The access to hay for farmers in South Dakota has just received the Governors approval. Governor Kristi Noem on Tuesday signed an executive order allowing farmers and ranchers in the state to mow ditches and supplement their hay supplies in order to keep feeding livestock.

“Growing up on the family ranch, I know how difficult it can be to feed cattle during dry times,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “This increased flexibility will allow producers to immediately gain access to hay for their livestock. With a mild winter and early spring, most of the pheasant hatch is well behind us, and we do not expect this move to affect pheasant numbers. Reports from the field look fantastic for the upcoming pheasant hunting season.”

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The order allows for ditch mowing in the eastern part of the state as drought conditions have reached severe drought status in most counties. Extreme status in the counties of Campbell, McPherson, Walworth, Edmonds, Potter, and Faulk in the north-central part of South Dakota. And Brule, Aurora, Gregory, Charles Mix, and Bon Home in south-central South Dakota.

Executive Order 2021-09 is effective immediately and will remain effective through August 31, 2021.

READ ON: See the States Where People Live the Longest

Stacker used data from the 2020 County Health Rankings to rank every state's average life expectancy from lowest to highest. The 2020 County Health Rankings values were calculated using mortality counts from the 2016-2018 National Center for Health Statistics. The U.S. Census 2019 American Community Survey and America's Health Rankings Senior Report 2019 data were also used to provide demographics on the senior population of each state and the state's rank on senior health care, respectively.

Read on to learn the average life expectancy in each state.

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