Drought worsens in Bismarck, Mandan areas.
Nearly 8 percent of the state, including Bismarck and Mandan, is seeing worsening conditions as the U.S. Drought Monitor’s rating of the area moved today from severe to extreme drought.
On Wednesday, the North Dakota Farmers Union urged U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to open Conservation Reserve Program acres for emergency haying and grazing due to widespread drought.
“Feed supplies are deteriorating fast, hay is in short supply due to last year’s harsh winter, and ranchers are facing the difficult decision of whether to downsize their herd.
It is an emergency situation.” The United States Drought Monitor places all of North Dakota in at least abnormally dry conditions.
Parts of Southwest North Dakota also are experiencing extreme drought conditions along with portions of Divide and Williams counties in the northwest corner of the state.
On Saturday, Bismarck received .4 inches of rain, according to Weather Underground records.
“It’s going to be cool and breezy this weekend … borderline unpleasant to those accustomed to the hot weather we typically see this time of the year," he said.
“This roundtable is an opportunity for producers, ag groups and agencies to discuss the current drought situation in North Dakota and the options available to producers,” Goehring said.
“Topics will include the status of the drought, forage quality and livestock management strategies, crop insurance forage options and the Farm Service Agency process to access Conservation Reserve Program acres for emergency haying and grazing.” Kevin Sedivic, rangeland specialist for North Dakota State University Extension Carl Dahlen, animal scientist for NDSU Extension Shad Weber, senior risk management specialist for the United States Department of Agriculture Brad Olson, manager of the North Dakota Farm Service Agency Conservation Program