Guest guest Posted May 23, 2002 Report Share Posted May 23, 2002 USDA allows grazing on Western lands amid drought -- Mail this story to a friend | Printer friendly version USA: May 23, 2002 WASHINGTON - Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman yesterday authorized emergency grazing on environmentally fragile farm land in seven Western states to help offset lost acreage caused by a simmering drought. Cattle ranchers who rely on grazing to fatten their livestock before taking them to market have been forced to sell off their herds due to the extreme drought conditions The USDA authorization will allow farmers to graze land previously set aside for the Conservation Reserve Program. The federal program pays farmers to idle environmentally sensitive farm land for 10 years or more. USDA said farmers in eligible counties in Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Wyoming could immediately participate. The emergency measure is authorized through Aug. 31 or until drought conditions subside. To be eligible, a county must have suffered at least a 40 percent loss of moisture and forage for the past four months. Veneman said she announced the emergency relief measures a month earlier than in previous drought years due to the severity of this year's conditions. The Conservation Reserve Program annual rental payments will be reduced 25 percent to account for the areas grazed, USDA said. At least 25 percent of the reserve land must be left ungrazed for wildlife. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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