Converting Expiring CRP to Grazing: Considerations
 Over the years, your fields enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program
(CRP) have supported the growth of valuable grasses and forbs with root systems
that have held the soil and build up of organic matter. Consider developing a
sustainable grazing system on your expiring CRP fields to maintain soil
condition while returning the field to profitable use.
The following elements should be determined when developing a grazing plan on
CRP.
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Kind of grasses in the field
Current production
- Determine from past grazing records or clipping and estimation
Current forage quality
- Is there an excessive thatch buildup?
- Consider haying or burning to improve initial forage quality
Determine the appropriate stocking rate
- Based on a balance of forage production and livestock needs
Grazing Management
- What style of grazing management will best achieve our objective?
Consider rotation schedules, intensity of management
- What practices are required to implement the grazing system? Fence,
water, livestock handling facilities
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Match periods of livestock nutritional needs to the
growth periods of the predominant plants in the CRP fields.
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Where to get help
Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office for
technical assistance in determining current forage production and in development
of grazing plan alternatives as well as financial assistance options.
This information is also available for download and
requires
Acrobat
Reader.
Fact Sheet - Converting Expiring CRP to Grazing: Considerations (PDF; 116
KB) Last Modified:
07/19/2012
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