In response to recent extreme temperatures and drought impacting forage acres across Missouri, Edward Hamill, state executive director of USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Missouri, announced emergency haying and grazing use of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres is now authorized in 77 Missouri counties.
Missouri counties currently approved for emergency CRP haying and grazing are: Adair, Audrain, Bates, Bollinger, Boone, Buchanan, Butler, Caldwell, Callaway, Cape Girardeau, Carroll, Carter, Cass, Chariton, Clark, Clinton, Cole, Cooper, Daviess, DeKalb, Douglas, Dunklin, Franklin, Gasconade, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Henry, Howard, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Lafayette, Lewis, Lincoln, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Madison, Maries, Marion, Mercer, Miller, Moniteau, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Osage, Ozark, Perry, Pettis, Pike, Platte, Polk, Putnam, Ralls, Randolph, Ray, Ripley, Saline, Schuyler, Scotland, Scott, Shelby, St. Charles, St. Clair, St. Francois, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Stoddard, Sullivan, Warren, Washington, Wayne, and Webster.
USDA Opens CRP Fields
Emergency haying in approved counties is allowed through Aug. 31, 2012. Participants must leave at least 50 percent of each field or contiguous fields unhayed for wildlife. Hay must be removed from the field by Sept. 15th.
Emergency grazing in approved counties is allowed through Sept. 30, 2012. Participants shall leave at least 25 percent of each field or contiguous CRP field ungrazed, or graze not more than 75 percent of the stocking rate. All livestock must be removed by the end of the grazing period.
Hamill said emergency haying and grazing is not allowed on the same acreage and only certain CRP practices are eligible. The Secretary of Agriculture announced on July 11, 2012, the payment reduction for emergency haying and grazing has been reduced from 25 percent of the rental payment per acre to 10 percent for the 2012 year.
Eligible producers who are interested in haying or grazing CRP under the emergency authorization, and current CRP participants who choose to provide land for haying or grazing to an eligible livestock producer, must first request approval and obtain a modified conservation plan from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Additional counties may be approved if certain qualifications are met.
For more information on and eligibility requirements for CRP emergency haying and grazing, contact your local FSA county office or visit www.fsa.usda.gov/mo.
Source: Missouri FSA