Video

With hayland in tough shape across much of the state there's a lot of interest in any available hayland to cut. That is certainly the case with the Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge and an upcoming lottery for ag-producers. On Thursday July 24th at 3 p.m. there will be a public drawing to select permits for haying. You must be 18 years of age or older to qualify and must be a bona fide rancher or farmer in need of hay for your own livestock. Refuge manager Tom Pabian says the refuge does this every year to benefit both the preserve and farmers and ranchers. (Tom Pabian, Refuge Manager) Our purpose of doing it here is to improve the wildlife habitat here and it also benefits the local ranchers because they get the hay off it. Grasslands in this part of the country they have to be actively managed or they become what I call biological deserts, they're not good for any of the nesting birds that we're trying to manage for. To sign up for the lottery you can mail your information to the refuge or call Pabian at 468-5467 and he will get you a brochure.