AMARILLO, TX – With 48 percent of Texas and 31 percent of the United States now experiencing drought conditions, livestock producers have been urging Congress and the Administration to respond by opening up emergency haying and grazing of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acreage. Based on the request from the National Cattleman’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Texas Cattle Feeders Association (TCFA), USDA has announced that any producer in a county experiencing severe drought (D2) or greater on the last day of the primary nesting season, will be eligible for emergency haying and grazing. The announcement supersedes the process used in the past where requests originated at a county level and required both state and national approval. Before haying or grazing eligible acres, producers must submit a request to the local Farm Service Agency (FSA) to obtain a modified conservation plan from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Emergency grazing is authorized for up to 90 days and emergency haying is authorized for up to 60 days and producers may use the CRP acreage for their own livestock or may grant another livestock producer use of the CRP acreage.
(SOURCE: Texas Cattle Feeders Association)