USDA expands emergency grazing on conservation land

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is granting a two-month extension for emergency grazing on Conservation Reserve Program land, freeing up forage and feed for ranchers who continue to be affected by the drought, according to an agency news release. To assist producers, USDA is permitting farmers and ranchers in drought-stricken states that have been approved for emergency grazing to extend grazing on CRP land through Nov. 30, without incurring an additional CRP rental payment reduction. The period normally allowed for emergency grazing lasts through Sept. 30. The extension applies to general CRP practices and producers must submit a request to their Farm Service Agency county office indicating the acreage to be grazed.