USDA’s Farm Service Agency has made some changes to emergency haying and grazing of acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program. South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association President Eric Jennings says the changes are minor but positive in that they streamline the authorization process for farmers and ranchers.
He says the primary change is that producers located in a county designated as severe drought or D2 or greater are now eligible for emergency haying and grazing on all eligible acres.
Jennings says producers who have been hit hard economically by low market prices and the pandemic need this type of help and being able to cut through a lot of red tape in order to get it will be beneficial.
Before producers can hay or graze eligible acres, they must submit a request for CRP emergency haying or grazing to the Farm Service Agency and obtain a modified conservation plan from the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
