by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com)  Senator Al Franken (D-MN), together with Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) have introduced the Agricultural Energy Programs Reauthorization Act of 2017, to reauthorize Title IX programs and funding through …

by Keith Loria  (Ethanol Producer Magazine)  The 2014 Farm Bill—otherwise known as the Agricultural Act of 2014—places a larger emphasis on energy than past farm bills have. It includes the most recent version of the …

by Liz Morales (Columbus Telegram)  Agriculture was a main topic of discussion Wednesday during U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer’s listening session in Albion.  Fischer said she expects a big fight when the 2018 farm bill is …

(Bioenergy Insight) The Almond Alliance of California has called for increased funding from the Farm Bill in order to help develop bioenergy outlets for almond biomass and byproducts in the state.
Kelly Covello, president of the Almond …

by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine)  In late July, Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., introduced legislation that aims to repeal bioenergy programs contained under Title IX of the 2014 Farm Bill.
The bill, titled “Farewell to Unnecessary Energy …

by Chris Clayton (DTN The Progressive Farmer)  … The House Agriculture Committee has its road trip, labeled “Conversations in the Field,” which included a field hearing in Texas on Monday and another one at Farmfest in …

by Carl Zulauf, Gary Schnitkey, David Orden (FarmDocDaily)   Thirteen agricultural economists put together short papers describing issues that will surface during the writing of the next farm bill. For each issue, the author describes the “policy …

by Sara Taginawa (Environmental and Energy Study Institute)  On Tuesday, July 25, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing examining the future of biofuels and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). According to …

by Jessie Stolark (Environmental and Energy Study Institute)  On June 29, the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee approved a spending bill for FY2018 providing $144.0 billion to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), $876 million lower …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  Rural Business Service to shut down; BCAP, REAP, loan guarantees gone; food stamps, crop insurance slashed. Want to understand what USDA is targeting, cutting, growing or eliminating — but don’t have …

by John Duff (Ethanol Producer Magazine/National Sorghum Producers)  A drastically changed farm economy means the next bill will likely be very different than past ones. …   —  It is hard to believe the current …

by Douglas L. Faulkner (Cleantech Conservative/Biofuels Digest)  … The Trump Administration’s two recent Executive Orders on “Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth” and especially, “Promoting Agriculture and Rural Prosperity in America” (March 28 & April 25, …

by Brian Jennings (The Hill/American Coalition for Ethanol)   … By every measure, increasing the production and use of homegrown renewable fuels has spurred economic growth for U.S. farmers and supported high-skill, high-wage jobs in rural …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  In Washington, the Trump Administration released its “Presidential Executive Order on Promoting Agriculture and Rural Prosperity in America” — and a report from the Interagency Task Force, something this order …

by Chris Clayton (DTN The Progressive Farmer)  Leaders Tout Potential Growth, Challenges for Renewable Refinery Products  —  … Whether it is spoons, Coke bottles or carpets made out of corn, livestock enzymes for pharmaceuticals, or John …

(Norwalk Reflector)  … Progressive policies for a strong farm safety net, increased funding for agricultural export programs, ambitious global trade negotiations, an aggressive support for biodiesel policies and robust funding for agricultural research and conservation programs …

by Douglas L. Faulkner (Biofuels Digest)  Robert McNally, the author of the new, critically-acclaimed book, “Crude Volatility: The History and the Future of Boom-Bust Oil Prices”, believes that global oil markets are entering an epic, structural …

by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest)  ABLC guests heard Governor Paul LePage from Maine invite all of us to his beautiful Northern state that has many existing and promising biomass projects and even backyard farms …

by Jessie Stolark (Environmental and Energy Study Institute)  The Farm Bill’s Energy Title provides loans and grants to farmers, ranchers and small businesses to encourage investment in renewable energy, energy efficiency and the production of …

by Jerry Hagstrom (DTN Progressive Farmer)  About two-thirds of a bipartisan group of around 50 lobbyists said this week they expect Congress not to finish the farm bill until 2019 and think that it will …

by Jessie Stolark (Environmental and Energy Study Institute)  EESI will take periodic looks at the ongoing debate surrounding the anticipated 2018 Farm Bill. This article is the first in the series.  — …  Amidst a backdrop …

by Douglas L. Faulkner (“The Cleantech Conservative”/Biofuels Digest)  … Yes, the GOP is in control of the White House, the House of Representatives and the Senate.  But, who’s in control of the Republicans and will they – …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digests)  In Washington, Donald Trump captured the US Presidency in an upset victory that confounded pollsters and political pundits even as it delighted supporters of his maverick candidacy based on themes …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  … As algae developers struggled to bring down costs within venture timelines, and then as global commodity prices plunged — algae companies began a steady re-focusing on the higher prices available …

(WHOTV.com)  The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, last week released a sweeping critique of U.S. agriculture policy.
In a 148 page report, the foundation called for Congress to revamp crop insurance and food standards.
It also …

by Keith Norman (The Jamestown Sun)  … Kasey Bitz was one of 44 farmers participating in the North Dakota Farmers Union legislative fly-in that returned from Washington, D.C., on Sept. 14. Members of the group met …

by Erik Posz (Redwood Falls Gazette)   Thoroughly impressed.   That was the feeling United States Senator Amy Klobuchar left with after a visit Friday morning to the Redwood Electric Cooperative (REC) Community Solar Array located adjacent …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  In Washington, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization released a landmark report “Advancing the Biobased Economy: Renewable Chemical Biorefinery Commercialization, Progress, and Market Opportunities, 2016 and Beyond,” documenting substantial, ongoing growth in the …

(Environmental and Energy Study Institute)  … With a potential omnibus spending package on the table this fall, the oil industry and some environmental groups have raised again the proposition of RFS reform.  Two major claims made …

by Jessie Stolark (The Hill/Environmental and Energy Study Institute)  … The total amount of U.S. land under production by American farmers is down– not just over the last 50 or 100 years, but also over the last decade according …

by Art Cullen (Storm Lake Times) … So how can we produce ethanol sustainably — that is, a scheme under which farmers can make money without releasing nitrate to the river and help power America while …

(US Department of Agriculture)  Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $8.8 million to boost the production of advanced biofuels and sustain jobs at renewable energy facilities …

by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Innovation Organization/Biofuels Digest)  … Congress changed mandatory funding for two key bioenergy programs – despite their tangible successes – through its Fiscal Year 2016 (FY16) Omnibus spending bill. USDA’s Section 9003 Loan …

by Margaret M. Zeigler (The Hill/Global Harvest Initiative)  … Held each year since 1973, National AG Day helps consumers, the administration and Congress understand how farmers grow safe and affordable food, and underscores the essential role of …

(US Department of Agriculture)  Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the availability of up to $260 million for partner proposals to improve the nation’s water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and …

(Industrial Biotechnology)  … My current assessment is that there exists an unlimited sense of opportunity in the biobased products and bioenergy sector. I look at the work being done at the USDA, which is extensive and …

by Brent Erickson (Biofuels Digest/Biotechnology Innovation Organization)  … The challenge our industry faces right now is to continue building investment in the biobased economy. That can be accomplished with both policy and non-policy activities.
…
On the policy …

by Corinne Young and Michele Jalbert (Biofuels Digest/re:chem Alliance)  For all of 2015’s turbulence in the renewable chemical sector, in one area – US government policy – the industry saw marked progress.
For the last two …

(US Department of Agriculture)  U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Val Dolcini announced that enrollment begins today for farmers and forest landowners seeking financial assistance for growing new sources of biomass …

by Corinne Young and Michele Jalbert (Biofuels Digest/Renewable Chemicals and Advanced Materials Alliance (re:chem))  … Buoyed in wake of our successful Farm Bill expansion of USDA 9003 loan guarantees to renewable chemicals/bioproduct manufacturing and progress toward …

by Megan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, nearly half of the US Senate has written to the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Energy and the EPA administrator strongly urging the agencies to streamline support of …

(Agriculture Energy Coalition/BusinessWire) The House Appropriations Committee’s Fiscal Year 2016 Agriculture Appropriations Bill would reduce mandatory spending levels for important Energy Title programs, including the Renewable Energy for America Program, Biomass Crop Assistance Program, and the …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  … In Washington, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the release of a new report that shows the U.S. biobased industry in 2013 contributed four million jobs and $369 billion to the US economy.  …

by Cynthia Thyfault (Westar Trade Resources/Biofuels Digest) The biobased products and fuels industry has been anxiously waiting for the new USDA Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program. Authorized in the 2014 Farm Bill and …

(US Department of Agriculture)  The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that incentives will resume this summer for farmers, ranchers and forest landowners interested in growing and harvesting biomass for renewable energy. The support …

by Corrine Young and Michele Jalbert (Renewable Chemicals and Advanced Materials Alliance (re:chem)/Biofuels Digest) … Program changes garnered in the most recent Farm Bill reauthorization have, for the first time, broadened the loan guarantee program to include …

by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com)  A group of Congressional representatives wrote to the House Appropriations leadership this week specifically asking that any funding to help install blender pumps or promote corn ethanol exports be eliminated from …

by Daniel Looker (Agriculture.com)  Speaking to the ethanol lobbying group, Growth Energy, Agriculture Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack Thursday announced more USDA support for bioenergy research and farmer production of biomass but also praised efforts …

by  Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine)  The U.S. Grains Council is teaming up with Growth Energy, the Renewable Fuels Association and the USDA Foreign Agriculture Service on a new four-way partnership in ethanol export …

by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine)  The U.S. EPA has published a notice in the Federal Register inviting the public to nominate scientific experts to be considered for appointment to its Science Advisory Board Agricultural Science …

(FarmEnergy.org)  The big news from our nation’s capital this past week has been the passage of the appropriations bill for fiscal year 2015, which began on October 1st. The federal government had been operating on …

by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine)  Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced that greater protection is now available from the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program for crops that traditionally have been ineligible for federal crop …

By Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  Well, plenty. We reported on progress with Section 9003 loan guarantees earlier this week – today, we have a recap of the major other activities, including the Biodiesel Fuel Education …

(US Department of Agriculture)  Farm Bill program will benefit wildlife and outdoor recreation activity in California Bay Delta Region, Mississippi, Red River Basins and others
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that $328 million in conservation …

(US Department of Agriculture)  $105 Million loan guarantee provided through the Biorefinery Assistance Program
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA has closed on a loan guarantee to Fulcrum Sierra Biofuels, LLC to build a biorefinery …

by Anna Simet (Biomass Magazine) Though the USDA Rural Energy for America Program has been hugely successful since it was first implemented in the 2002 Farm Bill, numerous changes have been implemented over the years in …

by Gene Lucht (Iowa Farmer Today)   …. But, when the Iowans visited Washington recently a few of them also spoke with members of Congress and congressional staffers from non-ag regions in an effort to educate …

(US Department of Agriculture/Biomass Magazine)  Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced up to $14.5 million in funding for two USDA bioenergy programs made available through the 2014 Farm Bill. USDA’s Rural Development announced it is …

(US Department of Agriculture)  Now Apply for Renewed Biomass Crop Assistance Program.  Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today (June 9, 2014) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin accepting applications June 16 from …

by Amanda Peterka (E&E reporter/Greenwire)  The United States may be losing a major opportunity to be a global leader in the growing market for green chemicals because of its overwhelming policy tilt toward biofuels, industry …

By Danilo Gusmão de Quadros* (Advanced Biofuels USA)  Imagine a world without non-renewable energy sources, where we just use sun, wind, and biomass to generate our electricity for industries and homes, and fuel for transportation. …

by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine)  The House Appropriations Committee has released its fiscal year 2015 agricultural appropriations bill, which aims to reduce funding levels for several Farm Bill Energy Title programs. A markup session on …

by John Davis (DomesticFuel.com)  The Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing this week on advanced biofuels. Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow of Michigan says advanced biofuels are here now, and they are an important part of the …

by Holly Jessen (Biomass Magazine)  Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack testified about the farm bill and the rural economy, during a U.S. House of Representatives Committee hearing. As part of that, he talked about the …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  In Washington, the Senate Agriculture Committee yesterday held a hearing on the economic benefits of advanced biofuels in creating jobs and lowering gasoline prices.
Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chairwoman of the …

by John Davis (DomesticFuel.com) A crop that has had an undeserved stigma attached to it could now become a source for biodiesel and ethanol. The recently passed and signed Farm Bill contains a provision that would …

You are invited to join representatives from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the Risk Management Agency (RMA) for a Stakeholders Listening Session on our preparations to implement the provisions from the Agricultural Act of …

(US Department of Agriculture)  Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary Doug O’Brien today announced that USDA is making nearly $60 million in payments to 195 producers to support the production of advanced biofuel.
“These payments represent the Obama …

(25 x ’25)   EPA’s release this week of the latest rule governing vehicle emissions and fuel standards is a reminder that while regulations can raise the profile of biofuels, there are no “silver” policy bullets that absolutely …

by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine)  … Regarding the new Made in Rural American initiative, Obama said the program will help more rural business expand, and hire, and sell more products that are made in the U.S.A. …

by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine)  Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack left no one in doubt regarding his commitment to the ethanol industry in Phoenix on Thursday, Feb. 27. The ethanol producers, farmers and …

by Chris Groobey and Taite McDonald (Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati) … Since the changes surrounding the Section 9003 Biorefinery Assistance Program of Title IX (9003 Biorefinery Assistance Program or the program) are the most substantive and have been …

by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Industry Organization/Biofuels Digest)  … The true good news is that the Senate conferees prevailed in getting $881 million in mandatory funding over the next ten years to renewable energy and biofuels initiatives …

by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com)  … “Renewable chemicals are now defined in the farm bill, an important and long overdue change,” said Matt Carr, BIO Industrial and Environmental Director about that inclusion in the Biorefinery Assistance Program …

(Baystreet.CA/AccessWire)  Extreme Biodiesel, Inc. (PINK:XTRM) today announced that the Company wholly owned subsidiary XTRM Cannabis Ventures has just completed assembly of its first Mobile Hemp To Biodiesel Production Unit. XTRM Cannabis Ventures will begin marketing and …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  Following House passage, the five-year Farm Bill and its Energy Title head to the White House for assent.  In Washington, the U.S. Senate voted 68-32 to approve the bipartisan Farm …

by Laura Sesana  (The Washington Times) The petroleum industry’s renewed campaign against Congressionally mandated increasing levels of ethanol in gasoline appears to be working. The result, however—EPA’s proposal to reduce ethanol requirements for 2014—could cost taxpayers …

by Erik Wasson (The Hill) The Environmental Protection Agency’s preliminary decision to reduce renewable fuels blending requirements has increased momentum to get a farm bill done this year, the top House negotiator on the measure said …

(25 x’25)  The 25x’25 Alliance has joined more than 130 other national, regional and state stakeholder groups devoted to farm, ranch and forest-based energy solutions in a letter to congressional agricultural leaders urging them to …

by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com)   The Senate version of the farm bill includes $800 million in mandatory funding for energy programs while the House version contains zero – one of the relatively minor differences in the …

by Chris Hanson (Ethanol Producer Magazine)  A group of 30 biomass companies and organizations recently wrote to four congressmen supporting mandatory funding for Farm Bill Energy Title programs.
Addressed to Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.; Sen. Thad …

(US Department of Agriculture)  Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the availability of $181 million to develop commercial-scale biorefineries or retrofit existing facilities with appropriate technology to develop advanced biofuels. The U.S. Department of Agriculture …

By Amanda Peterka  (Midwest Energy News/Environment & Energy Daily)    …But USDA’s ability to carry out projects like the installation of solar panels was left to dangle Monday night with the expiration of the farm …

(BusinessWire/Biotechnology Industry Organization)   The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) and a group of renewable chemical companies and state advocacy organizations today wrote to the chairpersons and ranking members of the House and Senate Committees on Agriculture, …

by Jake Ferris (Ethanol Producer Magazine)  … The change in stock levels from 2001-’05 accounted for about $1.28 of the $2.49 per bushel increase in corn prices (Table 2)—just over 50 percent. About 18 cents …

(US Department of Agriculture)  Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making payments to support the production of advanced biofuel. USDA is making nearly $15.5 million in payments …

by Janell Baum (Farm Futures)  National Corn Growers President Pam Johnson says NCGA membership ready to move forward on the farm bill; reinforces stance on Renewable Fuel Standard
It’s a common refrain at the 2013 Farm …

by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com)  U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was in Ames, Iowa this week and while there gave remarks during the Iowa Farm Bureau’s (#IFBF13) 2013 Economic Summit. The standing room only …

by Lloyd Ritter and Ryan Stroschein  (Agriculture Energy Coalition/Biofuels Digest)  Now that both the U.S. House and Senate are moving toward a conference on the Farm Bill, it’s time to emphasize to both chambers the need …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  … In Washington, the House and Senate have now passed their respective versions of the proposed 2013 farm bill, which would take effect for fiscal 2014 through fiscal 2018.
Both bills have …

by Lacey Koontz (BrownfieldAgNews)  The Illinois Corn Growers Association is opposed to the current discussion in Congress to split the farm bill.  According to Rodney Weinzierl, the Executive Director of the Illinois Corn Growers Association, House conservatives …

by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com)  … At the annual National Association of Farm Broadcasting Washington Watch issues forum on Monday, Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen said the dramatic changes in farm programs expected are actually being …

by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Industry Organization/Biofuels Digest)  …Renewable chemicals offer cost-competitiveness with petrochemicals or new properties and features that add value to innovative consumer products. In that way, they’ve captured some market share and created …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  In Washington, BIO begins the week with applause for Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) and other members of the Senate Agriculture Committee for including mandatory funding for …

by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com)  Legislation to reauthorize the Farm Bill energy title was introduced in the Senate Monday. Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Al Franken (D-MN) introduced the Rural Energy Investment Act to “help farmers, ranchers, and …

(US Department of Agriculture/Biodiesel Magazine)  The USDA has proposed a series of changes to make it easier for agricultural producers and rural small businesses to apply for renewable energy and energy efficiency funding. USDA remains …

by Tina Casey (TriplePundit)  Just yesterday, we noted that auto manufacturers are beginning to shed their century-old love affair with petroleum, and now it seems that the agriculture sector is ready to move on, too.
On …

(25 x ’25)  …But the growth in new, clean energy is only just beginning, driven in large part by the energy programs first enacted in the 2002 Farm Bill and renewed again in 2008. Now …

by Douglas L. Faulkner with contributions from Jacques Beaudry-Losique (Biofuels Digest)  …We believe it is time for bioenergy industry leaders to take the initiative and chalk up a new comprehensive game plan, reflecting the new reality …

This webinar (First in this series) will focus on the current and past policies which drive or hinder (as the case may be) the emerging biofuels industry. In this webinar, participants will explore the similarities …

by Ned Stowe (Environmental and Energy Study Institute)  The USDA estimates that farmers in the U.S. will plant nine million more acres in corn in 2013 than they did in 2011, an increase of almost 10 …

by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com)  The Agriculture Energy Coalition (AgEC) today urged Congress to begin work on a new five-year Farm Bill with strong mandatory funding for energy programs.
The coalition notes that programs included in the …

by John Davis (DomesticFuel.com)  Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack says the future success of biofuels in this country is also tied to successfully getting a new five-year farm bill passed. Speaking to delegates of the …

by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine)  …The bad news is, all mandatory funding for energy title programs were stripped from the farm bill at the last moment. “The programs have lived, but they don’t have …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  …Four tax provisions were in the bill that directly impact biofuels.
Cellulosic biofuels producer tax credit.  … The provision would extend this production tax credit for one additional year, for cellulosic biofuel …

by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Industry Organization/Biofuels Digest)  The biofuel industry breathed a big sigh of relief last month when the EPA declined several governors’ petitions to waive the Renewable Fuel Standard. Then, after a herculean …

(National Farmers Union)  National Farmers Union (NFU) and a wide-sweeping coalition of 235 agriculture organizations including Advanced Biofuels USA sent a letter to Congressional leadership today urging for the passage of a new five-year farm bill to be …

(American Soybean Association/Biodiesel Magazine)  With the national spotlight on the race for the White House, the American Soybean Association reached out to President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney for each candidate’s points …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  In Washington, the Romney campaign issued a long-awaited white paper on agricultural policy. Among the highlights:
…“He will not only accelerate the development of conventional energy sources, but also advance new technologies …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  …Those momentum killers. Company wreckers. The investor flight-inducing crevasses along the route to the top – that take away a level playing field, remove your access to markets, delay a …

(Agricultural Energy Coalition/Ethanol Producer Magazine)  The Agriculture Energy Coalition (AgEC) today (September 12, 2012) called on Congress to pass a five-year Farm Bill with mandatory funding for a strong Energy Title. The Senate has passed …

by Ned Stowe (Environmental and Energy Study Institute)  Renewable biomass has a significant potential to improve U.S. energy security, advance rural economic development and energy security, protect and restore water quality and other environmental resources, and …

(Delta Farm Press)  A coalition of 39 of the nation’s foremost agricultural organizations has formed in an effort to raise public awareness of the need for Congress to pass a new, comprehensive, five-year farm bill before …

by Zack Coleman (The Hill/E2Wire)  The biofuels industry is at loggerheads with House Republicans, who are eyeing its funding for elimination in the farm bill.
Biomass and biofuels groups warn that the loss of $800 million …

(The Hill/E2Wire)Five rural energy programs will end while others will be slimmed down if a draft version of the 2012 farm bill released Thursday becomes law.
The cuts, made by leaders of the House Agriculture Committee, will total …

(Environmental and Energy Study Institute)  A bipartisan majority in the Senate approved the Farm Bill after debating and voting on more than 70 amendments. Amendments to weaken or repeal key programs in the energy and …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  Section 9011 of the Farm Bill – the Biomass Crop Assistance Program – USDA deploys $9.6M in new investments in bioenergy crops as questions revolve around the program’s future and …

by Brent Erickson (BIO/Biofuels Digest)  Ten years ago, Congress passed and President George W. Bush signed into law a Farm Bill that, for the first time, embraced the vital role American farmers, foresters and rural …

(National Farmers Union)  National Farmers Union (NFU) and a coalition of agricultural, conservation, environmental, energy, forestry, hunger, and rural stakeholders sent a letter to Senate leadership today urging them to bring the Agriculture Reform, Food and …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  In Washington, the Senate Agriculture Committee has approved $800 million in mandatory biofuels-related funding for the proposed energy title in the upcoming Farm Bill.
…Yesterday, Senators Kent Conrad of North Dakota …

by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com)  A coalition of trade groups and organizations representing renewable energy, energy efficiency, farm and environmental interests is disappointed in a 2012 Farm Bill draft out of the Senate Agriculture Committee that …

(FarmEnergy.org)  More than 100 diverse groups representing agriculture, energy, rural development and conservation called on Congress today (April 5, 2012) to renew and fund core energy programs in the Farm Bill that push forward clean, …

by Anna Austin  (Biomass Power and Thermal Magazine)  The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition has released its 2012 Farm Bill platform, which provides suggestions to improve some federal bioenergy programs. These include the Repowering Assistance Program …

by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com)  …“If you took a poll of our members, and we may well do that at our Commodity Classic next week, I would say that they view the RFS as more important …

by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine)  …Maintaining the energy programs within the Farm Bill will also be a challenge, with the expectation that there will be deep budgets cuts from the baseline. Vilsack explained that with …

by Ned Stowe (Environmental and Energy Study Institute)  Why is there an energy title in the Farm Bill? Are the Farm Bill energy programs making a difference yet? Are there better ways to advance the …

by Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) …One of the many energy-related components of the Farm Bill that is up for reauthorization is the Biodiesel Fuel Education Program, which is a grant program that supports the education …

by Kris Bevill  (Ethanol Producer Magazine)  Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and a handful of bioenergy stakeholders were given the opportunity to present the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry with their opinions on the …

(Renewable Fuels Association/Advanced Ethanol Council)  The Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC) today urged Senate Ag Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Ranking Member Pat Roberts (R-KS) to include two key tax extensions for advanced and cellulosic …

(Environmental and Energy Study Institute)  Will federal programs critical to the development of sustainable bioenergy and the bioeconomy be renewed in the next Farm Bill? The authorization for current programs will expire at the end …

by Robert E. Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA)  Retain Agricultural Land: Agricultural and forest lands are vulnerable to loss due to reduction of the dairy and pulp/paper industries and conversion to residential or commercial development.  They …

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  …10. Advanced biofuels capacity surges to 1 billion gallons, globally. We see 570 million gallons in capacity from Neste Oil alone; 137 Mgy from Diamond Green, 75 Mgy from Dynamic …

byJames C. Greenwood and Robert Johnson (The Hill Congress Blog/BIO/National Farmers’ Union)   Maintaining agricultural productivity in America is indispensable to our economic security, so a safety net for farmers is very important. But abundant affordable …

(25 x ’25)  Amid the political clamor surrounding congressional efforts to cut federal spending over the next decade and reduce the nation’s deficit, the ethanol industry has conceded that a seven-year subsidy benefiting the sector …

by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine)  Good biofuel feedstocks are highly productive, have low input requirements and are widely adaptable. Unfortunately, those same traits are also common with invasive species.
Language addressing invasive species is included …

by Philip Brasher (Des Moines Register)  Programs the Obama administration has been pushing to promote next-generation biofuels are likely to have little funding in the next farm bill, according to the top Democrat on the …

by Philip Brasher (Des Moines Register)  A draft summary of the new farm bill that lawmakers have been finalizing says farmers will have a new subsidy system to supplement the coverage they now have through …

by William Richards and Dennis McGinn (The Plain Dealer)  Guest Columnists:  The future of the government’s role in U.S. agriculture remains about as uncertain today as it was before the 1933 enactment of the Agricultural …

by Adam Monroe (Novozymes/The Hill E2Wire)  …We are thankful the REFRESH Act’s energy title includes baseline funding. The problem is that the current farm bill does not, putting in jeopardy programs that our farmers and …

by Philip Brasher (Des Moines Register)  The biofuel industry is lobbying lawmakers to continue some subsidies and financial assistance that they got in the last farm bill. The programs are set to expire next year if …

by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com)  Senator Dick Lugar (R-IN) and Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R, IN-3rd) have introduced a farm bill that they say would save $40 billion and includes provisions that support the development of advanced biofuels.
“We …

(US Department of Agriculture)  Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced five major agricultural research projects today aimed at developing regional, renewable energy markets, generating rural jobs, and decreasing America’s dependence on foreign oil. Altogether, the five-year …

by Erin Voegele (Biorefining Magazine)  …While some in the industry doubt that a Congress so focused on debt reduction will extend VEETC and the biodiesel tax credit, Greg Jenner, a partner in Stoel Rives LLP’s …

(25 x ’25)  The  25 x ’25 Alliance released a report from the University of Tennessee’s Bio-Based Energy Analysis Group demonstrating that millions of new jobs could be created over the next 15 years by …

(Southeast Agriculture and Forestry Energy Resources Alliance)  As you know, Congress is in the midst of negotiations regarding FY2012 appropriations for the Farm Bill. Of particular interest to SAFER is the proposed cuts to the …

by Graham Warwick (Aviation Week)  The U.S. aviation industry is pressing Congress to extend funding for goverment programs providing support to start up commercial-scale production of renewable biofuels.
…Work on the 2012 Farm Bill is getting …

(25 x ’25) The 25x’25 Alliance recognizes that all sectors must make sacrifices to achieve true reductions in spending and the national deficit. However, draconian cuts to a number ofUSDA renewable energy programs included in a larger …

(US House of Representatives Appropriations Committee) The House Appropriations Committee today (May 23, 2011) released the subcommittee draft of the fiscal year 2012 Agriculture Appropriations bill, which will be marked up in the Agriculture Subcommittee …

by Jerry Hagstrom  (AgWeek)  Senate Agriculture Commitee Chairman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., says the Senate will proceed on its own schedule on the farm bill and should finish the bill as quickly as possible, but she …

by Philip Brasher (Des Moines Register)  Even as President Barack Obama renewed his push for next-generation biofuels, an industry official warned that cuts in biomass subsidies could discourage farmers from providing corn residue and other …