07/03/08 CRP haying and grazing

Keane; I'll be back right after this with an example. The USDA has announced it will open up Conversation Reserve Program acres for haying and grazing. This is an attempt to help livestock producers in drought areas or areas with inadequate hay supplies. This CRP alteration is for 2008 only, will open up 24 million acres for forage or hay, which could make available 18 million tons of forage worth about 1.2 billion dollars. The CRP acres can't be used until after August 1, 2008 to give grass-nesting birds ample time to hatch broods and no rental payment reduction will be assessed. This has the National Cattlemen's Beef Association upset since they feel this puts livestock producers that don't have access to CRP acres at an unfair advantage. I can remember a few years ago the USDA opened CRP to grazing with a payment reduction that made utilizing those acres uneconomical. I believe CRP acres should be used in some way to keep plants healthy and productive, but with a rent that is equitable. I think if CRP acres can be hayed that might lessen the demand on other hay supplies and help all producers find more plentiful amounts of hay at possibly lower prices. Beside, I always thought livestock producers that didn't have to feed in the wintertime had an unfair advantage but that's just life I guess. I'm Jeff Keane.