WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, today announced that Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acreage is approved for emergency grazing for 12 Kansas counties.

“I am pleased that the USDA has recognized the severity of the drought we’re experiencing in Kansas,” said Roberts. “Cattle producers are facing severe hardship due to a lack of available feed caused by the drought, and I am pleased they now have this assistance provided to them.”

“With cattle inventories at the lowest level since the 1950’s, emergency grazing on CRP acres will allow producers to retain livestock they would otherwise be forced to sell as a result of forage shortfalls,” said Moran. “I hope FSA will continue to approve emergency grazing requests from other drought-affected counties as conditions merit.”

CRP emergency grazing acreage has been approved for Grant, Hamilton, Haskell, Kearny, Lane, Meade, Morton, Ness, Seward, Stafford, Stanton, and Stevens counties.

Emergency grazing is now allowed through September 30 of this year. Those who participate must leave at least 25% of each field ungrazed for wildlife, or not graze more than 75% of the stocking rate. All livestock must be removed by the end of the grazing period.

Those wishing to participate must contact the local FSA county office to request emergency grazing on an individual contract basis prior to grazing.  For more information, visit: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/ks/.