Montezuma County has received authorization from the Colorado State Farm Service Agency Committee to hay or graze CRP acreage in 2013 using emergency provisions.

Both authorizations begin today. Haying authorization ends Aug. 31, and grazing authorization ends Sept. 30. A 25 percent payment reduction will be applied against the acres hayed or grazed.

Before beginning to hay or graze, application must be made with FSA, a haying or grazing plan must be obtained from NRCS, and approval received from FSA. Failure to follow these necessary steps may result in the assessment of penalties and/or contract termination.

If grazing, participants must either leave at least 25 percent of each field or contiguous field ungrazed or reduce the determined stocking rate by at least 25 percent.

If haying, at least 50 percent of each field or contiguous field must be left unhayed. The same acreage cannot be both hayed and grazed.

Hay obtained using emergency provisions cannot be sold. However, the privilege to hay or graze may be leased by the CRP participant to an eligible livestock producer.

Although acreages utilized last year are technically eligible, conditions have prohibited normal growth. The haying or grazing plan will reflect the total amount of forage available with the long-term effect of the cover being considered.

Any acreage that has been utilized in the past may be determined ineligible if the cover has not recovered or the plan will likely reflect a stocking rate or haying plan that is reduced from previous years.

SAFE Contracts are not eligible for haying or grazing. New seedings that have not been determined established also will not be eligible for haying or grazing.

To apply or obtain more information, call the Montezuma County FSA Office at 970-565-8879, ext. 2.