Drought conditions in parts of western North Dakota have some livestock producers in need of additional forage. Farmers and ranchers who have forage for sale can list it on a North Dakota State University database designed to help feed sellers and buyers connect. Producers also may use this service to list pasture they have available for rent.

Feedlist, accessible on the Web at http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/feedlist/, is an easy-to-use database showing what each seller has to sell, storage method (large round bales, small bales, etc.) and contact information. Prospective buyers check the Web site, select what they want to buy and contact prospective sellers to do a deal. There is no charge to buyers or sellers for using the NDSU Extension Service Feedlist.

To make an entry on Feedlist, buyers and sellers can contact a county office of the NDSU Extension Service or submit entries to the list via an online form. Once hay has been sold or a purchase has been made, contact your county Extension office to have the entry removed. North Dakota residents without Internet access can view Feedlist at any county Extension office.

Feedlist has been available during feed shortages since the late 1970s.

""People sometimes forget that this isn't just truckloads of hay,"" says Greg Lardy, NDSU Extension Service beef cattle specialist. ""Rental pastures, custom feeding and other feed sources are welcome and encouraged as part of the list."

Surrounding states have similar services and are linked to the Feedlist Web page. Other drought information is available through the NDSU Extension Service at http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/disaster/drought.html.

NDSU Agriculture Communication