USDA Opens CRP to Haying

[Anonymous]

This may help the high costs of hay in some areas...I'm not sure yet what all areas of the country this will be...

Sometimes (especially in the drought years) by the time they let you hay it, its a little dried out and course--but still makes a turd...Lots of cows have been wintered on CRP hay in years past when they let it be cut.....

USDA opens 24 million acres to livestock feed use

By Janie Gabbett on 5/28/2008 for Meatingplace.com


USDA announced it has authorized 24 million acres currently under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to be available for hay and forage to feed livestock this summer to help producers cope with high feed prices and possible grain shortages.

Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer estimated this program will make up to 18 million tons of forage, worth $1.2 billion, available.

Quick to address environmental concerns, Schafer said eligible land may not be hayed or grazed until after the end of the primary wildlife nesting season, which varies across the country but generally ends in late July or early August. All forage use must be completed by Nov. 10.

He also said about 25 percent of the eligible land or forage from that land must be reserved for wildlife. In addition, any land that is used under this authority must have a conservation plan. Finally, the most environmentally sensitive land enrolled in the CRP — such as wetlands — will not be eligible.

Prices for most field crops have advanced to record or near record levels in recent months, reflecting strong demand, tight supplies and competition for acres. The higher prices have impacted the livestock industry in particular, Schafer noted.

Farmers and ranchers with CRP acreage can begin sign-up for the program June 2. They will be charged $75 for processing but will not be assessed any rental payment reduction for haying or grazing the land.

The program does not, however, allow growers an early out from their CRP contracts to grow grain on that land. Schafer repeated on a conference call with reporters that growers are not allowed to take acres out of the CRP before their existing contracts expire without penalty during the 2008 crop year. CRP contracts are typically 10 to 15 years long.

 

[Big Muddy rancher]

This may help the high costs of hay in some areas...I'm not sure yet what all areas of the country this will be...

Sometimes (especially in the drought years) by the time they let you hay it, its a little dried out and course--but still makes a turd...Lots of cows have been wintered on CRP hay in years past when they let it be cut.....

USDA opens 24 million acres to livestock feed use

By Janie Gabbett on 5/28/2008 for Meatingplace.com


USDA announced it has authorized 24 million acres currently under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to be available for hay and forage to feed livestock this summer to help producers cope with high feed prices and possible grain shortages.

Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer estimated this program will make up to 18 million tons of forage, worth $1.2 billion, available.

Quick to address environmental concerns, Schafer said eligible land may not be hayed or grazed until after the end of the primary wildlife nesting season, which varies across the country but generally ends in late July or early August. All forage use must be completed by Nov. 10.

He also said about 25 percent of the eligible land or forage from that land must be reserved for wildlife. In addition, any land that is used under this authority must have a conservation plan. Finally, the most environmentally sensitive land enrolled in the CRP — such as wetlands — will not be eligible.

Prices for most field crops have advanced to record or near record levels in recent months, reflecting strong demand, tight supplies and competition for acres. The higher prices have impacted the livestock industry in particular, Schafer noted.

Farmers and ranchers with CRP acreage can begin sign-up for the program June 2. They will be charged $75 for processing but will not be assessed any rental payment reduction for haying or grazing the land.

The program does not, however, allow growers an early out from their CRP contracts to grow grain on that land. Schafer repeated on a conference call with reporters that growers are not allowed to take acres out of the CRP before their existing contracts expire without penalty during the 2008 crop year. CRP contracts are typically 10 to 15 years long.

So they can collect the CRP payment and still sell the hay or graze? Isn't that a subsidy?

 

[Anonymous]

So they can collect the CRP payment and still sell the hay or graze? Isn't that a subsidy?

Sounds like a heck of a good deal if you got CRP.... :shock:

 

[alabama]

So they can collect the CRP payment and still sell the hay or graze? Isn't that a subsidy?

Sounds like a heck of a good deal if you got CRP.... :shock:

But if ain't got CRP and you bought fertelizer to cut and sell hay you will just take it in the shorts.

 

[Denny]

So they can collect the CRP payment and still sell the hay or graze? Isn't that a subsidy?

Sounds like a heck of a good deal if you got CRP.... :shock:

But if ain't got CRP and you bought fertelizer to cut and sell hay you will just take it in the shorts.

Oh Well :wink: I'd just buy more cows no sense in making money by selling hay.

 

[tlakota]

we all know by the time they release it to be cut, it is already pretty poor hay. Hay is still going to be worth a lot. Higher quality hay is going to be hard to find but there might be a lot of this lower quality hay. A lot of this crp hay will just give problems to producers if not supplemented with energy or better quality hay.
All in all this should help out a lot of people but there will still be plenty of people looking hard to find hay.

 

[alabama]

This is what NCBA thinks about it.

For Immediate Release



Contact: Joe Schuele 303-850-3360 [email protected]





USDA plan for CRP acres well-intentioned, but wrong solution for cattlemen



Washington, D.C. (May 27, 2008) – The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) opposes the plan announced today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to open certain Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres to haying and grazing.



Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced that USDA has authorized certain acres enrolled in CRP to be available for hay and forage after the primary nesting season ends for grass-nesting birds. USDA estimates more than 24 million acres of land will be eligible, and that the program will make available up to 18 million tons of forage worth about $1.2 billion.



NCBA supports managed haying and grazing of CRP acres during times of a shortage for hay and livestock forage due to drought or other emergency conditions, but only with a corresponding reduction in CRP payments. While the difficult conditions facing many cattle producers could certainly qualify as an emergency, USDA's plan does not require a payment reduction in areas where these additional uses will be allowed. Without such a reduction, livestock producers raising or obtaining their hay and forage from non-CRP land are placed at an unfair disadvantage.



"Cattlemen appreciate the fact that USDA recognizes the hard times we are facing in the livestock industry, and wants to provide some relief through this CRP plan," says Colin Woodall, NCBA executive director of legislative affairs. "But this is just the wrong solution. Any CRP relief plan must maintain a level playing field for all farmers and ranchers, and put land back into production in a meaningful way."



In addition to the competitive disadvantages created under USDA's plan, Woodall says it also fails to provide any significant, long-term relief for the nation's

dwindling supply of agricultural land and feed sources.



"Livestock producers cannot use this land for any haying or grazing until the primary nesting season ends, and then they have to be finished with any forage use by November 10," Woodall said. "In most cases that's a very limited window of opportunity, and it does not provide the kind of significant relief this industry needs. It's a nice gesture by USDA, but unfortunately it doesn't amount to much more than that."



"NCBA policy favors conservation programs that make every effort to keep agricultural land in production," says Woodall. "To do that, USDA needs to do more than just tweak CRP around the edges. The cattle industry is facing historic economic difficulty as a result of the federal government's competing policy goals. Tremendous pressure is being placed on our rapidly shrinking supply of agricultural land, and today's action just temporarily sidesteps the problem."



~ visit us online at www.beefusa.org ~



The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) is the largest organization representing America's cattle industry. Initiated in 1898, NCBA is the industry leader in education, influencing public policy to improve producer profitability and in preserving the industry's heritage and future. Efforts are made possible through membership contributions. To join, contact NCBA at 1-866-BEEF-USA or [email protected].

 

[alabama]

This is what NCBA thinks about it.

For Immediate Release



Contact: Joe Schuele 303-850-3360 [email protected]





USDA plan for CRP acres well-intentioned, but wrong solution for cattlemen



Washington, D.C. (May 27, 2008) – The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) opposes the plan announced today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to open certain Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres to haying and grazing.



Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced that USDA has authorized certain acres enrolled in CRP to be available for hay and forage after the primary nesting season ends for grass-nesting birds. USDA estimates more than 24 million acres of land will be eligible, and that the program will make available up to 18 million tons of forage worth about $1.2 billion.



NCBA supports managed haying and grazing of CRP acres during times of a shortage for hay and livestock forage due to drought or other emergency conditions, but only with a corresponding reduction in CRP payments. While the difficult conditions facing many cattle producers could certainly qualify as an emergency, USDA's plan does not require a payment reduction in areas where these additional uses will be allowed. Without such a reduction, livestock producers raising or obtaining their hay and forage from non-CRP land are placed at an unfair disadvantage.



"Cattlemen appreciate the fact that USDA recognizes the hard times we are facing in the livestock industry, and wants to provide some relief through this CRP plan," says Colin Woodall, NCBA executive director of legislative affairs. "But this is just the wrong solution. Any CRP relief plan must maintain a level playing field for all farmers and ranchers, and put land back into production in a meaningful way."



In addition to the competitive disadvantages created under USDA's plan, Woodall says it also fails to provide any significant, long-term relief for the nation's

dwindling supply of agricultural land and feed sources.



"Livestock producers cannot use this land for any haying or grazing until the primary nesting season ends, and then they have to be finished with any forage use by November 10," Woodall said. "In most cases that's a very limited window of opportunity, and it does not provide the kind of significant relief this industry needs. It's a nice gesture by USDA, but unfortunately it doesn't amount to much more than that."



"NCBA policy favors conservation programs that make every effort to keep agricultural land in production," says Woodall. "To do that, USDA needs to do more than just tweak CRP around the edges. The cattle industry is facing historic economic difficulty as a result of the federal government's competing policy goals. Tremendous pressure is being placed on our rapidly shrinking supply of agricultural land, and today's action just temporarily sidesteps the problem."



~ visit us online at www.beefusa.org ~



The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) is the largest organization representing America's cattle industry. Initiated in 1898, NCBA is the industry leader in education, influencing public policy to improve producer profitability and in preserving the industry's heritage and future. Efforts are made possible through membership contributions. To join, contact NCBA at 1-866-BEEF-USA or [email protected].

 

[Anonymous]

So they can collect the CRP payment and still sell the hay or graze? Isn't that a subsidy?

Sounds like a heck of a good deal if you got CRP.... :shock:

But if ain't got CRP and you bought fertelizer to cut and sell hay you will just take it in the shorts.

Yep- kind of reminds me of a few years ago when I was raising hay for sale-- and the Guvment boys came up with this NAFTA contraption- and hay could be purchased north of the border for $20 (US) a Ton (less than you could put it up for in the states)....Put a lot of hay producers out of the business of raising hay..... :roll:

But this will be a Godsend to those cattle folks flying by the seat of their pants with outbid leases and no home/hay ground :roll: - and/or the areas that are already paying $150-200+ a Ton already for hay......