In a letter to Oregon Second District Congressman Greg Walden, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said the agency was authorizing Walden’s request to grant emergency grazing to Wasco and Sherman County ranchers and flexibility for wheat producers whose crop was impacted by the wildfires.  Walden wrote to Perdue last month requesting assistance from the Department of Agriculture for wheat farmers and ranchers impacted by the Substation Fire.  In response to Walden’s request, Perdue stated that USDA will authorize emergency grazing on Conservation Reserve Program land, and will grant necessary flexibility to summer fallow wheat producers.   Walden also requested in August that UDSA approve the state of Oregon’s disaster declaration after the fires.  Perdue stated the agency is currently compiling reported losses, recommendations for counties as disaster areas, and additional information to complete the review process before making a determination on the disaster declaration.