Seven new additional counties are now approved for emergency haying and grazing due to drought, bringing the total number of counties now eligible for emergency haying and grazing (due to drought and wet weather) to 22.

The 22 counties are: Adams, Appanoose, Clarke, Clay, Davis, Decatur, Des Moines, Dickinson, Henry, Jefferson, Lee, Louisa, Lucas, Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, Ringgold, Taylor, Union, Van Buren, Wapello, and Wayne.

"Eligible producers who are interested in emergency haying and grazing of CRP must request approval before haying and grazing eligible acreage and must obtain a modified conservation plan from the Natural Resources Conservation Service that includes haying and grazing provisions," says Amanda De Jong, Iowa FSA State Executive Director. "Current provisions allow grazing on 100 percent of a field, up to the 75 percent stocking rate."

There will be no CRP annual rental payment reduction for 2018 emergency haying and grazing authorizations. To take advantage of the emergency grazing provisions, authorized producers can use the CRP acreage for their own livestock or may grant another livestock producer use of the CRP acreage. The eligible CRP acreage is limited to acres located within the approved county.

Unlike previous years, counties are not automatically approved for CRP emergency grazing when they reach the D2 (severe drought) level on the U.S. Drought Monitor. If there is a need for emergency grazing, each county FSA office must request approval from the Iowa FSA state committee. The 90-day emergency grazing period for these counties will end September 30. The emergency haying authorizations end 60 calendar days from the authorization date, not to exceed August 31.

For more information and to request approval for emergency haying or grazing use of CRP acres, contact your county FSA office.