U.S. judge allows haying and grazing on CRP land U.S. farmers and ranchers who have already been approved can participate in a government program allowing haying and grazing on Conservation Reserve land, a federal judge in Seattle said on Thursday. In the decision, U.S. District Judge John Coughenour also ruled the U.S. Agriculture Department violated environmental law when it determined the special program would not damage the environment and as a result a risk-assessment study was not needed. The permanent injunction put in place by the court prohibits haying and grazing except in certain cases. In addition to those contracts that already have been approved, haying and grazing will be allowed for farmers that submitted an application before a temporary restraining order was issued on July 8 and in cases where the producer can show they were relying on the government program....
Producers with Approved Contracts Can Continue Haying and Grazing CRP Under the ruling, there will be no cap on eligible acres and those producers with approved CRP contracts can continue operations through the program's original Nov. 10 deadline. Farmers and ranchers who sent applications but have not received approvals will have their applications processed, and if approved may hay until Sept. 30 or graze until Oct. 15. Also producers that can document a reliance on the critical feed usage program as well as an investment of more than $4500 to prepare for haying and grazing of CRP acres are eligible to submit new applications....