Here is a copy of the letter my local FSA office sent me Joe. Its a federal proogram

Date

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The Jasper County Farm Service Agency (FSA) announces the opportunity for Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) participants to request authorization to conduct emergency haying or grazing on specific CRP Acres. Authorization is based on the current U. S. Drought Monitor D2: Severe Drought designation for Jasper County. Eligible producers who are interested in Emergency Haying or Grazing of CRP land located in Jasper County must request and obtain individual written approval from FSA BEFORE any haying or grazing begins.

Additionally, please note the following requirements:

Eligible producers who are interested in emergency haying and/or grazing of CRP must request approval from the Jasper County Farm Service Agency BEFORE haying and/or grazing eligible acreage. They must visit the FSA office to fill out the appropriate paperwork and be approved.

Emergency haying or grazing is restricted to specific practices that are 12 months past being determined as fully established by the agency. Introduced and permanent native grass practices enrolled under general CRP practice eligibility are among those eligible practices. Continuous CRP practices such as filter strips, field borders, and waterways are NOT ELIGIBLE for haying or grazing at any time. Additionally, emergency haying or grazing is not allowed within 120 feet of any stream or water body.

If approved, the haying authorization will become effective August 2, 2012, which is after the wildlife nesting and brood rearing season in Illinois and shall not exceed August 31, 2012. The authorization to graze also will begin on August 2, 2012 not to exceed September 30, 2012.

Producers must obtain a modified Conservation Plan from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) that includes haying and/or grazing requirements.

There will be a 10 percent CRP annual payment reduction based on the number of acres actually hayed or grazed.

Upon approval of emergency haying, producers must leave at least 50 percent of each field or contiguous fields un-hayed for wildlife.

Producers who are interested in grazing must leave at least 25 percent of each field or contiguous CRP fields un-grazed for wildlife, or graze not more than 75 percent of the stocking rate as determined by NRCS.

The same CRP acreage cannot be both hayed and grazed. In addition, participants are limited to one hay cutting and are not permitted to sell any of the hay.

Producers who do not own or lease livestock may rent or lease the haying or grazing privilege to an eligible livestock producer. Both the CRP producer and the livestock producer must fill out the appropriate paperwork at the FSA office and receive approval. If land is rented or leased it may not be rented/leased for more than the applicable payment reduction applied for the emergency authorization.

Please contact the office to verify the eligibility of your conservation practice and/or to request approval for emergency haying or grazing of CRP acres.