CRP grazing now available

The summer of 2011 has been a trying one for area farmers and ranchers. Lack of rainfall and consistent temperatures over 100 degrees have played havoc with anything trying to grow -- plant or animal (not to mention "old" people).

It was surprising to me when we got some showers several weeks back how much the grass greened up. No showers recently, however, so the drought continues and the grass is brown again.

Due to these adverse conditions experienced since the beginning of July, Bourbon County has now been included in a designated D2 drought area. (D2 is defined as "severe" drought.) Linn, Crawford and Allen counties are also included in the expanded D2 area announced last week. Vernon County was just "nicked" by the D2 designation but is now wholly within a D1 (moderate drought) designation.

FSA committees can request authorization to approve emergency grazing on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres for any county obtaining a D2 designation on all or any portion of a county. Emergency grazing was requested by the Bourbon County FSA Committee and has now been approved. The surrounding Kansas counties of Linn, Crawford, and Allen have also been approved. Missouri counties do not have the advantage of a longer grazing period, nor the expanded use of practices, so they have not committed to a grazing request at this time. A more acute D3 Drought Monitor designation could trigger eligibility for haying on CRP. However, 1) we are not in or close to a D3 designation at this time, and 2) the emergency haying timeframe has already ended for the year. Consequently, haying of CRP will not be available to Bourbon County producers this year.

Those wishing to graze CRP need to take the following steps: 1) request approval from your administrative FSA office; 2) obtain a modified conservation plan and 3) leave at least 25 percent of each field or contiguous field ungrazed for wildlife or graze not more than 75 percent of the stocking rate as determined by NRCS.

A payment reduction of 25 percent of the annual rental payment will be assessed to acres actually grazed. Grass seeding practices available for grazing include CP1, CP2, CP10, CP25, and CP38. Fields can be grazed through Oct. 31. This includes most practices used in the county, but not continuous CRP practices like filter strips (CP21) or quail buffers (CP33).

The CP25 15-species seeding is not normally approved for grazing, but has been included this year due to the widespread effects of the drought in the five most acutely affected states (Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and New Mexico) along with the extension of the grazing period through Oct. 31 (instead of the standard Sept. 30). Grazing can be rented or leased to other producers as long as the renter is a livestock producer located in an approved county, and the amount charged does not exceed the applicable payment reduction.

Those interested in emergency grazing of CRP should contact your applicable FSA office for more details, or to get the approval process started. In Bourbon County, call (620) 223-1880, then dial option 2.