News Releases for August 2008
August 4, 2008
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USDA Opens CRP Haying In Seventeen Counties
BISMARCK, ND – Gov. John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Farm Service Agency, has agreed to open 17 North Dakota counties to haying, and is considering a request to open four more.
Ranchers can now access hay in Burke, Bottineau, Divide, Williams, McKenzie, Golden Valley, Billings, Stark, Dunn, Mercer, McLean, Mountrail, Ward, McHenry, Rolette, Renville and Slope. The agency has also agreed to lower the rent payment reduction rate from 25 to 10 percent.
"We appreciate that the state office moved quickly once they had the authority to make a decision," Hoeven said. "It's important that we help ranchers in drought affected areas, particularly with the current high cost of feed. We earlier activated the Livestock Water Assistance program, and we'll continue to work with producers to assist them."
Hoeven Thursday asked USDA Sec. Ed Schafer to open CRP acres so that ranchers in drought impacted areas of the state can access hay wherever it can be located.
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