Thursday, Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue released additional Conservation Reserve Program acres for emergency haying and grazing in South Dakota, North Dakota and Montana. South Dakota State Farm Service Agency Acting Executive Director Jamie White says an additional 235,000 acres, mostly in CRP wetland and buffer practices, are now available for farmers and ranchers affected by severe drought or the D2 level on the U.S. Drought Monitor.

She says with this designation, farmers and ranchers will have the ability to hay and graze some good quality forage.

White says before producers hay or graze these emergency CRP acres they need to check with FSA. They also need to work with NRCS to develop a conservation plan they file at their county USDA service center.

All emergency grazing of CRP must end September 30 and emergency haying must end August 31. Producers with questions should contact their local FSA office.