By Miranda Meehan
Drought conditions have impacted grazing resources across North Dakota this year, creating challenges for ranchers. As the grazing season has progressed, drought has expanded to cover 64% of the state and continues to intensify.
Management decisions made now and in the aftermath of the drought can have long-term impacts on grazing resources. Grazing management decisions will directly influence the ability of rangelands and pastures to recover from drought and can increase a ranch's drought resilience.
North Dakota State University Extension specialists say ranchers should have a grazing management plan in place that includes the possibility of drought continuing into the 2027 growing season.
“It is critical that every rancher has a grazing plan in place with well-defined triggers and actions for drought and other disturbances so they can respond quickly and build resilience,” says Miranda Meehan, NDSU Extension livestock environmental stewardship specialist.
Grazing this fall will be driven by late-season precipitation and species composition of rangelands and pastures. If the pasture comprises tame grass species such as brome grass or Kentucky bluegrass, there should be no long-term negative impacts from grazing this fall, as long as pastures are not overgrazed.
Source : ndsu.edu