FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, NOV. 27, 2007

NCDA&CS announces program to help horse owners
with cost of transporting hay for the winter

RALEIGH – Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler today announced a program that will help drought-stricken horse owners with the cost of transporting hay to their farms.

The Equine Partners Hay Relief Program will help horse owners with the cost of moving hay purchased outside North Carolina.

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is seeking private donations for the program, Troxler said.

The cost-share program will provide farmers a one-time reimbursement of 50 cents per mile for round trip or $1 per loaded mile, up to $300, for a load of hay moved from out of state. Reimbursements will be made on a first-come, first-served basis as long as funding is available. The program will reimburse equine owners for hay brought in from outside North Carolina since Sept. 5.

For information about the Equine Partners program, call the department’s Hay Alert toll-free hotline at 1-866-506-6222. Information also is available online at www.ncagr.com/hayalert/equinepartners.htm.

Horse owners who have bought hay or alternative forages such as baled cornstalks from inside North Carolina can also apply for help with transportation costs through the Golden Hay Relief Program. Applications for that program are due by Dec. 31.

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