The drought that has plagued both Dakotas and Montana this year has led close to 1,000 livestock producers to submit applications to participate in a hay lottery. North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring says the breakdown by state includes around 820 applications in North Dakota, 82 in South Dakota and 56 in Montana. He says that shows how devastating the drought has been this year.

He says if a livestock producer is chosen to receive hay from the lottery, they’re responsible to pay for transporting it from the holding site in Fargo at NDSU. Goehring says producers can contact Farm Rescue if they need assistance in transporting that hay.

Goehring says the application process is simple.

The application deadline is August 31 and drawings will be held in each state in early September.