Farm Service Agency expands emergency haying and grazing authority
with the addition of 8 CRP practices for 2012
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[August 06, 2012]
SPRINGFIELD -- In response to
the expanding drought, Scherrie V. Giamanco, state executive
director for the USDA Farm Service Agency in Illinois, announced the
addition of eight CRP practices that livestock producers and other
participants in the Conservation Reserve Program will now be able to
emergency hay and graze.
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"Many of these additional acres have wetland-related
characteristics and are likely to contain better-quality hay and
forage than on other CRP acres," said Giamanco.
The list of eligible practices has been expanded to include:
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CP8A, Grass
Waterway-Noneasement
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CP23, Wetland
Restoration
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CP23A, Wetland
Restoration, Non-Floodplain
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CP25, Rare &
Declining Habitat
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CP27, Farmable
Wetlands Pilot Wetland
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CP28, Farmable
Wetlands Pilot Buffer
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CP37, Duck
Nesting Habitat
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CP41, FWP Flooded Prairie Wetlands
The payment reduction for emergency haying and grazing has
been reduced from 25 percent of the rental payment per acre to
10 percent for the 2012 year.
Emergency haying is available now through Aug. 31.
Participants must leave at least 50 percent of each field or
contiguous CRP field unhayed for wildlife. Hay that is baled may
be given away or sold. All hay must be removed from the field by
Aug. 31.
Emergency grazing is allowed now through Sept. 30.
Participants must leave at least 25 percent of each field or
contiguous CRP field ungrazed, or graze not more than 75 percent
of the stocking rate. All livestock must be removed by Sept. 30.
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Eligible producers who are interested in haying or grazing CRP under
the emergency authorization, and current CRP participants who choose
to provide land for haying or grazing to an eligible livestock
producer, must first request approval from their local FSA office
and obtain a modified conservation plan from the Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
To help minimize effects on these sensitive specialty practices,
haying and grazing may only occur under strict compliance rules.
USDA will conduct follow-up monitoring and evaluation of these
opened CRP areas to study the effects of the drought and USDA's
emergency haying and grazing actions.
For more information on FSA's emergency haying and grazing of CRP
acreage or other drought assistance, contact your local FSA office
or visit FSA online at
www.fsa.usda.gov.
[Text from file received from
Illinois Farm Service Agency]
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