12 rural municipalities have declared a state of agricultural disaster in Manitoba after a hot and dry summer has left beef producers struggling to find enough feed to feed their herds.

Arnthor Jonasson, the reeve of the RM of West Interlake and Mike Brown, a councillor for the RM of Alonsa both say that the time for the government to come in and help producers is now, adding that by the time the election is done, it may be too late.

The affected RMs are Alonsa, Armstrong, Bifrost-Riverton, Coldwell, Ethelbert, Fisher, Grahamdale, Lakeshore, McCreary, Ste. Rose, West Interlake, and Woodlands.

Hay yields in the province have been far below average this summer, adding on to the impact producers are feeling after a streak of dry years.

Early in the summer, the provincial government announced it would allow livestock producers to cut hay and let their herds graze on Crown lands.Jonasson and Brown said that producers are trying to get the attention of both the federal and provincial governments to provide financial assistance through the AgriRecovery Program.

The program framework would allow for immediate feed and freight assistance and some compensation for the drilling of wells for the hauling of water to livestock.

Due to the shortage of feed, many producers are faced with the choice of whether or not to liquidate portions of their herds, if not their entire herds.

Both Keystone Agriculture Producers and Manitoba Beef Producers have urged farmers across the province to list any available hay, straw, and alternative feeds for use to help the producers struggling to feed their herds.

The looming provincial and federal elections have some producers worried that government intervention could be delayed, but Jonasson and Brown are hoping action will be taken in the next few days.