USDA Authorizes Addition Grazing Benefits in Northern Plains

It was back on June 23rd that Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue authorized emergency grazing of Conservation Reserve Program Acres during the primary nesting season in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana. The authorization was good for counties suffering through a severe drought that rated D2 on the U.S. Drought Monitor. However, the drought hasn’t let up, with hot and dry weather forecast to continue through the upcoming week in the northern plains. With the continuation of severe drought conditions, Secretary Perdue is authorizing emergency grazing of CRP acres for any county in which any part of its border lies within 150 miles of a county that’s already been approved for emergency grazing of CRP acres. Eligible CRP participants may graze their own cattle or allow another livestock farmer to use the acreage. Producers won’t see any reduction in their CRP payments because of grazing. Emergency haying is not authorized for now but officials will keep an eye on the situation.