Portions of Nemaha County have received a D2 designation on the US Drought Monitor. Nemaha County is now eligible for CRP Emergency Grazing through September 30, 2017. The deadline for Emergency Haying of CRP has passed.

Producers who want to graze CRP acreage must be approved for Emergency Grazing to avoid a violation of CRP rules and regulations. CRP Practice CP1, CP2, CP4B, CP4D, CP10, CP18B, CP18C, and CP38 are eligible for emergency grazing. Producers shall leave at least 25 percent of each field or contiguous fields ungrazed for wildlife, or graze not more than 75 percent of the stocking rate determined by NRCS. In addition, producers are not allowed to graze acreage within 120 feet of a stream or other permanent water body.

Prior to Emergency Grazing, the following items needs to be completed:

• the Conservation Plan of Operations for the CRP contract will need to be modified to include grazing requirements as determined by NRCS

• CRP participant who rent or lease the grazing privilege to an eligible livestock producer shall:

• Identify the acreage to be grazed on digital imagery

• Inform the county office of the produce’s name

• Eligible livestock producer who are renting or leasing eligible acreage must sign a statement that he or she will not sublease CRP acreage

• CRP-117, Request to Participate in Haying and Grazing of CRP Acreage, must be signed by the CRP participant

• Terms and Conditions for Emergency Haying and Grazing of CRP Acreage must be signed by CRP participants

Additional Items:

• CRP participants must remove all livestock from all fields by the end of October 1, 2017.

• By October 13, 2017, CRP Participants must complete the CRP-118, Certification of Participation in Haying and Grazing of CRP Acreage

• There will be no payment reduction for CRP Emergency Grazing

• If cover fails as a result of emergency grazing, the CRP participant will have to re-establish the CRP cover at their own expense.

For more information on CRP Emergency Grazing please contact the Nemaha County FSA Office at (785) 336-2164.