The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that 12 Iowa Counties are authorized for emergency haying or grazing use of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres. 

The six counties approved for emergency haying or grazing include: Buena Vista, Clay, Ida, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, and Sac. With six counties restricted under Emergency Haying Criteria Based on Livestock Forage Program triggers: Cherokee, Monona, O’Brien, Plymouth, Sioux, and Woodbury.

Counties are automatically approved for CRP emergency haying and grazing when they reach the D2 (severe drought) level on the U.S. Drought Monitor and are outside of the primary nesting season (May 15th through August 1st).

A CRP participant must receive approval for emergency haying from their county FSA Office before any action is taken.  The emergency haying authorizations end on August 31, 2022.

A CRP participant must receive approval for emergency grazing from their local FSA office before any action is taken. The emergency grazing period for these counties will end Sept. 30, 2022.

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