FSA Opens Some CRP Land to Emergency Haying and Grazing
-Peterson Criticizes Technical Committee-

(WASHINGTON, DC) - After weeks of dry weather and waiting for action from the Farm Service Agency’s State Technical Committee, U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson announced today that USDA has agreed to immediately expand acreage available for emergency grazing for livestock producers in Marshall, Pennington, Clearwater, Red Lake and East Polk Counties. Emergency haying is also authorized for after August 1st.

“While I’m pleased that they’ve agreed to open grazing right away, I think it’s ridiculous that they won’t allow haying until August 1st ”, Peterson said. “North and South Dakota were opened up on July 15th but the Minnesota State Technical Committee bogged things down for our producers. At this point, it’s happening too late and probably useless to producers.”

“I called the FSA officials in Minnesota and in Washington and told them that we needed this done now. State FSA Director Jon Monson and his people did the best they could to help us but because of the Technical Committee’s involvement things bogged down. I’d like to see the Technical Committee abolished - they’re mostly a bureaucratic impediment.”

According to USDA, along with expansion of CRP acreage for haying and grazing, producers’ CRP rental payment will only face a 10 percent reduction instead of the standard 25 percent.

“I’ve been hearing from producers who are really concerned about their ability to take care of their livestock in these drought conditions,” Peterson said. “At least having this added acreage available should help relieve some of the pressure.”

The expansion allows livestock producers in eligible counties to obtain needed hay or forage. Local FSA offices will post maps of counties approved for these practices with an approximate 150-mile radius out from these counties also eligible. Congressman Peterson urges producers to contact their local FSA office for more information.

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