USDA opens 24 million acres to livestock feed use
By Janie Gabbett on 5/28/2008 for Meatingplace.com
USDA announced it has authorized 24 million acres currently under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to be available for hay and forage to feed livestock this summer to help producers cope with high feed prices and possible grain shortages.
Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer estimated this program will make up to 18 million tons of forage, worth $1.2 billion, available.
Quick to address environmental concerns, Schafer said eligible land may not be hayed or grazed until after the end of the primary wildlife nesting season, which varies across the country but generally ends in late July or early August. All forage use must be completed by Nov. 10.
He also said about 25 percent of the eligible land or forage from that land must be reserved for wildlife. In addition, any land that is used under this authority must have a conservation plan. Finally, the most environmentally sensitive land enrolled in the CRP — such as wetlands — will not be eligible.
Prices for most field crops have advanced to record or near record levels in recent months, reflecting strong demand, tight supplies and competition for acres. The higher prices have impacted the livestock industry in particular, Schafer noted.
Farmers and ranchers with CRP acreage can begin sign-up for the program June 2. They will be charged $75 for processing but will not be assessed any rental payment reduction for haying or grazing the land.
The program does not, however, allow growers an early out from their CRP contracts to grow grain on that land. Schafer repeated on a conference call with reporters that growers are not allowed to take acres out of the CRP before their existing contracts expire without penalty during the 2008 crop year. CRP contracts are typically 10 to 15 years long.
