The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) has launched several initiatives to assist livestock producers and equine owners in locating and transporting hay to their farms to cope with the ongoing drought.

The NCDA&CS has established the Hay Alert Web site and a toll-free hotline to assist individuals in their search for hay. A database is available online and those without Internet access may call the hotline for assistance. A program also has been established to help offset a portion of the transportation cost.

In addition, state officials have created an Emergency Hay Program through which the NCDA&CS is buying hay and transporting it to stockpiles around the state where livestock and equine owners can purchase the hay–at cost–in an emergency