Several southeast Iowa Counties are authorized for emergency haying and grazing use of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres for fiscal year 2018.

Henry, Jefferson, and Louisa are three of 22 counties authorized per the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency’s announcement Thursday. Unlike previous years, counties are not automatically approved for CRP emergency grazing when they reach the severe drought level on the U.S. Drought Monitor. If there is a need for emergency grazing, each local FSA office must request approval from the Iowa FSA state committee. The 90-day emergency grazing period for these counties will end September 30th. The emergency haying authorizations end 60 calendar days from the authorization date, not to exceed August 31st. For more information and to request approval for emergency haying or grazing use of CRP acres contact your local USDA Service Center.