Minnesota Farmers Union President Gary Wertish met with U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack in Minnesota last week and also with Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith and Congresswoman Angie Craig. The five discussed the impacts of the drought hitting Minnesota this year. Wertish says several parts of the state are seeing tough effects from the drought with cattle producers hit the worst.

He asked Vilsack to get acres released on CRP for haying and grazing.

Wertish says small grains have been negatively impacted and yields in most crops will be down this year because of the drought.

According to the latest drought monitor, nearly 78 percent of Minnesota is in severe to exceptional drought with more than 7 percent in exceptional drought.