The biomass resources of the United States are distributed across a land area of approximately 2.3 billion acres. The major uses of this land base in 2002 were forest use, grassland pasture and range, and cropland (figure 1).
Agricultural cropland currently produces the largest share of biomass crops, such as corn for ethanol and soybeans for biodiesel, as well as new crops already in use or under evaluation as sources of biomass energy and bioproducts. However, wood and forest product residues, as well as urban sources of biomass, are increasingly used to produce both bioproducts and bioenergy.
The major crops produced on U.S. cropland in 2002 were corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa, other hay, and cotton. Except for cotton, these crops are produced primarily for livestock feed. However, an increasing portion of corn production is being used to produce bioenergy and bioproducts such as fuel ethanol - some 4 billion gallons in 2005. Corn is also used to produce bioproducts such as biodegradable plastics and synthetic fabric. Soybean oil goes mainly to food uses. Current industrial uses include biodiesel - about 30 million gallons in 2004 - as well as inks, adhesives and binders, plastics and detergents, among others.