Following Friday’s announcement by the Department of Agriculture to authorize emergency grazing in drought-stricken states, farm groups offered praise to the move. USDA authorized emergency grazing for Conservation Reserve Program lands in Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. The announcement came just days after elected officials, the National Farmers Union, and several Farmers Union state divisions urged USDA to address severe drought conditions in the region. NFU President Roger Johnson says many producers in the area are having to downsize their herd because of dwindling feed supplies, and that without relief, many more would make the same decision. Emergency grazing is authorized to begin immediately and extends through September 30th, unless conditions improve.