USDA Authorizes Grazing on CRP

WASHINGTON - Jun 24/04 - SNS -- The USDA will allow emergency grazing on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in qualifying areas suffering from this year’s extreme drought.

Much of the western half of the country has been impacted by severe drought conditions. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, a new area of exceptional drought (the most severe form) was introduced from southeastern Montana into western Nebraska during mid-June.

Until recently, occasionally hot weather and short-term dryness in those areas continued to aggravate the effects of a multi-year drought.

The Secretary of Agriculture may authorize emergency grazing of CRP acreage in response to a drought or similar natural disaster. In addition, managed haying and grazing of CRP acreage is allowed under certain conditions.

Today’s announcement authorizes emergency grazing (including grazing during the nesting season) of CRP acreage, in eligible counties only, until Sept. 30, 2004. To be eligible, a county must have suffered at least a 40% deviation from normal precipitation, or be at a D3 or D4 level for drought as rated by the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Under today’s announcement, Farm Service Agency (FSA) state committees shall consult with the NRCS state technical committees prior to approving counties for emergency grazing during the primary nesting season established for managed haying and grazing.

After a county has been approved, eligible CRP participants may submit emergency grazing applications at their local FSA office. CRP participants who do not own or lease livestock may rent or lease their grazing privileges. CRP annual rental payments made to participants will be reduced by a commensurate 10% for the areas grazed.

This reduction takes in to account the extreme conditions that are prompting this action and is scaled back from the 25% reduction requirement that was in place in recent years. Haying or any other harvesting other than grazing is not permitted at this time.

As indicated, haying is not currently authorized. However, in qualifying counties, emergency haying will be authorized after the end of the established primary nesting season for the area with the same payment reduction of 10% of the annual rental payment.