drought management and contingency plans

ClimaticClimatic Impacts and Range Impacts and Range ConditionCondition

David J. KraftDavid J. KraftRangeland Management SpecialistRangeland Management Specialist

NRCS, Emporia, KansasNRCS, Emporia, Kansas

Climatic Impacts and Range Climatic Impacts and Range ConditionCondition

Identifying the problems or understanding Identifying the problems or understanding drought symptoms.drought symptoms. Goals for today!Goals for today!

Identifying resource concernsIdentifying resource concerns Understanding the impactsUnderstanding the impacts Formulating an approachFormulating an approach Measuring the success or accomplishmentMeasuring the success or accomplishment


So what are some of the reasons for So what are some of the reasons for changes in plant communities?changes in plant communities? Climatic conditions (out of our control)Climatic conditions (out of our control)

Management (within our control)Management (within our control)

Combination of the two!Combination of the two!


Adaptive Management ApproachAdaptive Management Approach Optimal decision making in the face of Optimal decision making in the face of

uncertainty, with an aim to reducing uncertainty, with an aim to reducing uncertainty over time (Wikipedia)uncertainty over time (Wikipedia)


Drought is a major factor in range Drought is a major factor in range management!management! In any given year, rangeland vegetation is In any given year, rangeland vegetation is

either in the recovery phase, under the direct either in the recovery phase, under the direct influence of drought, or by the producer’s influence of drought, or by the producer’s management, preparing for droughtmanagement, preparing for drought

Management strategies must provide plants Management strategies must provide plants with opportunities to maintain or improve vigorwith opportunities to maintain or improve vigor


Drought is generally defined as a prolonged Drought is generally defined as a prolonged period of time during which precipitation is period of time during which precipitation is less than 75 percent of average for a given less than 75 percent of average for a given year, or poor distribution of precipitation in year, or poor distribution of precipitation in a single year or less than average a single year or less than average precipitation in successive yearsprecipitation in successive years


History and Impacts of past droughts:History and Impacts of past droughts: Dramatic shifts in species composition and Dramatic shifts in species composition and

productivity of native grasslands were productivity of native grasslands were documented in the Great Plains during and documented in the Great Plains during and following the major drought of the 1930’sfollowing the major drought of the 1930’s


History and Impacts of past droughts:History and Impacts of past droughts: Finding: The combination of drought and Finding: The combination of drought and

heavy grazing can cause severe reductions in heavy grazing can cause severe reductions in forage production and plant vigor.forage production and plant vigor.


As plant communities change, the surface As plant communities change, the surface or plant cover also changes.or plant cover also changes.

Good grazing management is vital to Good grazing management is vital to maximize the effectiveness of maximize the effectiveness of precipitation.precipitation.


Practices which increase plant cover or Practices which increase plant cover or plant vigor lead to an increase in the plant vigor lead to an increase in the amount of precipitation that enters the soilamount of precipitation that enters the soil


When plant vigor improves, root systems When plant vigor improves, root systems become more extensive and provide become more extensive and provide surface openings for water movement into surface openings for water movement into the soil profilethe soil profile


Plant litter and standing plants reduce Plant litter and standing plants reduce evaporation losses by moderating evaporation losses by moderating extremes in soil surface temperatures and extremes in soil surface temperatures and the impact of drying windsthe impact of drying winds


Negative impacts of Drought and Negative impacts of Drought and Management:Management: Lower range conditions intensify drought Lower range conditions intensify drought

effects.effects. Decreased diversity in the native plant Decreased diversity in the native plant

community reflects more severe drought community reflects more severe drought impacts. (Lower range condition-more severe impacts. (Lower range condition-more severe impacts)impacts)


Negative Impacts cont:Negative Impacts cont: Recovery time is increased in rangeland Recovery time is increased in rangeland

where range condition or vigor is lower going where range condition or vigor is lower going into drought periodsinto drought periods


Negative Impacts cont:Negative Impacts cont: Improvement of rangeland condition and vigor Improvement of rangeland condition and vigor

should be practiced or targeted in years not should be practiced or targeted in years not identified as drought years, leading to quicker identified as drought years, leading to quicker recovery of plant communities coming out of recovery of plant communities coming out of drought periodsdrought periods


Drought Plan? Do we need one? What Drought Plan? Do we need one? What does it contain?does it contain? A drought plan should:A drought plan should:

protect vegetation and plant communities during a protect vegetation and plant communities during a droughtdrought

hasten vegetation recovery after droughthasten vegetation recovery after drought be specific to your operationbe specific to your operation minimize financial hardshipminimize financial hardship


Drought Plan cont:Drought Plan cont: Drought plans identify action to be taken at Drought plans identify action to be taken at

the first sign of drought as well as with the first sign of drought as well as with continued indications of moisture and forage continued indications of moisture and forage shortagesshortages

Stocking rate adjustments need to be specific Stocking rate adjustments need to be specific in terms of how many and how longin terms of how many and how long


Drought Plan cont:Drought Plan cont: Actions should be based upon seasonal Actions should be based upon seasonal

check points and indicatorscheck points and indicators Ex. (monthly monitoring, moisture to begin the Ex. (monthly monitoring, moisture to begin the

growing season, quickness of green-up of growing season, quickness of green-up of desirable species, production available based desirable species, production available based upon expected yields throughout the growing upon expected yields throughout the growing season, and carryover or accumulated forage)season, and carryover or accumulated forage)


Contingency Plan Trigger DatesContingency Plan Trigger Dates East East Central Central West West April 1April 1 Sept 15 – NovSept 15 – Nov 24 Month24 Month June 15June 15 April 1April 1 June 1June 1 July 15July 15 June 15June 15 July 1July 1 Aug 15Aug 15 July 15July 15 Aug 1Aug 1 Sept – NovSept – Nov Aug 15Aug 15


Stocking rate rules of thumb:Stocking rate rules of thumb: Cattle require approximately 3% of their body Cattle require approximately 3% of their body

weight in pounds of forage each dayweight in pounds of forage each day 1000 pound cow = 30 pounds of air dry forage1000 pound cow = 30 pounds of air dry forage At a minimum 900 pounds per monthAt a minimum 900 pounds per month


Stocking Rate Breakdown:Stocking Rate Breakdown: If your rangeland produces 4000 pounds/acreIf your rangeland produces 4000 pounds/acre Approximately 1000 pounds is available to be Approximately 1000 pounds is available to be

grazedgrazed Meaning it takes approximately one acre/month Meaning it takes approximately one acre/month

to support an 1100 pound cow if your to support an 1100 pound cow if your rangeland averages 4000 pounds of productionrangeland averages 4000 pounds of production


Stocking Rate Breakdown:Stocking Rate Breakdown: Depending upon the production potential of Depending upon the production potential of

your rangeland, you will need more or less your rangeland, you will need more or less acres to support your livestockacres to support your livestock


Stocking Rate Breakdown:Stocking Rate Breakdown: What do I need to know?What do I need to know?

What does my rangeland/grazingland produce in What does my rangeland/grazingland produce in pounds of air dry forage?pounds of air dry forage?

What do my livestock actually weigh?What do my livestock actually weigh? What is their true demand?What is their true demand? How do I compensate for cows with calves?How do I compensate for cows with calves?


Stocking Rate Breakdown:Stocking Rate Breakdown: Are there years when production is greater Are there years when production is greater

than normal as well as less than normal?than normal as well as less than normal? What are the impacts to the livestock as well What are the impacts to the livestock as well

as the forage or plant community during as the forage or plant community during drought?drought? IT DEPENDS! – ON YOU!IT DEPENDS! – ON YOU!


Stocking Rate Reductions on Sandy Soils

0%10%

20%30%40%

50%60%

48" 42" 36" 30" 24" 18" 12" 6"

Inches of Moist Soil

Red

uctio

n in

Sto

ckin

g R

ate

Good Condition PlantCommunity

Poor to Fair ConditionPlant Community


RegionTotal Dep. % Normal

Northwest 16.36 -3.43 83West Central 13.38 -5.87 70Southwest 8.51 -10.36 45North Central 21.81 -4.37 83Central 16.71 -11.06 60South Central 12.18 -15.15 45Northeast 24.36 -9.56 72East Central 19.77 -15.58 56Southeast 24.1 -12.7 65STATE 16.95 -9.79 63

Precipitation - 2011 through November


Stocking Rate Breakdown:Stocking Rate Breakdown: Typically animal performance does not suffer Typically animal performance does not suffer

in drought conditions until animal intake is in drought conditions until animal intake is reduced significantly (forage quality remains reduced significantly (forage quality remains high)high)


Stocking Rate Breakdown:Stocking Rate Breakdown: Remember, heavy continuous grazing which Remember, heavy continuous grazing which

alters the plant community and changes the alters the plant community and changes the surface of the soil, makes possible:surface of the soil, makes possible: harsher conditions and drought impacts harsher conditions and drought impacts more difficult and lengthy recovery periodsmore difficult and lengthy recovery periods potential financial hardship due to extended potential financial hardship due to extended

forage reductionforage reduction


Things to remember:Things to remember: The healthier a plant community enters a The healthier a plant community enters a

drought and the more carefully a plant drought and the more carefully a plant community is managed during a drought, the community is managed during a drought, the quicker and healthier a plant community will quicker and healthier a plant community will respond coming out of a droughtrespond coming out of a drought


Examples of Management Style ChangesExamples of Management Style Changes Grazing systems which focus on restGrazing systems which focus on rest Flexibility in herd managementFlexibility in herd management

Early weaningEarly weaning Later calving seasonLater calving season Minimizing feed costs or inputsMinimizing feed costs or inputs Limit feeding hayLimit feeding hay


QuestionsQuestions

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Rights, Room 326W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Nondiscrimination Statement

drought management and contingency plans

Documents