Moran Announces Emergency Grazing Approved for Southwest Kansas Counties

Press Release

Moran Announces Emergency Grazing Approved for Southwest Kansas Counties

Congressman Jerry Moran today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved a Kansas Farm Service Agency (FSA) request for emergency grazing of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres in Grant, Hamilton, Morton, Stanton and Stevens counties. Producers in these counties are eligible to begin sign-up immediately for emergency grazing of CRP acres.

"Producers in these southwest Kansas counties are experiencing months of drought," Moran said. "This announcement is necessary to help Kansas producers maintain their herds during this time of extreme conditions."

Emergency grazing is allowed through September 30, 2008. All livestock must be removed by the end of the grazing period. According to FSA, producers must not graze at least 25 percent of each field or contiguous CRP fields or graze no more than 75 percent of the stocking rate. Producers participating in the emergency grazing will also face a 25 percent reduction in the annual rental payment for the grazed acres.

Producers should visit their local FSA office for information about the relevant restrictions on use and to begin the sign-up process. An additional announcement is expected soon on other Kansas counties being considered for emergency grazing.

Moran is a senior member of the House Committee on Agriculture.

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