Grazing, Harvesting Rule Change an Opportunity for US Farmers, Ranchers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will allow producers to graze, hay or cut cover crops on prevented-planting acres beginning Sept. 1. Changes in federal grazing and harvesting rules on prevented-planting acres could help North Dakota livestock producers in select counties replenish forage supplies, or at least offset shortages in perennial forage production, according to North Dakota State University Extension livestock specialists. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will allow producers to graze, hay or cut cover crops on prevented-planting acres beginning Sept. 1. Counties included in the change are: Barnes, Benson, Bottineau, Cass, Dickey, Eddy, Foster, Grand Forks, Griggs, Kidder, LaMoure, McIntosh, Nelson, Ramsey, Ransom, Rolette, Sargent, Sheridan, Steele, Stutsman, Towner, Traill and Wells. Counties that qualify must have 15% or more acres classified as prevented plant. Additional counties may qualify when the USDA’s Farm Service Agency has completed certifying ...