Jim Johnson & Gary Larson THE JOURNEY TO RECOVERY OF THE RANGE AFTER DROUGHT Roger N. Gates South Dakota State University West River Ag Center Rapid City, SD A.J. “Sandy” Smart South Dakota State University Department of Animal & Range Sciences Brookings, SD Patrick E. Reece University of Nebraska Panhandle Research & Extension Center Scottsbluff, NE

Important components of a recovery plan include: 1.Anticipate below “normal” - have a response plan for severe shortages 2.Destock promptly - maintain a portion of the herd that can be liquidated, - be alert to warning signs from spring conditions 3.Be willing to exchange short term losses for long term gains - understand the benefit of improved range condition and associated productivity 4.Avoid the temptation of feed subsidies - payments reward poor resource management rather than prompt destocking - short term financial gain will not offset loss in resource productivity

"All causes of decline of individual farms can be expressed as a lack of adaptation to the natural surrounding" Liberty Hyde Bailey, 1902 Dean of Agriculture, Cornell University

Mean = 16.2 Median = 16.0 Growing Season (Oct-Sep) Precipitation SD Climate Region 5

Rangeland vegetation is always in drought -- or in recovery

Western wheatgrass recovery after drought in western ND (Dry in ‘34 and ‘36)

DESTINATION “Where am I going?”

“If you don’t know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else.” Yogi Berra

“Where am I going?” HIGH RANGE CONDITION

Stocking Rate Study Started in stocking rates Forage production Weather data N

Condition and drought impacts on perennial production - Cottonwood

BEARINGS “Where am I?”

Inventory

ITINERARY “How do I get there?”

Fundamental Principles: 1. Drought is cyclical

Fundamental Principles: 1. Drought is cyclical 2. Take ½ leave ½

Functions of residue: - Soil cover

Functions of residue: - Soil cover - Wind barrier

Functions of residue: - Soil cover - Wind barrier - Nutrient pool

Functions of residue: - Soil cover - Wind barrier - Nutrient pool - Snow capture

Functions of residue: - Soil cover - Wind barrier - Nutrient pool - Snow capture - Feed reserve

Fundamental Principles: 1. Drought is cyclical 2. Take ½ leave ½ 3. Never graze the same pasture at the same time of year 2 years in a row

Fundamental Principles: 1. Drought is cyclical 2. Take ½ leave ½ 3. Never graze the same pasture at the same time of year 2 years in a row 4. “Leave what has been entrusted to me in better condition than when I started managing it”

GRAZING STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE RECOVERY

- Rest entire year

- Winter grazing only

- Rest entire year - Winter grazing only - Use early only (annual brome)

- Rest entire year - Winter grazing only - Use early only (annual brome) - Defer until target species matures seed,then light use

- Rest entire year - Winter grazing only - Use early only (annual brome) - Defer until target species matures seed,then light use - Late spring (if growth abundant), remove before boot stage

- Rest entire year - Winter grazing only - Use early only (annual brome) - Defer until target species matures seed,then light use - Late spring (if growth abundant), remove before boot stage USE LOW STOCKING RATE

Feed/Forage Budget - Match supply-demand - Anticipate distribuition

Monitoring Residual Vegetation Soil surface, litter Livestock performance Other organisms

“Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” Leo Tolstoy Anna Karenina

Profitable ranches are all alike; every unprofitable ranch is unproftable in its own way.

The Ranch Wheel Ranch Finances Family Natural Resources Production Cultural/ Spiritual Social/ Political Barry Dunn, 2002

Important components of a recovery plan include: 1.Anticipate below “normal” - have a response plan for severe shortages

Important components of a recovery plan include: 1.Anticipate below “normal” - have a response plan for severe shortages 2.Destock promptly - maintain a portion of the herd that can be liquidated, - be alert to warning signs from spring conditions

Important components of a recovery plan include: 1.Anticipate below “normal” - have a response plan for severe shortages 2.Destock promptly - maintain a portion of the herd that can be liquidated, - be alert to warning signs from spring conditions 3.Be willing to exchange short term losses for long term gains - understand the benefit of improved range condition and associated productivity

Important components of a recovery plan include: 1.Anticipate below “normal” - have a response plan for severe shortages 2.Destock promptly - maintain a portion of the herd that can be liquidated, - be alert to warning signs from spring conditions 3.Be willing to exchange short term losses for long term gains - understand the benefit of improved range condition and associated productivity 4.Avoid the temptation of feed subsidies - payments reward poor resource management rather than prompt destocking - short term financial gain will not offset loss in resource productivity

Important components of a recovery plan include: 1.Anticipate below “normal” - have a response plan for severe shortages 2.Destock promptly - maintain a portion of the herd that can be liquidated, - be alert to warning signs from spring conditions 3.Be willing to exchange short term losses for long term gains - understand the benefit of improved range condition and associated productivity 4.Avoid the temptation of feed subsidies - payments reward poor resource management rather than prompt destocking - short term financial gain will not offset loss in resource productivity 5.Restock gradually - monitor the response of vegetation and soils

While we don’t control drought, we are in control of the management response to drought!

THANKS!