GLICKMAN AUTHORIZES EMERGENCY GRAZING ON CRP LAND

                                                    Release No.0200.97

                                            Jim Petterson (202) 720-4623
                                                  jim.petterson@usda.gov
                                             Greg Hawkins (202) 720-6788
                                               ghawkins@wdc.fsa.usda.gov


GLICKMAN AUTHORIZES EMERGENCY GRAZING ON CRP LAND

     LONDON, ENGLAND, June 20, 1997--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman
announced today that emergency livestock grazing will be permitted on
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acreage in some areas suffering from
droughts and other severe weather conditions in 1997 and the residual effects
of 1996 floods and other disasters.

     Emergency grazing will be permitted where severe natural disasters have
affected the yield of hay and pasture this year.  USDA will authorize each
area, based on recommendations by county Farm Service Agency (FSA) committees,
and State FSA Committees, and grazing will only be permitted on these specific
areas.

     Grazing will be authorized until September 30, 1997, or until disaster
conditions, reviewed monthly, no longer exist -- whichever comes first.

     Only livestock operations located within approved counties are eligible
for emergency grazing of CRP acreage.  CRP participants who do not own or
lease livestock may rent or lease the grazing privilege to an eligible
livestock producer located in an approved county. Land devoted to high-priority conservation practices is ineligible for emergency grazing.

     CRP rental payments will be reduced to account for the acres grazed.
Other restrictions and limitations also apply. CRP participants can get more
information and apply for participation at their local FSA county office.

     Today's action allows only grazing on CRP land.  A decision to allow
haying on CRP land is under consideration and a final decision will be made by
the end of June.
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