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N.D. (NewsDakota.com) The U.S.D.A’s Farm Service Agency is preparing an assessment of crop damage in North Dakota.

The governor requested the assessment as the first step in seeking a disaster declaration due to the drought. More than 50 percent of the state is experiencing moderate to severe drought.

The F.S.A.’s Dale Ihry says there may be some good news for counties hit hardest by drought. The Ag Secretary has authorized an automatic designation for counties that have experienced severe drought for at least 8 weeks.

Ihry says the full extent of damage will not be know until the harvest of row crops is completed this fall.