The USDA has announced emergency haying and grazing of Conservation Reserve Program acres for producers impacted by drought in certain counties, while still receiving their full rental payment for the land. However, Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association President Grant Breitkreutz says some counties fell to D3 on the U.S. Drought Monitor making them ineligible which is a big problem.

He says they’re also working with the state Department of Natural Resources to get more public grassland acres released for feed.

Breitkreutz says Governor Tim Walz also open some public right of way areas for haying, but there are additional public lands that could be used.

He says producers have already been culling portions of their herd to try to stretch the forage supplies they have available.