Biofuels Short Takes: Farm Bill update

The Farm Bill. 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 Energy Title programs and eligibility for renewable chemicals in draft Farm Bill reauthorization legislation.

Don’t be incredibly surprised if the House Ag Committee leaves the energy title out — doesn’t man there won’t be one. It may means that, when the bill goes to conference, the House intends to extract a juicy set of concessions from the Senate on other Farm Bill provisions they don’t much like.

Meanwhile, BIO EVP Brent Erickson reminds, “Reauthorization of USDA renewable energy programs with robust mandatory funding will help U.S. companies continue to commercialize innovative biotech processes that convert ag crops and residues to value added products and in doing so create high-quality rural jobs, spur economic growth, and improve environmental health.  Granting long-overdue eligibility for renewable chemical projects will revive America’s manufacturing sector and improve U.S. economic competitiveness.”