Date 2007

**Grazing in Drought and Back-up Plans**

by Roger W. Tacha, Resource Conservationist

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Colby, Kansas

It DID rain this year, and the range actually greened up and grew! We
all hope the relief from the severe drought continues. However, we will
not and should not soon forget the drastic conditions we experienced
over the last five to seven years.

We obviously cannot make it rain or snow, but we CAN make back-up plans
(contingency plans) for the NEXT YEAR if it does not rain. A contingency
plan for drought comprises several factors\--some are just normal range
management topics, and some are specifically for the drought itself.

ANIMAL NUMBER (stocking rate) is the factor most commonly in the
limelight. Most producers reduced animal numbers by 10 to100 percent
during the recent drought! If it is not green, it is certainly not
growing! Cull EARLY. Cull HEAVY. Good record keeping tells which animals
go first.

Conservative stocking rates in both wet and dry times are a wise
management tool to prepare for the very looming, long-term drought. It
will likely take years for the range grasses to rebuild root systems and
vigor after what they have been through. If your math and forward
planning says you can maintain a certain stocking rate for the upcoming
year, try it. But if things start looking bleak, reduce numbers quickly.

ANIMAL TYPE is another factor. Diversifying to run both stockers and
cows gives a lot of flexibility for dealing with no rain. Stockers are
readily "disposable." However,

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Grazing in Drought and Back-up Plans - 2 -

adding stockers to a cow operation means initially reducing cow numbers,
and this sort of move means planning for it months ahead. If this sort
of "change" is a knee-jerk reaction to drought about one-third of the
way through the grazing season, it is probably already too late.

WEANING TIME\--another factor. Removing the half-grown youngsters from
the range a month earlier than "normal" might mean the cows get two to
four weeks more grazing before they're out of groceries too. This is
admittedly short term, but it adds a little cushion before you take the
next step (which could be one of several things).

SUPPLEMENTAL FORAGE may be feasible\--or it may be just "fooling
yourself," depending on what and where the feed is. If there is a nearby
crop field with residue, volunteer, or weeds, it might be feasible. If
it is about the end of the normal grazing season, even actual feeding
might be absorbable. But if it is mid-summer, consider carefully!! This
is an expensive quick fix.

TRANSPORTING the herd to "parts unknown" could be an option. It has been
done, but this too will likely be very expensive.

GRAZING ROTATION SYSTEMS are certainly a valid and proven tool, both in
and out of drought. Many are using them. They work! Predicted available
grazing days for each individual pasture can easily be calculated PRIOR
to the grazing season. Right along with this, the needed REST for each
pasture is determined. THE REST BETWEEN GRAZING PERIODS IS WHAT MAKES
THESE SYSTEMS WORK!

The grazing days and resting days hinge on a combination of all these
things: stocking rate, length of grazing period, grass species, grass
production, and number of grazing cycles during the season.

COMBINING HERDS might be another possibility. If adequate water is
available to serve a higher stocking rate, this tool will automatically
allow more REST to all pastures.

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Grazing in Drought and Back-up Plans - 3 -

DEFERRED GRAZING is simply not grazing a certain pasture. This can be
incorporated into a regular grazing system, whereby a different pasture
is deferred each year. Potential benefits are winter grazing area,
stock-piled forage for drought, improved wildlife habitat, and fuel-load
buildup for prescribed burning. Obviously, this needs to be planned
months in advance. It is feasible and a smart management option.

Monitoring climatic and ecological factors can provide TRIGGER POINTS
which can help to predict the chance of whether or not to take
contingency plan actions. Moisture received to date to "normal" amounts
can then be tied to the amount of grazing period remaining. Seventy to
80 percent of grass growth has already occurred by mid-July. By making
these moisture-production comparisons, if there is a serious forage
deficit, it should be evident.

Again, with the exception of rain, all the factors listed above are ones
people CAN control. Rather than reacting to drought with possible bad
decisions, developing a contingency plan is a proactive way to start
NEXT year's grazing.

If you would like to learn more about contingency planning or would like
help in developing a plan, please contact your local Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) office or conservation district office
located at your local county USDA Service Center.

For more information about natural resources conservation, visit the
Kansas NRCS Web site at www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov.

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