OMAHA (DTN) -- USDA is loosening the rules for haying and grazing land in the Conservation Reserve Program as a way to help livestock producers in disaster areas.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced some temporary and permanent changes to CRP on Monday as the department searches for ways to deal with some historic agricultural disasters across the country.

Vilsack said 913 counties over 26 states have been declared secretarial disasters or are contiguous, which also makes them eligible for expanded haying and grazing options.

In citing the floods, drought, tornadoes and storms that have plagued the country this year, Vilsack said crop insurers have already paid out $693 million in indemnities this year and another $114 million has been paid to livestock producers through a number of disaster programs.

"What we are faced with here in many areas of the country are unprecedentedly severe situations," Vilsack said.

A year ago, USDA announced a special $630 million disaster program for mainly Southern farmers who faced disasters in 2009. Vilsack said Monday he didn't think USDA would be putting together a similar package this year, partially because Congress frowned upon Vilsack using his own authority for that ad-hoc package last year. Vilsack said he was not aware of any letters or push from Congress for a disaster program other than the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program, or SURE.

While acknowledging the budget difficulties facing his department as producers look for disaster help, Vilsack said USDA still has effective tools to help farmers.

"Although we will be challenged in these times, we still recognize the need for a strong safety net," Vilsack said.

The policy changes with Conservation Reserve Program acres involve the Farm Service Agency rules governing emergency grazing. The period normally allowed for emergency grazing lasts through Sept. 30, 2011.

Under the first CRP change, the FSA will allow farmers and ranchers who have been approved for emergency grazing to extend that grazing by a month in drought-stricken states. That includes producers in Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. They will now be able to graze their CRP land until Oct. 31, 2011, without an additional payment reduction. To do so, a producer must receive permission from their county FSA office by indicating which CRP acreage would be grazed.

FSA also now will allow producers nationally to use harvested hay from expiring CRP acres when those acres are being prepared for fall-seeded crops. Until now, all mechanically harvested hay was required to be destroyed. This change enables livestock producers to feed the hay that is mechanically harvested to their own livestock or to sell or donate hay. CRP rental payments will be reduced by 25% for those using this option. Vilsack said this will be a permanent policy change.

Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, stated the USDA announcements Monday were needed in drought-stricken areas. Roberts called on the department to consider additional options to help farmers and livestock producers.

"I am pleased to have worked with USDA to act immediately to bring additional relief to farmers and ranchers across the country battling drought," Roberts stated. "Given the extreme conditions out there, the changes in policy just make sense."

Chris Clayton can be reached at chris.clayton@telventdtn.com

(AG/SK)

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