This week the Minnesota State House Agriculture, Finance and Policy Committee held a hearing out of session to deal with the drought and $10 million the Governor is proposing to help producers. State Farmers Union President Gary Wertish testified. He says livestock producers have been hit the most by the drought.

He says livestock and specialty crop producers have been hurt by the most by this year’s weather.

Wertish says this year’s drought which covered roughly 80 percent of the state is the worst he’s seen in many years.

Wertish also expressed backing for the Governor’s plan to increase funding for the Rural Finance Authority’s Disaster Recovery Loan program.