The U-S Department of Agriculture has announced that ranchers who have approved applications through the 2021 Livestock Forage Disaster Program for forage losses due to severe drought or wildfires will soon begin receiving emergency relief payments.  Joe Schultz is the Acting Director with the South Dakota Farm Services Agency and explains the program.

Schultz says the paperwork is already completed and farmers and ranchers should begin receiving their payments by next week.

Schultz says South Dakota had 60 counties that are eligible for the payment program.