WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, Wednesday announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture will allow haying of Conservation Reserve Program lands designated “CP25” for the first time ever in response to historic drought. Grazing of CP25 lands was previously approved.

“Many producers were unable to graze these lands due to lack of fencing, access to water and other factors. This action will bring immediate relief to livestock producers across the country, ” said Roberts.

Senator Roberts called for releasing all Conservation Reserve Program acres for emergency haying and grazing in a letter he wrote, signed by Republicans on the Senate Agriculture Committee, to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack.

The letter also highlighted several ways Sec. Vilsack and the Obama administration can help producers, including approving a limited irrigation crop insurance policy, keeping producers apprised of crop insurance rules, providing guidance to producers and elevators, keeping producers informed of crop contaminates, directing crop adjusters to areas most in need, possibly reimbursing transportation of livestock to new grazing locations and getting water to livestock.