Mo. seeks approval for expanded livestock grazing

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Gov. Jay Nixon's administration is seeking federal approval for farmers to graze their cattle on land that has been taken out of crop production.

Nixon said Monday he wants the federal Farm Service Agency to approve livestock grazing on land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program because of shortages of hay and precipitation.

Drought conditions exist across most of Missouri, and the state also is running about 48 percent short on hay supplies.

Missouri farmers have about 1.4 million acres enrolled in the federal CRP, which pays them to plant other vegetation on their land instead of crops like corn and soybeans. Livestock grazing can be allowed on that land when there is a 40 percent shortage of hay and precipitation.