Hearing set in challenge to emergency grazi

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SEATTLE (AP) -- A federal judge has set a hearing for Thursday to discuss limits to an emergency federal program that allows farmers and ranchers around the country to make hay or graze their cattle on private conservation land.

U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour (KOO'-en-our) has said the Department of Agriculture did not conduct an appropriate environmental review before opening 24 million acres to grazing and hay production. But, he says, it wouldn't be fair to simply strike down the program. Many farmers are counting on being able to use the land.

The emergency program was announced in May to provide farmers relief from rising grain and food prices, and applications have been filled out to use 1.7 million of the 24 million eligible acres. The National Wildlife Foundation, which sued over the USDA's decision, says those applications should be honored, but that the court should bar the government from accepting more.

The USDA suggests limiting the program to 3 million acres.

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