USDA allowing emergency grazing, haying on CRP acres

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency announced this week that Buena Vista and Cherokee are two of 12 counties statewide authorized for emergency haying or grazing use of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres for fiscal year 2022.

FSA's fiscal year runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30. Nearby Sac, Pocahontas, Ida and O'Brien are also included in the proclamation.

Counties are automatically approved for CRP emergency haying and grazing when they reach a D2 (severe drought) level on the U.S. Drought Monitor and are outside of the primary nesting season (May 15 through Aug. 1).

A CRP participant must receive approval for emergency grazing from their local FSA office before any action is taken. The emergency grazing period for these counties will end Sept. 30, 2022.

CRP participants are eligible to seek approval for either emergency haying or emergency grazing but cannot do both on the same acres.

The U.S. Drought Monitor is updated every Thursday and new counties may become eligible for emergency  designation. Participants in newly approved counties will need to sign up at their local FSA offices and get approval prior to completing any haying or grazing activity.

“Eligible producers who are interested in emergency haying and grazing of CRP must request approval before haying and grazing eligible acreage and must obtain a modified conservation plan from the Natural Resources Conservation Service that includes haying and grazing provisions," said Matt Russell, executive director of the state FSA. “Current provisions allow landowners and producers approved by the local FSA office for haying or grazing to begin no sooner than Aug. 2, 2022.”

There will be no CRP annual rental payment reduction for 2022 emergency haying and grazing authorizations. CRP participants in counties not eligible for Emergency Haying and Grazing are eligible for Non-Emergency Haying and Grazing starting Aug. 2.

CRP participants should check with their local FSA office to determine their eligibility and specifics. They need to sign up and get approval from their local FSA office before any haying or grazing is started. USDA’s Cherokee County service center can be reached at 712-225-5717.