This year’s drought has been one of the most severe ones ever in North Dakota. State Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring says 44 percent of the state is in the D-3 drought category, 30 percent is in severe drought and all of the state is experiencing some type of drought conditions. He says lack of snow cover this winter and no spring rains have made the situation worse and getting enough feed and water to livestock is their biggest challenge.

He also says over half of their small grains crop has been lost due to the drought.

Goehring says feed costs have risen greatly which presents another significant challenge for cattle producers and some have decided to exit the business.

Goehring says they’ve enacted their hay hot line and their drought disaster livestock watering program. He says they’ve made a request to USDA for early release of CRP for haying, they already have grazing in place.