Gov. Walz has asked US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to come to the aid of Minnesota livestock producers amid the worsening drought by easing grazing restrictions.
Walz asked Vilsack in a letter released Thursday to to allow emergency haying and grazing on eligible Conservation Reserve Program acres in Minnesota counties experiencing severe to extreme drought conditions.
He said hay is going to be in short supply.
"This is not an anomoly, we all know the difference between weather and climate," Walz said. "What we're seeing is the absolutely predicted outcome of rising temperatures and climate."
Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith sent a similar request, along with the state's five of Minnesota's US Representatives from rural areas.
The U.S. Drought Monitor shows that 98% of Minnesota is now in a drought, with 52% of the state in a severe or extreme drought
He made the request to Ag Secretary Vilsack




