PIERRE - South Dakota farmers and ranchers are being reminded they have until Oct. 1 to remove hay bales from public highway right of way ditches.

Removing hay bales from the highway right of way is an important safety consideration for motorists, according to state highway officials. The bales or stacks can be a safety hazard for vehicles forced to leave the road and, in some cases, can restrict a driver's sight distance. Hay left in the road ditches late in the year can also cause snowdrifts across the highway.

State regulations deem any bales remaining in highway ditches after the deadline illegal. Any person wishing to claim ownership of illegal bales must obtain a permit from the South Dakota Department of Transportation. Those permits are issued on a first come, first served basis and allow permit holders to take ownership of any illegal hay bale.

Permits are available at DOT area offices in Aberdeen, Belle Fourche, Custer, Huron, Mitchell, Mobridge, Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Watertown, Winner, and Yankton.

The DOT will remove or authorize the removal of any hay bales remaining in the public right-of-way after Oct. 31.