The use of Conservation Reserve Program land for grazing cattle

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a voluntary program under which landowners enter into contracts with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to remove highly erodible and environmentally sensitive cropland from production. A 3 year project was done to evaluate intensive, rotational cattle grazing as an alternative for this land when it is removed from the federal program. A 16 ha area was divided into 28 cells for grazing. Cattle were moved to a new cell on a daily basis. A seasonal average stocking rate of 3.5 hd ha(-1) was used during the three-year study. Yearling cattle (248 +/- 17.9 kg) were placed on grass in the spring. Average daily gain was .7 +/- .03 kg d(-1). Crude protein (23 +/-4.7%) did not change over years (P>.05). Breakeven values needed to meet direct and overhead expenses ranged from $US 0.87 to $US 0.73/kg gain. Based on nitrate-nitrogen levels in run-off water samples, maintaining forage on what was CRP land and using it for grazing does meet the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conservation compliance demands to participate in other USDA programs.