A federal judge in Seattle has eased the concerns of farms and ranchers around the country by allowing an emergency haying and grazing program to go forward.

The judge in Seattle decided on Thursday that while the U.S. Department of Agriculture did not conduct an appropriate environmental review before opening 24 million acres of private conservation land to haying and grazing, it would be unfair to farmers and ranchers to stop the program.

The emergency program was announced in May to provide farmers relief from rising grain and food prices. Applications have been filled out to use 1.7 million of the 24 million eligible acres. The judge says those applications will be processed and that anyone who has invested $4,500 or more to use the program will also have their applications approved. (AP)