The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) requested a proposal from Senator John Thune (South Dakota) covering the two phases of the Biomass Crop Assistance Program.

The program is a part of the 2008 Farm Bill that makes payments to producers for nonfood crops (i.e. prairie grass) that is used for energy production.

The first phase pays producers to cover the cost of production and storage. The second phase pays farmers to grow crops near biorefineries.

Producers and industry officials have two months to make comments on the proposal.

Thune is supporting the bill because he feels biofuel is one of the first steps in the United States’ energy independence.

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