farm bill
USDA Will Fund Rural Energy Grants
REAP Grants to Fund Energy Audits and Assistance for Farms and Rural Businesses
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) plans to make some $2.4 million in grant funds available to state, tribal and local government, land-grant colleges or universities, rural electric cooperatives, and public power entities to help farmers and rural businesses cut energy waste and develop clean energy production.
USDA Farm Bill
2008 USDA Farm Bill
On May 22, 2008, Congress overrode the President's veto of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the "Farm Bill"). The Farm Bill is an investment in our nation's food and farm economy. It will ensure food security and promote healthier foods and local food networks, strengthen international food aid and reform commodity and farm programs, protect our natural resources and promote homegrown renewable energy.
2008 Farm Bill Renewable Energy Programs
The four titles that primarily affect renewable energy are described here.
December 2007 Farm Bill Update
With the Energy Bill being signed this week void of a national Renewable Energy Standard, many Americans are wondering how other policy can help support renewable energy development in rural America. One answer is the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP, previously called Section 9006 of the Farm Bill), which provides grants and loan guarantees to farmers, ranchers and rural, small businesses for renewable energy development and energy efficiency improvements.
Value Added Producer Grant Program
The Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program was first established in the Agriculture Risk Protection Act of 2000 and was later amended in the 2002 Farm Bill. Grant funds are available for planning activities and working capital for marketing value-added agricultural products and for farm-based energy.
