8-12 IAT Emergency Grazing

 Emergency haying and grazing on CRP land has been approved for 10 Idaho counties.

As severe drought conditions persist in certain regions throughout the country, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Juan M. Garcia announced temporary assistance to livestock producers through FSA's Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).

Ten Idaho Counties were approved for emergency haying and grazing by the Idaho State Committee. They include: Bannock, Bingham, Bonneville, Camas, Cassia, Clark, Fremont, Jefferson, Madison and Power.

Aaron Johnson, Acting State Executive Director had this to say: “Making emergency haying and grazing available on CRP is beneficial to both producers and livestock owners,” said Aaron Johnson, Acting State Executive Director. “There are over 350,000 acres that have the potential to diminish the effects of the drought for this area of the state.”

Under limited conditions, farmers and ranchers affected by drought will be allowed to use certain additional CRP acres for haying or grazing under emergency conditions while maintaining safeguards to the conservation and wildlife benefits provided by CRP. In addition, USDA announced that the reduction to CRP annual rental payments related to emergency haying or grazing will be reduced from 25 percent to 10 percent. Further, the sale of hay will be allowed under certain conditions. These measures take into consideration the quality losses of the hay and will provide needed assistance to livestock producers.

These counties will adhere to specific guidelines to ensure that additional haying and grazing maintains the important environmental and wildlife benefits of CRP. These safeguards will be determined through consultation with the state conservationist, state fish and wildlife agency and stakeholders that comprise the state technical committee."