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MO Cattlemen’s wants more CRP counties for drought relief

The Missouri Cattlemen’s Association wants producers to have access to even more CRP lands as the drought continues in Missouri. Mike Deering tells Brownfield the Farm Service Agency’s release of CRP land in certain counties is a step in the right direction but more is needed, “Those designated counties where that’s available, well, let’s look at the adjacent counties as well. And, let’s even look further than that and look at some of these other counties and release that for haying and grazing as well.”

Deering says a lot of Missouri cattle are going outside the state, “Being shipped to where there’s green grass. We have some of that here in the state and we might as well take advantage of it and not just focus on those drought counties.”

For example, parts of southeast Missouri, Deering points out, have lush green grass, whereas CRP lands in drought-stricken counties are dry, “I would say, if you look at the Drought Monitor, where is the bright spot if there is one in the state? It would certainly be in that southeast part of the state.”

Deering says Missouri’s U.S. Senators Blunt and McCaskill support the opening of more CRP acres, “They have jointly written a letter trying to encourage the release of CRP ground for haying and grazing in these adjacent counties as well. So they have, our two senators have been very supportive in this effort.”

Deering also praises Missouri Governor Parson and state agency leaders for allowing access to certain state lands and ponds for water access and haying.

AUDIO: Interview with Mike Deering ~