05/28/08 CRP haying and grazing sign-up; hydropower hearing

Washington Ag May 28, 2008 Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced Tuesday that the USDA has authorized certain acreage enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program to be available for hay and forage after the primary nesting season ends for grass-nesting birds. The object is to help livestock producers who are facing skyrocketing feed costs. Schafer: "We talked to livestock. They are concerned. We think this is a way that we can provide some feed and forage for the livestock industry through the use of CRP acreage." In Washington the grass-nesting season runs from April first to August 1st. All forage use must end by November 10th of this year. Sign up for interested CRP participants will begin next Monday June 2nd at local Farm Service Agency offices. There will be no rental payment reduction for this use but there will be a $75 fee charged to process the required CRP contract modification. At the request of Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers the U.S House of Representatives Subcommittee on Water and Power will hold a hearing in Washington D.C. June 12th on the future role of hydropower in meeting current and future domestic energy needs. McMorris Rodgers says the hearing will provide a much needed opportunity to educate those within the Washington D.C. beltway about clean, renewable and emissions-free hydropower. I'm Bob Hoff.