Adrian J. Polansky, State Executive Director of the Kansas Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced today that emergency haying and grazing of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) practices CP8A-Grass Waterways, CP23-Wetland Restoration, CP23A-Wetland Restoration Non-Floodplain, CP27-Farmable Wetlands Pilot Wetland, and CP28-Farmable Wetlands Pilot Buffer acreage has been approved for all Kansas Counties.

“This authorization provides additional relief for many Kansas livestock producers who have suffered through severe drought conditions," said Polansky. "Many of these additional acres have wetland related characteristics and are likely to contain better quality hay and forage than on other CRP acres."

To minimize the impacts on these specialty practices, the following provisions must be met: Haying and grazing will not be permitted within 120 feet of a stream or other permanent water body. Haying is limited to one cutting. No more than 50 percent of a CRP field may be hayed and the haying must be completed by August 31, 2012. No more than 75 percent of a field may be grazed and the grazing must end by September 30, 2012. No extensions will be granted for haying or grazing authorizations. Producers must obtain a modified conservation plan from NRCS that allows for emergency haying and grazing, taking into consideration the existence of protected species. The haying or grazing privilege may be leased but not subleased.

CRP participants in approved counties shall contact the local FSA county office to request emergency haying and grazing on an individual contract basis prior to haying and grazing. If the CRP cover is destroyed, the practice must be re-established at the contract participant’s own expense to remain in compliance with the CRP contract.

Participants must also accept a 10 percent reduction in the annual rental payment for the acres actually hayed or grazed.