Last week, the
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a final rule amending the Biomass
Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) to implement changes required by the 2014 Farm
Bill. BCAP
provides financial assistance to owners and operators engaged in biomass crops,
including collection, harvest, storage, and transportation. The final rule does
not alter the scope of the BCAP but does reduce the payment rate per ton for
eligible materials and limits the cost share per acre. Comments on the rule are
due by April 28, 2015.
The rule will be effective on May
28, 2015.