Emergencey haying, grazing authorized on county's CRP fields until Aug. 31, Sept. 30

Patrick Lewis, executive director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency at Colfax, announced last week that Whitman County has been authorized for emergency haying and grazing use of Conservation Reserve Program acres.

The announcement stated that this approval comes at the request of local FSA offices when counties reach the severe drought level on the U.S. Drought Monitor. Whitman County is one of eight counties to have received the emergency haying and grazing approval.

The emergency period for grazing will end on Sept. 30, and it concludes Aug. 31 for haying.

“Producers who are interested in emergency haying and grazing of CRP must request approval before haying and grazing eligible acreage and must obtain a modified conservation plan from the Natural Resources Conservation Service that includes haying and grazing provisions,” said Lewis.

CRP acreage is not allowed to be both hayed and grazed at the same time. In addition, participants will be limited to one hay cutting and will not be permitted to sell any of the hay.

For more information, contact the FSA office at 397-4301.