TOPEKA – While some areas of Kansas have received much needed moisture over the last two days, many areas of Kansas are still experiencing extreme drought conditions that are causing crop failure and the dispersal of livestock herds – herds that have taken generations to build.

Kansas Secretary of Agriculture, Dale Rodman has been working with local, state and federal officials to identify ways the public sector can assist Kansas farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses that are being adversely impacted by this drought.

Earlier today, Secretary Rodman worked with the Kansas FSA office to further clarify what options Kansas farmers and ranchers have regarding haying and grazing of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres in all Kansas counties. There have been a number of policy changes in recent days. Therefore, it is recommended that farmers and ranchers continue to talk to their local FSA Office regarding their options. This recommendation is true for all types of CRP acres – even if you have been in contact with your local office within the past week, policy changes have occurred to help producers.

Even if your county is not recognized as a D3 or D4 drought county, you may still qualify for the revised Managed Haying and Grazing program due to recent policy changes. Kansans have long been known for helping their neighbors. These changes allow those outside of drought-stricken areas to help Kansans who are impacted by the drought.