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

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.

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Loretta Singletary

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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