is matching payments, which “may be available for the delivery of eligible material to qualified biomass conversion facilities by eligible material owners. Qualified biomass conversion facilities produce heat, power, bio-based products, or advanced bio-fuels from biomass feedstocks.”

Another assistance area of note is that “annual payments may be available to certain producers who enter into contracts with the Commodity Credit Corporation to produce eligible biomass crops on contract acres” within the program’s project areas.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.