FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 31, 2008
CONTACT: Matt Mackowiak
Sen. Hutchison Announces Emergency Haying and Grazing CRP for Three Texas Counties
Grazing Approved for Castro County, Haying Approved for Lipscomb, Randall Counties
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Texas’ senior senator, today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has expanded Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acreage for grazing in Castro County and haying in Lipscomb and Randall Counties in Texas.
“I am pleased that the USDA has provided this emergency assistance for our livestock owners, farmers and ranchers in Lipscomb, Castro and Randall counties,” said Sen. Hutchison.
Emergency haying and grazing of CRP acreage was authorized to provide relief to livestock producers in areas affected by a severe drought or similar natural disaster. CRP participants requesting emergency haying and grazing must file a request with their county Farm Service Agency (FSA) office indicating the acreage to be hayed or grazed before the activity begins.
CRP is a voluntary program that offers annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term resource-conserving cover on eligible land. The expansion permits approved CRP participants to cut hay or graze livestock on CRP acreage, providing supplemental forage to producers whose pastures have been negatively affected by drought.
Only livestock operations located within approved counties are eligible for emergency haying or grazing of CRP acreage. CRP participants who do not own or lease livestock may rent or lease the grazing privilege to an eligible livestock farmer located in an approved county. Producers with CRP acreage that is hayed or grazed will be assessed a 10 percent reduction in their annual rental payment.
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