Drought: Plan for a good year, Prepare for a bad one

By this time of year, in March, producers who are experienced in developing and updating grazing plans and drought contingency plans have already reached their first trigger date decision on whether to begin selling livestock. It’s all part of preparing for drought — South Dakota ranchers know better than anyone that the next drought could be right around the corner.

Experienced drought planners have taken stock of expected grass available compared to expected needs of their herd, and are already prepared to cull their herds in the most profitable way, without panic. “The thing we should be looking at as grass managers is economics,” says Pat Guptill, a rancher from Quinn in western South Dakota. “Overgrazing or lack of rest is not economical. Whatever decision you make, make it to protect your pastures. If you overgraze your ground in a dry year, it can take three to five years for that pasture to recover, but if you keep it protected with grass it takes only three to five months after a substantial rain for that grass to recover.”