BCAP funding stands at $112m for 2011

New terms to the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) will see funding capped at $112 million (€77.7 million) for the 2011 financial year. James Barber, New York's US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency state executive director, announced the provision.

'Both matching payments and annual payments will be affected by the reduction in programme funding,' Barber says. 'At this time matching payments for woody biomass have not been authorised, however FSA anticipates that matching CHST payments for woody biomass species will be implemented this summer.'

The BCAP supports the owners and operators of agricultural and forestland through two methods, the first of which uses permitted land to encourage the cultivation of acceptable energy crops.

The second BCAP process is realised through matching payments received for the collection, harvest, storage and transportation of suitable biomass materials to a qualified biomass conversion facility by 'eligible' material owners.

At the moment herbaceous species only are considered eligible materials for CHST matching payments but introducing the CHST for wood-based biomass varieties is expected to begin by mid-2011.