USDA Limits Activity on CRP Acres
Settlement limits managed haying and grazing on CRP acres in some states.
Compiled by staff
Published: Oct 6, 2006
USDA will limit managed haying and grazing on Conservation Reserve Program acres in some states, Farm Service Agency Administrator Teresa Lasseter said Thursday. As part of a settlement that also returns the definition of primary nesting and brood rearing season to pre-2002 Farm Bill dates, USDA will limit haying and grazing on CRP land from once every three years to once a decade, depending on the state.
The settlement does not affect emergency haying and grazing and is limited to certain states. It applies to new contracts and re-enrollments in those states approved after Sept. 25, 2006, and to contract extension in those states approved after that date if the participant had not previously been approved under the CRP contract.
On Oct. 21, 2004, the Western District of Washington State filed a complaint in U.S. District Court challenging some provisions of managed haying and grazing on CRP land. The new rules come as a result of a settlement in the case between the federal government and the National Wildlife Federation and some of its state affiliates.
The lawsuit challenged the frequency of allowed managed haying and grazing on CRP acreage and the dates defining primary nesting and brood rearing seasons which limited activity on those acres.
Under the settlement agreement, pending the completion of a NEPA analysis, the following requirements apply to the affected contracts:
- The frequency of managed haying is limited to no more than once every 10 years in all or a portion of the following states: Ariz., Calif., Colo., Idaho, Kan., Mont., Neb., Nev., N.M., N.D., Okla., Oregon (east of the Cascade Mountain range), S.D., Texas, Utah, Wash. (east of the Cascade Mountain range) and Wyo.
- The frequency of managed grazing is limited to no more than once every 10 years in all or a portion of Ariz., Idaho, Nev., N.M., Oregon (east of the Cascade Mountain range), Utah and Wash. (east of the Cascade Mountain range).
- The frequency of managed grazing is limited to no more than once every five years in Colo., Kan., Mont., Neb., N.D., Okla., S.D., Texas and Wyo.
- The primary nesting season dates revert to pre-2002 Farm Bill levels for: Ariz., Calif., Colo., Kansas, Idaho, Mont., Neb., Nev., N.M., N.Y., N.D., Okla., Oregon, Texas, S.D., Utah, Wash., Wis. and Wyo. The primary nesting season dates for Ind. change to April 1 to August 1.
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Tagged: grazing, CRP, farm, usda, farm bill
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