Two Month Extension on Grazing CRP

US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has announced a two-month extension for emergency grazing on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres.  In his statement, Secretary Vilsack said, "The Obama Administration is committed to helping the thousands of farm families and businesses who continue to struggle with this historic drought," said Vilsack. "It is also important that our farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses have the tools they need to be successful in the long term. That's why President Obama and I continue calling on Congress to pass a comprehensive, multi-year Food, Farm and Jobs Bill that will continue to strengthen American agriculture in the years to come, ensure comprehensive disaster assistance for livestock, dairy and specialty crop producers, and provide certainty for farmers and ranchers."

In addition Secretary Vilsack declared 147 additional counties in 14 states as natural disaster areas-128 counties in 10 states due to drought. In the past two months USDA has designated 1,892 unduplicated counties in 38 states as disaster areas, with 1820 drought declarations.