Sen. Cramer: USDA Allows Producers to Hay, Graze, and Chop Cover Crops Anytime without Penalty

BISMARCK - U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following statement on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) allowing producers to hay, graze, or chop cover crops on prevented plant acres at any time while still receiving their full crop insurance indemnity:

"The Agriculture Department eliminating the November 1 penalty for haying or grazing on prevented plant acres will give North Dakota producers more flexibility to properly utilize their land. I am grateful the department heard our calls to make this move and for the leadership of my colleagues Senators John Hoeven and John Thune who helped make this happen. I urge producers to familiarize themselves with the details of today's announcement."

Prior to today's announcement, producers would face a penalty for haying, grazing, or chopping cover crops on prevented plant prior to November 1. It is effective for the 2021 crop year and beyond.

Learn more here https://www.rma.usda.gov/News-Room/Press/Press-Releases/2021-News/Producers-Can-Now-Hay-Graze-and-Chop-Cover-Crops-and-Still-Receive-Full-Prevented-Planting-Paymnt.

Senator Cramer has worked with USDA in the past to provide this flexibility in response to adverse weather conditions. Last year, he joined a letter led by Senator John Thune (R-SD) asking the department to move up the November 1 requirement, and he cosponsored the Cover Crop Flexibility Act which would have forced the administration to take this action if they did not do so unilaterally.

Read this original document at: https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-usda-allows-producers-to-hay-graze-and-chop-cover-crops-anytime-without-penalty