3 Ways to Prepare Your Pasture for Drought

Preparing and managing your pastures for drought conditions starts early in the spring. With more and more producers falling victim to increasingly widespread drought conditions, preventative action now is critical. A well-prepared forage management plan can lessen the impact on forages and improve pasture recovery upon return of adequate growing conditions.

Proactive drought management includes three main principles, outlined by Oklahoma State Professor Paul Beck:

1. Develop a balanced seasonal forage system to avoid drought impacts by extending the grazing season and using various forages.
2. Manage forage for efficient utilization during drought. Avoid overgrazing and implement rotational grazing.
3. Manage pastures for recovery after drought. Evaluate pastures and determine which fields will recover and which need overseeding for a complete renovation.

Read more on pasture management for drought preparedness here.