The North Dakota State Water Commission is adding $2 million to its Drought Disaster Livestock Water Supply Assistance Program. Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring says demand quickly exceeded the initial $2 million allocation made the previous week. “We had over 200 applications in and we were going to be out of money Wednesday, by the end of the day.” The program provides a 65 percent cost share, capped at $10,000, for projects including pipeline extensions for existing wells or drilling new wells. Farmers and ranchers can qualify for up to three projects. Governor Kelly Armstrong has also expanded eligibility statewide, opening the program to livestock producers across North Dakota rather than limiting it to counties experiencing D2 or greater drought. Goehring said water and forage problems are worse than anticipated.
