Dorgan Issues Statement on Court Decision on CRP Land

Press Release

DORGAN ISSUES STATEMENT ON COURT DECISION ON CRP LAND

U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan said Thursday he is disappointed at a decision by a federal judge in Seattle that limits the amount of land available for haying and grazing on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land that will be allowed later this summer.

Known as a "Critical Feed Use Program," this haying and grazing allowance was set to open CRP land in North Dakota on August 2nd. The judge's decision will not affect the emergency grazing allowance already underway in 26 counties in North Dakota which Sen. Dorgan and the rest of the delegation requested.

TEXT OF STATEMENT BY SENATOR BYRON DORGAN

"I'm disappointed by today's ruling in Seattle. Ranchers in North Dakota and across this country are struggling with drought conditions and the high price of fuel and other inputs. They need a helping hand right now, and I'm concerned that this ruling may squeeze some of them off the ranch instead.

"Fortunately, this ruling will have no effect on the emergency grazing that's already underway on CRP land in 26 counties in North Dakota. We're going to keep pushing USDA to open that land to haying.

"Even so, this ruling prevents producers in other counties from accessing CRP land, and it will only exacerbate the high price of feed by constricting supply.

"I support conservation efforts, but there is a reason that Congress gave USDA the ability to allow emergency haying and grazing. Now is the time to use that ability to get some help to our ranchers."

Source