This spring’s drought has hit North Dakota quite hard as 98 percent of the state is under the D1 to D4 drought categories. That’s according to North Dakota Stockmen’s Association’s Executive Vice President Julie Ellingson who says this is the worst drought hitting North Dakota surpassing the severe one seen four years ago.

She says cattle are going to market much earlier than normal due to drought impacts.

Elliingson says because of the severity of the drought there are several assistance programs producers should check into at both the federal and state levels.

Ellingson says their State Water Commission has a drought water assistance program producers can access. She says it’s a cost share program that provides support for water related projects like digging wells or laying pipe. It provides $4500 per project up to a limit of 3 projects per producer.