Volunteers help provide precipitation data.

Access to good-quality water can be a challenge during a drought.

Operators can reduce the risk by recognizing the problem areas and acting to reduce the potential for fires.

Producers must think about how to manage during a drought to keep the most productive and valuable cows in the herd.

Establishing a sacrifice area may help prevent livestock from damaging a small farm’s grazing resources.

Forage production will be below normal on pasture and hay land this year.

Clipping drought-stressed alfalfa will not help it regrow faster when rainfall or moisture comes back.

Producers may be able to use some weeds as feed for their cattle.

Spider mite feeding reduces the photosynthetic area of the leaves and heightens drought stress.

It became clear that the farmers interviewed are, in fact, using economic criteria in their decision rather than what initially appeared to be convenience ...