By Jennifer Dorsett
Field Editor

It’s been a hot, dry summer across Texas. The latest U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Crop Progress and Condition report shows drought continues to intensify across many parts of the state.

Only 14 percent of range and pastureland in Texas was rated as good or excellent condition last week. The remaining 86 percent was almost evenly split between fair, poor and very poor condition.

Low water levels and the need to provide additional feed for livestock have many farmers and ranchers concerned.

But recent changes to the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) have streamlined the process authorizing emergency haying and grazing of CRP lands in cases of drought, opening access to additional forage during dry times.

In Texas, 133 counties have been approved for emergency CRP haying and/or grazing when they reach D2 intensity on the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Currently, 16 percent of the state is classified as D2, while 7.8 percent is D3-D4, the worst stage of drought.

According to FSA, farmers and ranchers located in a county that is designated as severe drought or greater on or after the last day of the primary nesting season for certain wildlife are eligible for emergency haying and grazing on all eligible acres.

Farmers and ranchers located in counties in a severe drought any single week during the last eight weeks of the primary nesting season may also be eligible unless the FSA County Committee determines forage conditions no longer warrant emergency haying and grazing.

Farmers and ranchers must submit a request to FSA and obtain a modified conservation plan from the Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) before haying or grazing eligible acres.

In emergency haying situations, eligible farmers and ranchers are limited to one cutting, and the hay must be removed within 15 days after baling. It is permissible to sell the hay.

All livestock under emergency grazing must be removed from CRP acreage no later than one day after the end of the emergency period. There will be no CRP annual rental payment reduction for emergency haying and grazing authorizations.

More information on CRP emergency haying and grazing and a list of eligible counties is available here. Contact your county FSA office for the latest information for your area.