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Jul 23, 2006 3:59 pm US/Central
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CRP Grazing Expanded As Drought Worsens
St. Paul (AP) ―
The National Drought Mitigation Center said parts of Minnesota are now considered to be in a "severe" drought, and Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced Friday that five counties were approved for emergency livestock grazing on all Conservation Reserve Program lands.
Pawlenty and members of the Minnesota congressional delegation requested the U.S. Department of Agriculture's approval for grazing on CRP land in Marshall, Pennington, Red Lake, Clearwater counties and eastern Polk County.
Farmers who choose to allow grazing on their CRP lands will have their CRP payments reduced by 10 percent, said John Monson, Minnesota director of the Farm Service Agency.
Typically, grazing is not allowed on these lands before Aug. 2 because of wildlife nesting. But Department of Natural Resources officials say this year's nesting season was earlier than normal because of the warm, dry weather.
A large part of Minnesota has gone from moderate to severe drought conditions, said assistant state climatologist Pete Boulay. The area runs roughly from northwestern Minnesota, extending along the Mississippi River down to the Twin Cities and into northwest Wisconsin.
Boulay says the severe drought designation means water shortages and water restrictions are becoming more likely.
However, parts of the Dakotas are much drier, with conditions rated as extreme to exceptional.
(© 2006 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)