National Farmers Union officials are asking House subcommittee members to include and fund the B-CAP and REAP programs in the energy title of the 2012 Farm Bill.   NFU Vice President of Government Relations Chandler Goule says those programs are necessary for boosting the rural economy, employing young people in agriculture, and reducing foreign oil imports.

Goule says mandatory funding is necessary for renewable programs.  It was included in the Senate version of the farm bill and House members need to follow suit.

Goule says the program is also important for second generation renewable fuel like cellulosic ethanol to go forward in the future.