USDA Expands Emergency Grazing

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is trying to
help ranchers affected by drought by allowing extended grazing on
land set aside for conservation under a federal program.
The government gives ranchers in the Conservation Reserve
Program rental payments for setting aside land for conservation,
but officials can authorize emergency grazing there after natural
disasters.
Typically emergency grazing runs through Sept. 30. This year,
people approved for emergency grazing in Colorado, Kansas, New
Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas can do so through Oct. 31, without extra
reductions in their rental payments. Permission from the Farm
Service Agency is required.
Ranchers nationwide also can use mechanically harvested hay from
program acres being prepared for fall seeded crops instead of
having to destroy it, but their rental payments will be 25 percent
lower.