The letter, organized by the Agriculture Energy Coalition, states, “For more than 15 years, the farm bill energy title programs have greatly assisted rural America in developing clean, renewable energy, biobased products, and making energy efficiency investments.

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--More than 200 companies and trade associations today wrote House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders, urging them "to reauthorize and maintain stable mandatory funding for energy title programs in the next farm bill reauthorization."

The letter, organized by the Agriculture Energy Coalition, states, "For more than 15 years, the farm bill energy title programs have greatly assisted rural America in developing clean, renewable energy, biobased products, and making energy efficiency investments. Federal leadership has paid off. Rural economic development, jobs, manufacturing, and environmental quality have all seen quantifiable and substantial gains."

"Energy title programs account for less than one tenth of 1 percent of farm bill spending and yet provide outsized benefits. For example more than 17,000 projects and counting have been cost-shared across the United States -- in every state -- with more than $5 billion leveraged since inception. Public/private investments through farm energy and bioeconomy programs are generating innovation and growth opportunities at a time rural America sorely needs it," the letter continues.

Lloyd Ritter, director of the Agriculture Energy Coalition, adds, "The farm bill energy title programs build infrastructure, attract private investment and spur innovation in rural America. These programs have a successful record in building new markets for U.S. agriculture; they remain vital, given recent declines in crop prices. We look forward to working with Congress to reauthorize these programs with strong mandatory funding in the upcoming Farm Bill."

A copy of the letter is available at http://www.agenergycoalition.org/news/Farm-Bill-Energy-Title-Support-Letter-2018-03.pdf.