WASHINGTON - Iowa Congressman Steve King is calling on the USDA for assistance for western Iowa counties, due to the toll the drought has taken on pasture and forage production.
King sent a letter to Glen Keppy, Administrator for the Farm Service Agency (FSA), requesting the FSA quickly honor requests from counties in the Fifth District for drought assistance such as emergency haying and grazing of CRP acres. The assistance will help Iowans maintain grazing animals, as the quality of the forage deteriorates from drought. Over the past four months, several counties in Western Iowa have received less than 40% of normal rainfall.
"Extremely dry conditions in Iowa's Fifth District during the spring and summer growing season have drastically reduced our pasture and forage production," said King. "We have an immediate need to find forage for our grazing animals."