About 85% of North Dakota is experiencing some level of drought and many ranchers are concerned the drought will extend into the 2021 grazing season.

North Dakota State University Extension specialists, including Miranda Meehan, Kevin Sedivec, Gerald Stokka, Janna Block, Karl Hoppe, Lisa Pederson and Sean Brotherson, have been hosting live webinars to assist ranchers as they prepare for drought. The series continues with this week’s session at 1 p.m. Central Standard Time on Thursday, Feb. 25.

Miranda Meehan, left, and Kevin Sedivec, right, visit with ranchers during the February 18 session of Preparing Your Ranch for Drought.

“This webinar will give North Dakota ranchers a chance to learn about different drought management strategies that will aid them in developing a drought plan for their ranch, as well as give them an opportunity to discuss drought-related concerns,” says Miranda Meehan, NDSU Extension livestock environmental stewardship specialist.

Two sessions have already been hosted and recorded:

• Thursday, Feb. 11 - drought outlook
• Thursday, Feb. 18 - drought trigger dates and grazing strategies

Remaining sessions are:

• Thursday, Feb. 25 - supplemental feed and forage options
• Thursday, March 4 – water supply and quality
• Thursday, March 11 - herd management and reduction strategies
• Thursday, March 18 - managing stress during drought

“It is important that ranchers have a drought management plan in place early so they are prepared and able to make timely decisions if drought persists,” Meehan says.

To register for the webinar, visit https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/drought/preparing-your-ranch-for-drought-webinars .

Participants may ask questions during each live webinar. Each session will be recorded and the recording will be archived at https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/drought/preparing-your-ranch-for-drought-webinars for later viewing.

The Preparing Your Ranch for Drought sessions are part of a broader effort by NDSU Extension to develop and update resources to help farmers, ranchers, homeowners, horticulturalists, and gardeners cope with conditions. Additional topics are available at https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/drought.

Mary Keena
Mary.Keena@ndsu.edu
Extension Livestock Environmental Management Specialist