USDA Texas Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director Juan M. Garcia has announced that, in response to drought conditions, the National FSA Office has extended the deadline for emergency haying use of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres for all Texas counties that are currently approved for emergency haying.

Emergency haying of land enrolled in CRP has been extended through September 30, 2011.

"Eligible producers who are interested in emergency haying of CRP must request approval before haying eligible acreage," said Garcia. "Producers must also obtain a modified conservation plan from the Natural Resources Conservation Service that includes haying requirements," he said.

There will be a 25 percent CRP payment reduction for CRP acres used for haying under these emergency provisions.

Upon approval of emergency haying, producers must leave at least 50 percent of each field or contiguous field un-hayed for wildlife. If a county is eligible for emergency haying and grazing, the same CRP acreage cannot be both hayed and/or grazed at the same time. For example, if 50 percent of a field or contiguous field is hayed, the remaining un-hayed 50 percent cannot be grazed; it must remain un-hayed and un-grazed for wildlife.

For more information on emergency haying of CRP acres contact your local FSA office.