Emergency grazing, haying authorized in Adams County

Due to drought conditions during the 2014 grazing season emergency haying and grazing of Conservation Reserve Program lands as been authorized for Adams, Benton, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Lincoln, Walla Walla and Yakima counties.

Participants may not both hay and graze the same acreage. Programs such as the grass filter strips or contracts enrolled under the State Acres for Wildlife CRP-SAFE programs are not eligible for emergency haying or grazing.

Grazing on CRP lands is permitted from July 2 through Sept. 30. It is limited to 75 percent of the contract acreage or a 75 percent stocking rate. Grazing on CRP lands requires a development of grazing plan to establish the amount of forage present. Temporary watering and mineral sites must be placed carefully to avoid damage to heavy use areas and stock must be kept away from wildlife watering facilities and tree and shrub plantings.

Haying is authorized beginning July 2 and is limited to one cutting. All hay must be removed from the contract acreage by Aug. 30. Haying must be limited to 50 percent of the acreage for each field. Participants in the program may either lease the haying rights or use the hay, however, the hay may not be sold.

There is no payment reduction for conducting emergency grazing or haying, however, the CRP contract holder must obtain authorization from the Farm Service Agency by completing a modification to the Conservation Plan of Operations before emergency haying or grazing can commence.

Additional information is available from the FSA at 509-659-1761.