(Amarillo) In response to the severe erosion related to drought and wildfires, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) will offer a $5/acre incentive payment for livestock producers in 16 Texas Panhandle counties to defer grazing on their pastures for up to two years.  According to Congressman Mac Thornberry (TX-13), the payments will give a producer a way to minimize the effects of the ongoing drought on a ranch's carrying capacity. 

"Some of these places are going to take a while to get back in shape to run cattle economically," Thornberry said.  "It is sure something to look at to see if it fits your operation, especially in those areas where the fires have left nothing to cover the topsoil."

Applications are being accepted through April 14, 2006 at each county's NRCS office. The applications will be ranked according to the severity of the need to control erosion through the recovery of native and introduced grasses.  Counties included in the NRCS program are: Carson, Childress, Collingsworth, Cottle, Donley, Gray, Hartley, Hemphill, Hutchison, Moore, Roberts, Ochiltree, Oldham, Potter, Randall, and Wheeler.

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