Drought Disaster Declaration Unlocks Livestock Water Funding Across North Dakota

North Dakota officials have activated a $2 million assistance program to help livestock producers address water shortages as drought conditions continue to worsen across the state.

Gov. Kelly Armstrong and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring voted with the State Water Commission to activate the Drought Disaster Livestock Water Supply Project Assistance Program following the governor's declaration of a drought disaster.

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The program provides cost-share assistance for livestock water projects, including new wells, rural water system connections, pipeline extensions, pasture taps, and related work. Producers can receive reimbursement for up to 65% of eligible costs, with a maximum of $10,000 per project.

Each producer can receive cost-share assistance for up to three projects.

“This July ranked as one of the hottest and driest on record in North Dakota, putting enormous strain on livestock producers who are just trying to keep their herds watered and fed and their operations afloat,” Armstrong said. “Today’s action supports producers who want to invest in water projects that will help them through the current drought and make their operations more resilient against future droughts. Our agencies will continue to explore every option for relief as drought conditions persist.”

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor shows 33.6% of North Dakota in moderate drought, 28.1% in severe drought, and 2.3% in extreme drought. It was the first report this summer to include an extreme drought designation.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has also issued a disaster declaration for drought-affected counties in North Dakota and Montana.

In a letter received Monday, USDA Deputy Under Secretary Brooke Appleton notified Armstrong that Golden Valley and McKenzie counties were designated primary natural disaster areas because of drought conditions ranging from severe to exceptional. Billings, Mountrail, Williams, Dunn and Slope counties were designated as contiguous disaster counties. The declaration also includes Fallon, Richland, Roosevelt and Wibaux counties in Montana.

The designation allows eligible producers in the affected counties to apply for Farm Service Agency emergency loans. Farmers have eight months to apply and must meet federal eligibility requirements.

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The state recorded its sixth-warmest July on record, with an average high temperature of 86.9 degrees. It was also the state's 12th-driest July, with average precipitation of 1.25 inches. Many areas received less than an inch of rain during the month.

“The drought has dried up livestock dams that producers usually depend on for grazing, and water quality has been a serious concern,” Goehring said. “The actions taken today will provide more permanent solutions and mitigate drought impacts for livestock producers in the future.”

The water assistance program is funded through oil extraction tax revenue and is administered by the North Dakota Department of Water Resources.

Producers in counties experiencing severe drought or worse, along with adjacent counties and tribal nations, are eligible for the program, which was last utilized by the state in 2021.

“North Dakota ranchers are facing difficult conditions, and we want to ensure they have the tools and resources needed to weather this drought,” DWR Director Reice Haase said. “This program gives producers an opportunity to address those immediate needs while also investing in a more resilient future.”

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Producers can get information about the program by clicking here, calling 701-328-4959 or emailing dwrlivestock@nd.gov.