ANLA provides comments for Biomass Crop Assistance Program

ANLA submitted comments last week to USDA on the potential harms for the vertically-integrated green industry represented by implementation of the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP).  The inclusion of BCAP in the 2007 Farm Bill allows for a subsidy of up to $45 per ton of wood-based materials like pine bark and hardwood/softwood chips that are used in production and installation of green goods.
The industry group said more than 75% of nursery crop and 100% of greenhouse crop production in the U.S. is grown in containers. It also mentioned that ANLA members have already received notification from their bark suppliers about future product shortages and complete unavailability of bark, bark-based materials and landscape mulch. An industry survey conducted in March 2010 revealed that 95% of nursery and greenhouse crop producers don’t have access to a viable, alternative replacement for bark and bark-based substrates.
Go here to see ANLA’s comments.