Over 1,000 Counties Approved for Emergency Haying and Grazing on CRP Acres

More than 1,000 counties are eligible for emergency Conservation Reserve Program haying and grazing. The most recently published list of counties with permitted haying and grazing on CRP land, which was released Thursday 06/24/21, includes 1,021 counties, or 32% of counties nationwide. Primarily located in the West, 860 of those counties have been designated in 2021. In June alone, emergency haying and grazing on CRP acres was authorized in 196 counties.

When it comes to the Northwest: 100% of Oregon counties, 59% of Washington counties, and 75% of Idaho counties were on the list. Counties are approved for emergency haying and grazing when they are designated as level D-2 Severe Drought designation. Every week, USDA updates the map of counties eligible for emergency haying and/or grazing based on the U.S. Drought Monitor.

The latest report shows 35% of the U.S. in D-2 or worse drought, with 61% of the continental U.S. in some form of drought.

When it comes to other western states Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Utah and Wyoming all reported 100% of their counties on the USDA list. Colorado follows closely, with 98% of counties permitted for emergency haying and grazing on CRP acres. South Dakota currently has 92% of the counties.

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