Farmers, ranchers and agriculture groups in the Northern Plains are welcoming the September 1 date to graze and hay cover crops planted on prevent plant ground. In 2019, prevent plant acres were 3.9 million in South Dakota and 850,000 acres in North Dakota. As of July 31, 2020, North Dakota has over 2.5 million prevent plant acres, and South Dakota has over 1.2 million reported to the Farm Service Agency. That’s why NDFB Director of Public Policy Pete Hanebutt says “this flexibility is certainly welcome.” USDA made this same decision to move up the haying and grazing date last year. However, the announcement came two months sooner in June 2019. While the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association appreciates the flexibility, “permanent change is needed,” says NDSA President Dan Rorvig. The Cover Crop Flexibility Act has been introduced in Congress, which would provide permanent flexibility particularly for producers in the Northern Plains. Producers aren’t outright prohibited from haying or grazing before November, but 65 percent of their prevent plant indemnity would be lost. Listen to the story.
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