Both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate have approved the $867 billion 2018 Farm Bill. The House passed the bill Dec. 12 in an overwhelming 369-to-47 vote, a day after the Senate approved it 87 to 13. Congressional approval comes just days after House and Senate ag committee leaders released the text of the 2018 Farm Bill conference report. The legislation now goes to President Trump for signing into law.

A copy of the conference report released Dec. 10 indicates the bill reauthorizes and provides funding for several Energy Title programs, including the Biobased Markets Program, the Biorefinery Assistance Program, the Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels, the Biodiesel Fuel Education Program, the Rural Energy for America Program, the Feedstock Flexibility Program, and the Biomass Crop Assistance Program. The Repowering Assistance Program is repealed.

The bill also establishes an Interagency Biogas Opportunities Task Force to coordinate policies and programs to accelerate biogas research and investment in biogas systems, and a new Carbon Utilization and Biogas Education Program to provide grants to eligible entities for educating the public and biogas producers about the benefits and opportunities biogas offers to rural businesses, communities and utilities.

In addition, the bill changes the name of the Community Wood Energy Program to the Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovation Program and relocates the program under the bill’s Forestry title.

Additional information, including a full copy of the conference report, is available on the House Committee on Agriculture’s website.