[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 105 (Friday, May 30, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31053-31054]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-12054]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation


Conservation Reserve Program; Critical Feed Use

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Voluntary Modification of Conservation Reserve 
Program Contract.

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SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces the 
opportunity to allow Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) participants 
with certain established vegetative cover to voluntarily modify the CRP 
contract to utilize certain CRP land enrolled for a critical feed use 
this year without a rental reduction. Producers will be required to 
obtain a modified conservation plan to include, among other things, 
haying or grazing of the established cover.

DATES: This modification to the CRP contract will be available 
beginning June 2, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beverly J. Preston, Program Manager, 
Conservation Reserve Program, USDA/FSA/CEPD/Stop 0513, 1400 
Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-0513, (202) 720-9563, or 
e-mail at: [email protected]. More detailed information on 
CRP may be obtained from FSA's Web site:  http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=copr&topic=crp.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    CRP was authorized by the Food Security Act of 1985 [16 U.S.C. 
3801-3862], as amended. It is operated by CCC through the Farm Service 
Agency (FSA) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA). CRP is a 
voluntary program to cost-effectively assist producers in conserving 
and improving soil, water, and wildlife resources by converting highly 
erodible and other environmentally-sensitive acreage to a long-term 
vegetative cover. CRP participants enroll land under contracts for 10 
to 15 years in exchange for annual rental payments and financial 
assistance to install certain conservation practices and maintain 
vegetative or tree covers. Enrollment authority in the CRP is 39.2 
million acres. Enrollment as of April 1, 2008, is 34.7 million acres.
    This notice is intended to advise CRP participants that they may 
request a contract modification to allow for this year a special, one-
time, critical feed use of the property under contract, without a 
rental rate reduction. Such contract modifications are authorized by 16 
U.S.C. 3835(c). Participants that request a voluntary modification to 
the CRP contract to allow this critical feed use must obtain a modified 
conservation plan for haying and grazing management according to the 
Natural Resources Conservation Service Field Office Technical Guide 
haying and grazing standards. The critical feed use activity on the 
property must be completed by November 10, 2008. The modified 
conservation plan will provide for haying or grazing in a manner that 
is consistent with the conservation goals of the CRP to reduce soil 
erosion and enhance water quality and wildlife habitat.
    Haying and grazing must be conducted in a manner that limits the 
scope, frequency and duration of the activity and provides unhayed and 
ungrazed acreage for wildlife. To ensure the protection of the 
resources, critical

[[Page 31054]]

feed use is not authorized during the primary nesting or brood-rearing 
season. Participants who request a voluntary modification of the CRP 
contract for a critical feed use will be subject to compliance reviews. 
Producers will be required to pay an administrative fee of $75 for this 
modification.
    Prices for most field crops have advanced to record or near record 
levels in recent months, reflecting strong demand, tight supplies, and 
competition for acres. Higher grain prices are affecting the livestock 
sector by raising production costs. At the same time, harvested hay 
acres are expected to drop from 61,625,000 in 2007 to 60,583,000 in 
2008.
    This action differs from emergency haying and grazing allowances 
made in response to emergency conditions such as natural disasters. 
Rather, this allowance, by contract modification, reflects the general 
reserve nature of the overall program. Accordingly, as described above, 
FSA is allowing voluntary modifications of CRP contracts to utilize CRP 
lands for critical feed use. Further information will be available at 
FSA offices.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on May 22, 2008.
Glen Z. Keppy,
Acting Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
 [FR Doc. E8-12054 Filed 5-29-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P