Fedorchak Urges USDA to Ease Drought Hay Rules

By Scout Nelson

North Dakota farmers and ranchers are facing growing challenges as drought conditions continue to affect forage supplies and farm operations.

Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide producers with more flexibility when responding to local drought conditions.

Fedorchak made the request after an agriculture roundtable with farmers, ranchers, agricultural businesses and state leaders at Kuhn Farms near Dickinson.

Producers discussed concerns about federal emergency haying rules and asked for programs that better match conditions in their communities.

“North Dakota agriculture is resilient, but our farmers and ranchers are getting squeezed from multiple directions. When drought puts pressure on forage supplies, they need commonsense flexibility to respond to the conditions they see every day—not arbitrary federal dates and deadlines,” Fedorchak said.

“Some producers are describing this as the worst drought they’ve ever experienced. I’m calling on Secretary Rollins to give producers 30 days to remove hay bales and empower our local FSA leaders to determine the right timing based on conditions on the ground. Additionally, I'll continue working with my colleagues in Congress to strengthen the farm safety net, expand markets, and give our producers the tools they need to succeed and maintain the national food security Americans expect,” Fedorchak said.

One major request is extending the time producers have to remove hay bales, from 15 days to 30 days.

Fedorchak also wants local Farm Service Agency leaders to have greater authority to decide when emergency haying should take place based on local weather and field conditions.

The roundtable also covered low commodity prices, high costs for equipment and farm inputs, interest rates, transportation, labor, and market access. Producers discussed crop insurance, reference prices, disaster assistance, farm credit, and livestock programs.

Value-added agriculture and stronger local markets were also discussed as ways to create new opportunities for North Dakota commodities.

Fedorchak pointed to recent farm safety net changes under the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, including higher reference prices and crop insurance improvements.

Congress continues working on a new five-year Farm Bill, while year-round E15 legislation also awaits Senate action.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-fertnig-e