Assistance available for horse owners for cost of transporting winter hay

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler recently announced 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 $500, 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.

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 at www.ncagr.com/hayalert/equinepartners.htm.