Drought is a common feature of the western landscape and often results in significant economic, environmental, and social impacts. If we don’t plan for drought and we assume instead that every year will be a good one for moisture, we’re eventually in for an unpleasant surprise. But if we plan for drought, then we can enjoy the benefits of normal or rainy years and not get caught unprepared in dry years.

Planning ahead is generally seen as more efficient and more effective than measures taken in crisis mode. Drought researchers have found that after-the-fact assistance to farmers, for example, is expensive and doesn’t necessarily reach the right people.

A recent study by the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration’s (FIMA) Multi-hazard Mitigation Council showed that “mitigation”—taking steps ahead of time to prevent known impacts from a natural disaster— saves $4 for every $1 expended (FEMA 2012).

The National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) has developed an excellent publication, Managing Drought Risk on the Ranch—A Planning Guide for Great Plains Ranchers for assisting ranchers in developing their own drought management plan (Reece 2012).

Due to content limitations, this fact sheet will provide a brief overview of the aforementioned planning guide.

Many ranchers with experience managing drought recommended:

Prepare for drought by increasing the health of the overall operation and maximizing flexibility in dealing with drought.
Write a Drought Plan that includes what to do during drought and when to do it.
When conditions require it, implement the plan and don’t second-guess it.
After drought, have a plan for restoring the health of the ranch operations.
Monitor how the Drought Plan works and improve it as you learn.

Making decisions about what to do during drought, and when, can be overwhelming. Working through the following components may help you develop a Drought Plan and make decisions that are appropriate for your operation.

For the complete article, use the link below to download the PDF version.

Foster, S.S. 2016, Developing a Drought Management Plan, Cattle Producer’s Handbook, Drought and Other Natural Disasters Section

Visit Informational Publication referenced web page

Extension Associated Contacts

Loretta Singletary

Also of Interest:


Watering Trees in Hot, Dry Home Landscapes Droughts in the western U.S. are becoming more frequent and severe. They are particularly hard on our trees. Learn how to properly water your landscape trees, lower your monthly water bill and keep you home and landscape cool and livable. Kratsch, H. and Jensen, C. 2023, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, IP-22-02
Costs and Returns of Pomegranate Production in Southern Nevada This publication is intended as a guide for potential growers interested in pomegranate production, as pomegranates are becoming highly marketable. The pomegranate serves as both a fruit crop and an ornamental and is well suited to the soils and climate of southern Nevada (Robiso... Bishop, C. 2015, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, SP-15-
Markets for Nevada Native Plants & Seeds The proposed cooperative would be organized to grow, process, package, and market native Nevada plants, grasses, and forbs. Native seed production and collection is still in its infancy in Nevada, and as such, the local market for native products has not been fully explored. Cowee, M. and Curtis, K. 2007, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension
Nevada's Weather and Climate Weather and climate are related, but they are not the same. The difference between weather and climate is time. Practically speaking, weather determines which clothes you decide to put on today, but climate determines the type of clothes that are in your closet. Ormerod, Kerri Jean; McAfee, Stephanie 2017, Extension \| Fact Sheet 17-04
Living with Drought This Nevada web resource provides information on current drought conditions in the State and information on how to prepare for and recover from drought. Although there are agriculture-specific resources included, none are specific to fruit and vegetable production. Extension, University of Nevada-Reno 2024, Extension, University of Nevada-Reno

Developing a Drought Management Plan

Due to content limitations, this fact sheet will provide a brief overview of the aforementioned planning guide.

Many ranchers with experience managing drought recommended:

Prepare for drought by increasing the health of the overall operation and maximizing flexibility in dealing with drought.
Write a Drought Plan that includes what to do during drought and when to do it.
When conditions require it, implement the plan and don’t second-guess it.
After drought, have a plan for restoring the health of the ranch operations.
Monitor how the Drought Plan works and improve it as you learn.

For the complete article, use the link below to download the PDF version.

Published by: Foster, S.S., 2016, Developing a Drought Management Plan, Cattle Producer’s Handbook, Drought and Other Natural Disasters Section