WASHINGTON, Aug. 5, 2013 - 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
today announced temporary assistance to livestock producers through FSA's
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).
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.
"Beginning today, state FSA offices are authorized,
under limited conditions, to expand opportunities for haying and grazing on
certain additional lands enrolled in CRP," said Garcia. "This local
approach provides both the appropriate flexibility and ability to tailor
safeguards specific to regional conditions. States must adhere to specific
guidelines to ensure that additional haying and grazing still 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."
Kansas and Nebraska state FSA offices approved emergency
grazing in a number of their counties in mid-July.
FSA also has taken action under the Emergency Conservation
Program to authorize additional expenditures related to drought response to be
eligible for cost share, including connection to rural water systems and
installation of permanent pipelines. In addition, given the limited budgetary
resources and better long-term benefits, FSA has increased the maximum cost
share rates for permanent practices relative to temporary measures.
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