USDA Grants CRP Waiver Request From Reps. Lucas, Marshall, and Thornberry

Jun 20, 2017
Agriculture
Press

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) granted a 90-day extension of emergency grazing on CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) lands for areas of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas affected by recent wildfires.

This comes in response to a letter sent by Congressmen Lucas, Marshall, and Thornberry to the USDA asking the agency to extend CRP acre eligibility for farmers and ranchers negatively impacted by the March wildfires.

Letter from USDA to Congressman Lucas (PDF)

“I’ve lived all my life in Northwest Oklahoma, but I have never seen anything of the magnitude of these fires,” Congressman Frank Lucas said. “USDA’s extension of emergency grazing on CRP acres will no doubt help ease the burden for farmers and ranchers in our part of the country by providing them with additional flexibility while forage is reestablished and fencing is rebuilt. I thank Secretary Perdue for working with us on this critical matter to help support producers impacted by these devastating wildfires.”

"I want to thank Secretary Perdue and the USDA for responding to the needs of cattle producers across the wildfire-damaged area," Congressman Roger Marshall, M.D., said. "This extension should give grass additional time to recover and producers additional time to rebuild fences and other facilities destroyed by the fire. I appreciate the Secretary and USDA utilizing the flexibility they have to help restore these hard-working Kansans."

“The decision by the USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue to extend emergency grazing on CRP lands will allow ranchers who were affected by the Panhandle wildfires much needed time to rebuild fencing, replant grass, and provide a safe home for their livestock," Congressman Mac Thornberry said. "I appreciate the Secretary listening to our concerns and providing agriculture producers in the Panhandle with more time to get back on their feet.”

###

PRESS CONTACTS:

Rep. Lucas – Andrew Witmer, andrew.witmer@mail.house.gov

Rep. Marshall – Eric Pahls, eric.pahls@mail.house.gov

Rep. Thornberry – Jordan Hunter, jordan.hunter@mail.house.gov

 

Recent Posts


Sep 24, 2024
Economy

Gensler and Peirce Disagree on Treasury Clearing Implementation

Washington, DC – Today, at a Financial Services hearing entitled Oversight of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Congressman Lucas, SEC Chair Gary Gensler, and SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce discussed the need to extend Treasury clearing timelines. While Chair Gensler did not say, Commissioner Peirce agreed with Congressman Lucas that there is a need to extend these […]



Sep 23, 2024
Press

Lucas, Mullin Welcome $5.5 Million Investment to OSU to Enhance Weather Prediction

Cheyenne, OK – The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) awarded Oklahoma State University (OSU) $5.5 million as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024. The purpose of these funds is to increase knowledge about local weather systems in the lower atmosphere, enabling the safe integration of small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Advanced […]



Sep 18, 2024
Press

Lucas Honors NASA’s Hidden Figures at Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony

Washington, DC – Today, House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Frank Lucas attended a Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony, where he had the opportunity to honor the Hidden Figures, a group of women crucial to the space race. These women helped calculate the Apollo 11 mission to land the first astronaut on the moon. Medals […]