FSA extends deadline for emergency haying, grazing on CRP acres

HARTINGTON — U.S. Department of Agriculture Cedar County Farm Service Agency Executive Director Peg Hintz today announced a revised deadline for emergency haying and grazing use of Conservation Reserve Program acres in Cedar County. Producers now have the option to hay or graze CRP through Dec. 31, with some restrictions.

“FSA recently approved a waiver of the previously outlined CRP haying and grazing deadline. With this waiver, producers who are interested in continuing to hay or graze CRP into the fall and winter months must contact the county FSA office for details,” said Hintz. “In addition, producers who have not yet started CRP haying or grazing, but are now interested, also must request FSA county office approval before starting any haying or grazing activities.”

Haying is restricted to only one cutting and no more than 50 percent of each field or contiguous CRP fields (of the same contract). Haying must be completed within the calendar year and within 60 days of approval. Hay must be removed within 15 days of being baled.

Producers who are using the grazing option shall leave 25 percent of each field or contiguous fields ungrazed or graze 100 percent of a field but at not more than 75 percent stocking rate. Grazing cannot exceed 90 days in the calendar year or cannot continue past the minimum stand height.

Producers can use the CRP acreage under the emergency grazing provisions for their own livestock or may grant another livestock producer use of the CRP acreage. The eligible CRP acreage is limited to acres located within the approved county. There will be no CRP annual rental payment reduction for emergency haying and grazing authorizations.

Under the emergency haying and grazing provisions, CRP acreage cannot be hayed and/ or grazed at the same time. For example, if half the field or contiguous field is hayed, the remaining half cannot be grazed, but must remain unhayed and ungrazed for wildlife.

For more information or to request approval for emergency haying or grazing use of CRP acres, contact the Cedar County FSA office at 402-254- 6855 or visit farmers.gov.

All USDA Service Centers are open for business, including some that are open to visitors to conduct business in person by appointment only. All Service Center visitors wishing to conduct business with the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or any other Service Center agency should call ahead and schedule an appointment. Service Centers that are open for appointments will prescreen visitors based on health concerns or recent travel and visitors must adhere to social distancing guidelines. Visitors are also required to wear a face covering during their appointment.

Field work will continue with appropriate social distancing.

Program delivery staff will be in the office, and they will be working with producers in office, by phone and using online tools. More information can be found at farmers.gov/ coronavirus.

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