They chose a symbolic site to make their plea, gathering in sweltering heat in a dusty field north of Montgomery amid the ruins of what was supposed to be 400 acres of corn.

Alabama Farmers Federation President Jerry Newby urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture to release the $17 million to help state farmers buy out-of-state hay, irrigate crops that are still alive and to replant fields burned up by the drought. The nine members of Alabama’s congressional delegation have asked federal agriculture officials for the money.

Also, Gov. Bob Riley has asked the USDA for $10 million to be used to transport hay from rain-soaked states like Texas and Louisiana to Alabama, Riley’s communications director, Jeff Emerson, said.

Many cattle farmers were forced to sell cows early because of a hay shortage.

Source: Dateline Alabama