FSA Extends Sign Up for BCAP
New deadline is set for Friday, Sept. 23.
Compiled by staff
Published: Sep 20, 2011
USDA's Farm Service Agency Administrator Bruce Nelson has announced that the deadline for producers to sign up to participate in the Biomass Crop Assistance Program has been extended until the close of business on Friday, Sept. 23. The original deadline to sign up was Friday, Sept. 16.
“BCAP is an effort that will create jobs and stimulate rural economies across the nation, and we want to make certain we have reached as many farmers and ranchers as possible in those BCAP project areas that aren’t yet fully subscribed,” said Nelson. “The Obama Administration is committed to providing financial opportunities to rural communities, farmers and ranchers to produce biomass which will be converted to renewable fuels and increase America's energy independence.”
BCAP, created in the 2008 Farm Bill, helps farmers and forest land owners with startup costs for planting new energy crops in approved project areas that can take several years to reach maturity until harvest. BCAP is the only federal program that expedites the production of biomass crops to reduce U.S. reliance on foreign oil, improve domestic energy security, reduce pollution and spur rural job creation.
Currently there are nine BCAP Project Areas that are accepting enrollment. Ten states are eligible to sign up to grow native grasses, perennials such as switchgras, giant miscanthus, camelina, and a hybrid popular. Missouri has the largest area with more than 50 counties included. Other states include Kansas, Arkansas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Washington, Oklahoma, California, and Montana.
The sign-up period for the four most recently announced project areas began Aug. 8, 2011. The sign-up period for project area 1 began May 9, 2011. The sign-up period for project areas 2 through 5 began June 20, 2011. Producers interested in participating in BCAP in these project areas should visit t local FSA county office. Information about BCAP may be found online at www.fsa.usda.gov/bcap.
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