North Dakota Gov. Order Aims to Help Drought-stricken Producers

Gov. Doug Burgum has further relaxed commercial driving restrictions to help drought-stricken North Dakota farmers and ranchers.

reduced forage due to drought in North Dakota
reduced forage due to drought in North Dakota
(North Dakota State University)

Gov. Doug Burgum has further relaxed commercial driving restrictions to help drought-stricken North Dakota farmers and ranchers.

His executive order Wednesday allows producers to drive farm vehicles farther than 150 miles without a commercial driver’s license. That means they can travel longer distances to transport livestock, hay and water.

Burgum earlier waived driving hour restrictions on commercial haulers of hay, water and livestock, and eased weight limits for those trucks.

The state also is putting more money into its Drought Disaster Livestock Water Supply cost-share program.

Eight National Guard helicopters stand ready to help fight wildfires.

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor map shows nearly all of western North Dakota in either severe or extreme drought, and most of the rest of the state in either moderate drought or abnormally dry.

AgWeb-Logo crop
Related Stories
Seasonal weather models are beginning to hint at improved moisture chances across the western Plains, offering drought-weary producers cautious optimism heading into late spring and summer.
Oliver Sloup with Blue Line Futures says grain markets were trying to divorce from the war headlines and crude oil the last few weeks but now are right back trading with the energy moves.
Greg McBride of Allendale, says grains markets saw profit taking, also saw some farmer selling and hedge pressure on Tuesday.
Read Next
Get News Daily
Get Market Alerts
Get News & Markets App