Feedstuffs

On Monday, the United States Cattlemen’s Assn. (USCA) sent a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue requesting that the U.S. Department of Agriculture consider authorizing the emergency haying of Conservation Reserve Program lands in the drought-stricken regions of Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. USDA immediately responded with the authorization, and went beyond the initial ask to also include up to 150 miles beyond the D2 region. 

July 15 marks the end of the Primary Nesting Season in Montana. Because of the severe drought conditions, authorization for emergency haying may begin July 16 in North Dakota and South Dakota. Producers who donate their hay as part of a mid-contract management activity are not required to pay the 25% annual payment reduction.  
 
In the letter, USCA President Kenny Graner from Mandan, N.D. noted that emergency grazing is still not immediately available to many producers in these regions due to fencing and watering needs. USCA applauds USDA's recognition of that fact in the announcement. “Making use of these vital grounds while there is still relative feed value left is crucial to keeping herds solvent through the coming winter,” Graner added.

The letter added these regions have experienced up to a 75% reduction in hay production; without an approval for emergency haying, the hay that is left on CRP lands will essentially have no nutritional value by the time haying on these lands does become available.   
 
USCA Secretary Whitney Klasna from Lambert, Mont. noted that in many places, the upland bird population that nests on CRP lands have already left their nests and are on the move, and are more than capable of moving safely out of the way of haying equipment.

Rep. Kristi Noem (R., S.D.) also welcomed the announcement. “While CRP is traditionally not released for haying this early in the season, we cannot wait to act in a year like this,” said Noem. “We already face a severe feed crisis, and if conditions are left to worsen without further relief, livestock producers could lose another essential source of feed. I thank Secretary Perdue for considering the unique circumstances and taking decisive action in offering another option to drought-stricken ranchers.”

On June 23, the USDA announced it would open certain South Dakota CRP areas to grazing. A week later, the USDA announced it would allow certain CRP contract holders to donate the hay harvested for midseason management to livestock producers in drought-stricken counties

In addition to CRP access, ranchers in counties designated as D3 (or D2 for at least eight weeks) on the U.S. Drought Monitor are eligible for support from the Livestock Forage Program.