Moran Announces Additional Counties Eligible for Emergency Grazing

Press Release

Congressman Jerry Moran today announced the addition of Haskell, Sherman and Wallace Counties to the list of Kansas counties approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for emergency grazing of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres. Producers in these three counties join those in Grant, Hamilton, Morton, Stanton and Stevens Counties as being eligible to immediately sign-up for emergency grazing of CRP acres.

"This announcement is welcome news to Kansas producers struggling to maintain their herds," Moran said. "Emergency grazing will help Kansas producers get through this time of drought."

Emergency grazing is allowed through September 30, 2008. All livestock must be removed by the end of the grazing period. According to the Kansas Farm Service Agency (FSA), producers must not graze at least 25 percent of each field or contiguous CRP fields or graze no more than 75 percent of the stocking rate. Producers participating in the emergency grazing will also face a 25 percent reduction in the annual rental payment for the grazed acres.

Producers should visit their local FSA office for information about the relevant restrictions on use and to begin the sign-up process.

Moran is a senior member of the House Committee on Agriculture.

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