Cattle producers in drought-stricken Kansas counties may now cut hay or graze on land normally set aside for conservation.
Forty-three counties in central and northeastern Kansas that are in “severe drought” according to the U.S. Drought Monitor were authorized for emergency grazing and haying.
That gives ranchers limited access to grass or hay from land enrolled in the conservation reserve program or CRP.
This helps reduce soil erosion and provides valuable habitat for wildlife.
For example, the timing of the emergency grazing and haying is scheduled around the needs of local birds.
If farmers choose to cut hay on their CRP land, they can only hay 50 percent of the acreage, and there are limits to grazing, as well.
Authorizing 43 counties for drought relief is unusual, said Winkler.
Ben Kuebrich reports for High Plains Public Radio in Garden City and the Kansas News Service, a collaboration of KMUW, Kansas Public Radio, KCUR and HPPR covering health, education and politics.
Follow him on @Ben_Kuebrich.
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