FSA Grazing

FSA Grazing

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
I will tell you that the USDA is really stepping up to help those in Idaho, as well as other states, try and recover from the devastating wildfires and drought that we experienced this season. Earlier in the week I talked to Mindi Rambo from the NRCS and she told me her agency is accepting applications to help agricultural producers rehabilitate private land burned in recent wildfires. Now I have learned that the Idaho Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that the Idaho FSA State Committee has authorized emergency haying and grazing use of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres due to drought. Here is FSA spokesperson Candy Moore:

The following counties are approved for emergency CRP haying and grazing: Adams, Clearwater, Latah, Lewis, Idaho, Nez Perce, Payette and Washington counties. CRP emergency haying and grazing authorizations for the above counties will begin no earlier than October 1, 2015 and ends November 29, 2015.

"Idaho FSA is making every effort to offer assistance for farmers and ranchers during this tough production year," said Samson. "Emergency haying and grazing as well as the Livestock Forage Disaster Assistance Program can help relieve the burden of losses suffered due to the unique weather Idaho has experienced."

Producers who wish to hay or graze their CRP contract acres must sign up and receive approval from their local FSA office prior to conducting any emergency haying or grazing activities. There is no payment reduction for CRP acres used for haying and grazing under these emergency provisions.

To take advantage of the emergency haying and grazing provisions, authorized producers can use the CRP acreage for their own livestock or may grant another livestock producer use of the CRP acreage. CRP participants can donate hay, but are not allowed to sell the hay.

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