Southwest Virginia Farmers to Get Reimbursements for Costly Hay

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Southwest Virginia farmers can get partial reimbursement to help them deal with skyrocketing hay prices.
    Virginia Cooperative Extension is taking applications from livestock owners in 13 counties for reimbursement. The Hay Relief Program is retroactive to Dec. 1, and Abingdon extension agent Phil Blevins says it will continue at least through early spring.
    The money comes from a $500,000 grant from the Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission and will be distributed by the Southwest Virginia Agricultural Association, a nonprofit consortium of local livestock producers in the region.
    A hard freeze last April and continuing drought created a severe hay shortage in the region, which drove prices to as much as four times the amount in previous years.