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Additional Counties Approved For CRP Emergency Haying

Published Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 05:13 AM

Manhattan, Kansas, July 22, 2008---Bill R. Fuller, State Director of the Kansas Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced today that emergency haying of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acreage has been approved for Grant, Hamilton, Morton, Seward, Stanton, and Stevens counties. Kearny County was previously approved for CRP emergency haying. All counties approved for emergency haying are listed at D3-Extreme Drought or D4-Exceptional Drought according to the Drought Monitor. All counties in Kansas, except Leavenworth, Lyon, Woodson and Wyandotte were previously approved for emergency grazing of CRP. Grant, Hamilton, Kearny, Morton, Seward, Stanton, and Stevens are the only counties approved for both emergency haying and grazing of CRP. "This authorization provides relief for many Kansas livestock producers who have suffered through severe drought conditions for many years," said Fuller. "The drought has depleted hay supplies and affected the growth of hay and pasture in parts of Kansas. Many livestock producers cannot maintain their current herds without implementation of CRP emergency measures." Emergency grazing in approved counties is allowed through September 30, 2008. Participants shall leave at least 25 percent of each field or contiguous CRP fields ungrazed for wildlife, or graze not more than 75 percent of the stocking rate. All livestock must be removed by the end of this grazing period. Emergency haying in approved counties is allowed through September 16, 2008. Participants must leave at least 50 percent of each field or contiguous fields unhayed for wildlife. Hay must be removed from the field within 30 days from end of the haying period. Emergency haying and grazing is not allowed on the same acreage, and any other approved CRP haying or grazing is not allowed on the same acreage. CRP participants in approved counties shall contact the local FSA county office to request emergency grazing on an individual contract basis prior to grazing. Participants will work with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to develop a forage management plan. If the CRP cover is destroyed, the practice must be re-established at their own expense to remain in compliance with the CRP contract. Fuller emphasized that CRP emergency haying and grazing is unrelated to the injunction currently pending under CRP Critical Feed Use. Participants must also accept a 25 percent reduction in the annual rental payment for the acres actually hayed or grazed.

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