The Associated Press

YANKTON, S.D. (AP) -- South Dakota farmers and ranchers are searching for solutions to deal with the hay shortage.

SDSU Extension agronomy crops field specialist Larry Wagner tells the Yankton Press and Dakotan (http://bit.ly/W5S3KW) that the issues started last summer when pastures started giving out and some people had to start feeding early in the fall.

Wagner says it's like adding a month or two to a winter feeding program.

The USDA says production of all dry hay in 2012 was down 9 percent to 120 million tons -- the lowest production level since 1964. South Dakota produced 4 million tons last year, a 53-percent decrease.

Wagner says it's going to be costly bring in hay from other parts of the country -- as much as $300 per ton for good alfalfa hay.

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Information from: Yankton Press and Dakotan, http://www.yankton.net/

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.