The Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) was intended to help spur the production, collection, harvest, storage, and transportation of non-food-based biofuels feedstocks such as perennial grasses and agricultural residues.

However, in practice, the program has largely supported the woody biomass and pulp and paper industries, resulting in a USDA Office of Inspector General report and Congress cutting BCAP funding in several appropriations bills (through “CHIMPs”).

This year’s House farm bill provides for $25 million in discretionary funding for each year FY19-23 (compared to $25 million in mandatory funding for each year FY14-18 in the 2014 farm bill, from the Commodity Credit Corporation).