Emergency haying, grazing of CRP opened in county

Due to severe drought throughout much of the eastern half of the state, emergency haying and grazing of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres has been authorized for many counties, including Lincoln County as of July 13, 2015.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency has authorized emergency haying and grazing for Lincoln County to provide livestock producers relief from drought or other natural disasters.

Grazing is authorized through September 30 this year. Haying is authorized through August 31 this year. Producers cannot hay and graze the same acreage. Haying is limited to 50 percent of each field or group of contiguous fields. Grazing is limited to 75% of each field or contiguous fields, or all acreage may be grazed at 75 percent of the recommended stocking rate. Hay harvested under these provisions may not be sold, but participants who do not own livestock may lease the right to hay or graze the acreage to another livestock producer. Under the 2014 farm bill, there will be no payment reduction assessed on contracts approved for emergency haying and grazing.

Producers who have already been approved for managed haying or grazing can switch to emergency haying or grazing as long as they have not hayed or grazed more than 50 percent of each field or group of contiguous fields.

Continuous CRP contract acreage (typically filterstrip practices) and contract acreage under the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement initiatives are not eligible for emergency or managed haying and grazing.

Producers are encouraged to contact the local FSA office for more detail.