South Dakota Extends Drought Forage Transport Relief

By Scout Nelson

South Dakota continues to experience widespread drought, creating serious challenges for livestock producers as pasture growth slows and hay supplies remain limited. To help producers respond, the State has extended its Drought Emergency Executive Order, allowing greater flexibility when transporting harvested forage. The order supports producers by making feed transportation easier while encouraging safe hauling and careful management during the ongoing dry season.

Kim Ricardo, SDSU Extension Forage Field Specialist, highlighted that the emergency order provides producers with additional transportation flexibility while reminding them that proper planning, safe hauling, and long-term forage management remain essential for successful livestock operations during drought conditions.

The emergency order allows qualifying producers and commercial haulers to move oversized loads of baled livestock feed under emergency permits. It also expands certain commercial driver's license exemptions for eligible farm vehicle operations within South Dakota. However, all operators must still follow permit requirements, load size regulations, and road and bridge weight restrictions.

Safe transportation begins before leaving the farm. Trucks, trailers, tires, brakes, lights, and hitches should all be inspected before loading. Hay bales should be evenly placed to balance the load and secured using properly rated straps or chains. Drivers should also check and tighten tie-downs during the trip because loads may shift after travel begins.

Producers should measure the height and width of loaded trailers to avoid contact with bridges, power lines, and tree branches. Planning travel routes in advance also helps prevent delays caused by restricted roads or bridges.

The transportation flexibility does not solve the shortage of available forage. Producers should carefully estimate feed supplies, secure additional forage early, and test purchased hay whenever possible. A forage analysis provides valuable information about nutrient content and nitrate levels, helping producers build safe and balanced rations.

Alternative feed sources, including crop residues, annual forages, cover crops, and by-product feeds, may help stretch forage supplies. Producers should work with nutritionists or Extension specialists when using these feeds to maintain proper livestock nutrition.

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