Preserved land opened for livestock grazing

The federal government has opened up millions of acres of preserved farmland to livestock grazing in response to rising feed costs.

The decision affects more than 21,000 Missouri farms enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program, which compensates landowners for leaving certain property idle and planting long-term vegetation.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer announced the temporary change May 27. Property owners can begin applying for "critical feed use" today at local Farm Service Agency offices. The USDA will allow the land to be used for haying or grazing after the primary grass nesting season for birds, which ends July 15 in Missouri. All hay and livestock would need to be removed from the land by Nov. 10.

Participants are required to pay a $75 fee and have the option of leasing the rights to someone else, according to the FSA. Areas that are particularly sensitive, including wetlands, are not eligible.

"Recently we've seen increased demand for commodities like corn and wheat, and that has contributed to record feed prices," Schafer said at a news conference. "The livestock industry in particular has felt the effects of tightened supplies."

The USDA estimates opening the land could yield up to 18 million tons of forage, worth $1.2 billion.

CRP was created by the Food Security Act in 1985. It is designed to decrease soil erosion and water runoff and improve conditions for wildlife. Qualifying landowners sign 10- to 15-year contracts and receive annual rent payments in exchange for not farming the property and planting cover such as grass or trees. The program paid out $1.8 billion in 2007.

Unlike past emergency uses after droughts or natural disasters, applying for this grazing and haying opportunity will not mean a decrease in rent payments on the land. Those that participate will still be required to reserve one quarter of the acreage for wildlife.

"I hope that producers take advantage of this program to help meet the critical need for livestock feed and forage supplies, and I hope it lightens the load our livestock producers are bearing," Schafer said.

As of March, about 34.7 million acres were enrolled in the program nationwide, according to USDA statistics. About 24 million acres of that land would be eligible for livestock use. More than 1.4 million acres of Missouri farmland is enrolled in CRP.

The Cape Girardeau County FSA office is located at 480 W. Jackson Trail in Jackson.