The Federal Farm Service Agency is permitting farmers and ranchers in the drought stricken states of Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas to extend the emergency grazing period, from Sept. 30 to Oct. 31, without an additional payment reduction.

Emergency haying of Conservation Reserve Program acreage was approved through Aug. 31 for Butler, Chase, and Marion counties. Participants must leave 50 percent of each field.

Producers wishing to participate in emergency grazing must first request permission from the Marion County FSA office, 301 Eisenhower Dr., Marion.

As a second condition, FSA will allow producers nationwide to use harvested hay from expiring CRP acres when those acres are to be destroyed. Consistent with existing policy, rental payments will be reduced by 25 percent for those utilizing this option.