WASHINGTON - Sen. Kent Conrad today called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to correct a policy that is forcing drought stricken ranchers in western North Dakota to take larger than normal payment reductions if they elect to use Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land for emergency livestock grazing.
"We should be working to lend a hand to help our ranchers devastated by this drought. Instead, the USDA's policy is essentially knocking them when they're already down," Senator Conrad said.
In a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer, Senator Conrad urged the USDA to decrease the rental rate reduction from the current 25 percent to 10 percent, bringing it in line with past emergency releases, including those in 2006 and 2007.
"Available farm credit is beginning to dry up in North Dakota in drought areas, and my office has already received notice from some producers that they will elect not to utilize the emergency grazing release because of the large rental rate reduction," Senator Conrad writes.
Last month, Senator Conrad and the Congressional delegation urged the Administration to open all state CRP acreage to aid ranchers struggling to sustain their herds. The USDA quickly responded to the delegation's request and Secretary Schafer authorized the release of CRP acreage for emergency grazing in 26 counties in North Dakota.
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However, as part of this emergency release USDA included a provision forcing ranchers to take a 25 percent reduction in their rental rate should they elect to use the CRP land for emergency grazing. Senator Conrad is working to have that amount reduced.
Ranchers and farmers in western North Dakota have confronted serious drought in recent years. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Statistic Services reports that nearly half of the state's pasture has a rating of "very poor" or "poor" conditions.
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The Honorable Ed Schafer
Secretary
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Avenue Southwest
Washington, DC 20250-0003
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Dear Secretary Schafer:
In late June, you responded favorably to a request I made with the rest of the North Dakota Congressional Delegation to release Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acreage for emergency grazing in 26 counties in North Dakota.
I am pleased you authorized this release. It will go a long way toward assisting drought stricken ranchers feed their livestock, and I have heard from several already who are utilizing this release.
Despite this helpful action, I remain concerned about the rental rate reduction of 25 percent that was also included as part of this emergency release. This is especially concerning when the past two - and 3 of the last 4 - emergency releases were subject to a lower payment reduction of ten percent.
Available farm credit is beginning to dry up in North Dakota in drought areas, and my office has already received notice from some producers that they will elect not to utilize the emergency grazing release because of the large rental rate reduction. Because of this, I ask you to decrease the rental rate reduction to 10 percent from the current 25 percent, bringing it in line with past emergency releases.
I look forward to your response.
