Lawmakers look to free up grazing land

Policy-makers in Des Moines and Washington, D.C., are looking for some alternatives to flooded pastureland throughout the state.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released Conservation Reserve Program acres for grazing in Iowa's Presidential Declared Disaster counties because of flooding. U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley wrote to Secretary Ed Schafer last month asking for the early release.

According to the Department of Agriculture, to be approved, participants must write their county FSA office, obtain a modified conservation plan and receive county office approval before allowing animals to graze. Participants will experience a 25 percent reduction in their Conservation Reserve Program rental payments.

Producers in Buena Vista, Clay and Dickinson Counties are eligible to apply.

"I appreciate the Secretary's action today," Grassley said, in a statement. "Iowans are having tough luck right now and this will be of great help to farmers. Pasturelands in Iowa are badly damaged due to the floods. These are difficult decisions that must be made to ensure we have a balance between conservation and production. Farmers showcase a number of effective conservation measures as part of their commitment to land stewardship and management and they will do everything they can to ensure that sensitive lands are dealt with the utmost of care."

Iowa's Agriculture Secretary, Bill Northey drafted a letter to Gov. Chet Culver requesting emergency haying and grazing of state-owned lands.

"You are well aware of the difficult situation facing many livestock producers and as a result have requested immediate emergency haying and grazing on Conservation Reserve Program acres in Iowa," he said. "I was proud to join you in that request and believe this step will demonstrate to the USDA that we are doing everything in our power on the state level to assist livestock producers as well."