Hardwood Floors April/May 2017

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

By Dana Cole

Oak tree farm.

Time Flies… Farm Bill Up Again for Reauthorization

that comes to mind. But similar to the Nutrition Title, energy programs historically have been included as sweeteners to attract support from states where row crop agriculture or dairy is not huge. The Farm Bill is a unique animal in that support or opposition typically breaks down on regional, and not political, lines. So the inclusion of these two titles helps bridge those regional differences. The energy portion of the Farm Bill has a number of positive programs for forest-based biomass. One of these programs — called the Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels — has been helpful to densified biomass fuel (wood pellet) producers that serve the domestic market. Under this program, pellets typically sold into the bag market (which consumers buy to run pellet stoves, for example) that are made from our residuals (sawdust) qualify as an “advanced biofuel.” The rationale behind the program is to make biomass a more-attractive heating option, particularly in areas of the country that rely on fossil fuels like heating

It is hard to believe, but Congress will soon begin another Farm Bill writing cycle. It seems like only yesterday that we wrapped up the last Farm Bill, but the fact of the matter is that this critical piece of legislation that underpins U.S. farm policy expires every five years, and we are coming up on that deadline quickly. The Farm Bill is critical to the hardwood sector as our two key export programs —Market Access and Foreign Market Development — receive not only their funding, but their authority to continue operating under this bill. Obviously making sure these two programs not only are reauthorized, but receive their full allotment of mandatory funding, will be key deliverables for the Hardwood Federation team here in Washington, D.C. What is not so obvious is that there are other parts of this massive legislative package that can be helpful to our facilities and our customers. Take the Energy Title, for example. When one thinks about the Farm Bill, energy is not the first topic

hardwood floors www.hardwoodfloorsmag.com

18