A two-month extension for emergency grazing on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres has been announced by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Farmers and ranchers in drought-stricken states, approved for emergency grazing, can now graze livestock on CRP land through Nov. 30 without incurring an additional CRP rental payment reduction. The grazing period was to end Sept. 30.
Under emergency grazing, at least 25% of each field or contiguous CRP fields must be left ungrazed for wildlife, or grazed at not more than 75% of the stocking rate as determined by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). CRP participants who do not own or lease livestock may rent or lease the grazing privilege to an eligible livestock producer.
Eligible producers interested in emergency-grazing CRP, and current CRP participants who provide land for grazing to an eligible livestock producer, must first request approval from local FSA offices and obtain modified conservation plans from the NRCS. Producers also must contact their local FSA offices for approval before grazing.