U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue granted additional use of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands for emergency grazing and haying to portions of Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.
USDA granted farmers and ranchers the ability to hay and graze CRP wetland and buffer practices. Perdue said USDA is working to immediately address the dire straits facing drought-stricken farmers.
?USDA is fully considering and authorizing any federal programs or related provisions we have available to meet the immediate needs of impacted producers,? Perdue said.
Perdue is allowing this emergency action during and after primary nesting season, where local drought conditions warrant. Counties within 150 miles of authorized counties are also considered for emergency grazing and haying. All emergency grazing ends September 30 and emergency haying ends August 31.
According to the U.S. Drought Service Monitor, parts of Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota have reached D2, or ?severe,? drought level or greater. Perdue said epic dry conditions, as high as D4 in some areas, coupled with an intense heat wave has left pastures in poor to very poor condition.
Landowners interested in emergency haying or grazing should contact their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office, as well as meet with Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) staff.
