Leaders of the National Farmers Union, along with their state affiliates from South Dakota, Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota are asking Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue to release CRP acres for haying and grazing. South Dakota Farmers Union President Doug Sombke says the drought is intensifying, making the request urgent.

He says right now the greatest need is for livestock feed.

Sombke says this year’s drought started early in the year.

The farm group leaders noted in their letter to Perdue that the National Drought Mitigation Center has listed D1 and D2 conditions in and around the Missouri River Basin. They added that ranchers have been forced to graze alfalfa stands before the plants have reached maturity.