FSA releases additional CRP land for emergency haying and grazing

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Due to the continued drought conditions, currently a large amount of CRP acreage in Nebraska is available for emergency Haying or Grazing. Earlier this month the Nebraska Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that due to the exceptional circumstances, emergency haying and grazing was being expanded to be allowed on practices such as Grass Waterways, Wetland Restoration, Farmable Wetlands practices and Duck Nesting Habitat.

In addition the Farm Service Agency released the emergency haying provision for CP-25 Rare and Declining Habitat wildlife practices as well. This change now allows producers to request to hay up to 50 percent of the acreage under this practice where participants were only being allowed to graze these acres before.

Red Willow-Frontier County Executive Director, Kenneth Carriker noted that many producers have taken advantage of the opportunity to hay or graze their CRP acreage however the window of opportunity to hay CRP is closing fast. Haying of CRP acreage must be completed by Aug. 31, and the bales must be removed no later than Oct. 15. Carriker also noted "Participants interested in haying or grazing any CRP acreage must request and receive approval from their county FSA office prior to conducting the haying or grazing activity." Haying or grazing of CRP acreage without receiving prior approval can result in major penalties.

Participants that requested to graze their CRP acreage should remember that the livestock must be removed prior to the grass reaching the minimum height requirement or Sept. 30, 2012, whichever comes first. Producers that combined an intensive grazing practice into their request should be monitoring their CRP grass closely as the livestock should be removed before the minimum height requirement or the 30-day period.

There is a 10 percent annual payment reduction for CRP acres grazed or hayed under emergency conditions and a 25 percent annual payment reduction for CRP acres grazed or hayed under managed routine grazing/haying provisions.

For more information and/or to request approval for emergency haying/grazing of CRP acres contact your local FSA office. Additional information is available at www.fsa.usda.gov.