States Approved for CRP Haying, Grazing

July 12, 2002

USDA has approved 18 states for Conservation Reserve Program emergency haying and grazing statewide, making all CRP participants in these states basically eligible. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman also said USDA will waive rental reduction fees to encourage donation of hay to farmers and ranchers in immediate need.

The 18 approved states are Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming. State Farm Service Agency committees may limit the area within the states if conditions do not warrant haying and grazing in all areas.

USDA previously authorized counties in states most stricken by severe weather conditions to be considered for haying and grazing, but approval was on a county-by-county basis. Since May, over 300 counties in 15 states have been approved for haying and/or grazing. Today's announcement makes CRP participants statewide in the 18 states eligible if the state committee determines conditions warrant release without waiting for county approval.

CRP participants must submit applications for individual approval to their local FSA offices. Haying and grazing is authorized until Aug. 31, 2002, or until disaster conditions no longer exist, whichever comes first. Land devoted to certain special practices will not be eligible for haying and grazing because of environmental considerations.

Participants who are unaffected by disasters or do not own or lease livestock can make their CRP acreage available for grazing or can donate hay to those in need. USDA has developed a website for producers to list information concerning the need for available hay. The website address is: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/haynet/.

CRP annual rental payments will be reduced 25% to account for the areas hayed or grazed unless the hay is donated. At least 50% of the CRP acreage must be left unhayed and 25% left ungrazed. Hay harvested from CRP acreage may not be sold.