USDA Opens More Land for Emergency Haying and Grazing

The USDA is offering more relief for farmers dealing with a drought in Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.  Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue is authorizing the use of additional CRP lands for emergency grazing and haying.

Perdue is allowing the emergency action during and after the primary nesting season in parts of Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota that have reached severe drought level or greater.  This includes counties with any part of their border located within 150 miles of authorized counties within the three states, and may extend into neighboring states.  All emergency grazing must end September 30th, and emergency haying must end August 31st.

Currently, 82% of South Dakota is in a severe, or worse drought, along with 74% of North Dakota and 45% of Montana.

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