Wisconsin Farmers Asked To Help Drought Stricken North Dakota

Wisconsin farmers are being asked to help drought stricken North Dakota.

Because of the drought, ranchers in North Dakota don’t have enough hay or usable pasture land for their cattle, said Donna Gilson, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Secretary spokeswoman.

Wisconsin farmers can help by bringing hay to North Dakota ranchers, or by bringing their cattle to Wisconsin to pasture.

“They haven’t had a lot of precipitation, and they’ve had very high temperatures, high winds, and all those have combined to dry things out pretty well, so that there’s not a lot of hay or forage available right now, and what’s available is not in great condition for their cattle,” Gilson said.

The conditions in North Dakota may come as a surprise to some who live in Wisconsin, because of heavy rains here this spring.

“There is a fair amount of the Midwest that is in pretty dry conditions right now. We’re a little bit of an anomaly perhaps,” Gilson said.

In a news release, DATCP secretary Ben Brancel said, “Wisconsin farmers have always had big hearts, and this is one more way they can help out their neighbors, even neighbors who are two states away.”

Gilson said the rain has been a mixed blessing in Wisconsin. Storms delayed planting and damaged some crops last week, but others got a jump-start from the wet weather.

Some Wisconsin farmers also need help because of heavy alfalfa losses due to winterkill caused by a lack of snow cover.

The University of Wisconsin-Extension operates a farmer-to-farmer website to connect farmers who have hay to buy or sell.

A hotline is available for callers to report what they are able to provide for North Dakota: 701-425-8454.