Agriculture
Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced that the Farm Service Agency (FSA) is
modifying its Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) policies to help those
affected by sustained drought conditions. Throughout this year of extreme
weather, USDA has supported and delivered assistance to farmers, ranchers, and
rural communities across the country.
“We
continue to do all we can to help thousands of farmers and ranchers in the
southwestern United States
who are struggling from drought,” says Vilsack. “Many ranchers have
been or will be forced to sell livestock due to drought, and USDA will do what
we can to help our farmers and ranchers during these challenging times.”
The
policy changes influence FSA rules governing emergency grazing. The period
normally allowed for emergency grazing lasts through September 30. FSA is
permitting farmers and ranchers in drought-stricken states who have been
approved for emergency grazing, including those in Colorado,
Kansas, New Mexico,
Oklahoma and Texas, to extend the emergency grazing
period to October 31, without an additional payment reduction.
Producers
wishing to participate in emergency grazing must first request permission from
the FSA county office by indicating the acreage to be grazed.
As
a second condition designed to help livestock producers, FSA will allow
producers nationwide to utilize harvested hay from expiring CRP acres when
those acres are being prepared for fall seeded crops. Prior to this
modification, all mechanically harvested hay was required to be destroyed. This
change enables livestock producers to feed the hay that is mechanically
harvested to their own livestock or to sell or donate hay. Consistent with
existing policy for managed or emergency haying and grazing of eligible CRP
acres, rental payments will be reduced by 25 percent for those utilizing this
option.
“We
are eager to do all we can in the face of this drought crisis across the
southern plains,” says FSA Administrator Bruce Nelson. “This has been
one of the worst dry and hot spells since the Dust Bowl era of the ’30s.”
For
further information about the Conservation Reserve Program and Emergency Haying
and Grazing, producers are encouraged to visit their USDA Service Centers or go
online to the Farm Service Agency’s website. Search under
Conservation Programs and Disaster Assistance.
