House Agriculture Appropriations Bill axes BCAP, slashes Loan Guarantees and REAP

In Washington, the draft House Appropriations Committee’s FY2018 Agriculture Appropriations bill was released, and cut the Rural Energy for America Program from $50 million to $9 million, cut the Section 9003 Loan Guarntee program by $65 million, leaving $31 million, and cencelled the Biomass Crop Assistance Program.

“The biobased economy is boosting innovation in domestic manufacturing and generating new markets for agricultural producers,” said Agriculture Energy Coalition Director Lloyd Ritter. “These efforts are stimulating sustainable economic growth and creating tens of thousands of jobs across the countryside. At a time when commodity prices have fallen, America’s farmers cannot afford drastic cuts to vital programs that drive significant economic development in rural America.

“The Rural Energy for America Program is successful and constructive. Nearly 13,000 projects in all 50 states have received awards since the 2008 Farm Bill, leveraging more than $3 billion in private investment. Yet, the committee proposes to cut the program by 82 percent.

“Section 9003 provides access to capital for underserved agricultural communities. The committee’s proposal to cut funding for this program and to rescind previously committed funding inflicts unnecessary pain on rural areas.

“The Biomass Crop Assistance Program provides crucial financial assistance to producers working to establish and maintain new dedicated feedstocks for commercial renewable energy facilities. Cancelling this program undercuts American farmers’ efforts to establish new dedicated energy crops.

“This budgeting sacrifices opportunities for job creation and economic development, as well as diminishes America’s ability to work toward energy independence. We strongly urge the Committee to make the necessary changes to support these programs and the innovation they provide.”