The Rural Municipality of Dundurn has declared an agricultural disaster, as a result of ongoing drought conditions.

On its website, the R.M. is also calling on various levels of government to provide disaster relief to farmers and ranchers.

The R.M.s of Old Post and Arlington are other areas that have also declared agricultural disasters, according to the President of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) Ray Orb. The R.M. of Excelsior also declared a local state of emergency, according to other media reports.

He believes there will be other R.M.s following suit.

“I’m thinking next week we’re going to be hearing some more,” Orb added.

He says precipitation in some of the R.M.s, especially in the southwest part of Saskatchewan, have been sporadic, resulting in some livestock producers “considering or have already put their livestock herd up for sale”, as well as the supply of water and hay diminishing.

“It’s getting more crucial as everyday goes by,” he said.

Orb noted he will get in touch with Provincial Agriculture Minister David Marit to discuss what can be done, adding SARM’s Board of Directors will be traveling to the south-central and southwest areas to get a first hand look of the drought conditions. Shaunavon was one of the areas Orb mentioned.