1. How Do Producers Actually Plan for Drought?
NDMC Interviews with Livestock Producers and Advisors

2. Background
Summer, 2009 – NDMC conducted phone interviews with livestock producers, advisors, and researchers
Seven states – South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas.
Livestock Producers n=8
Advisors/Researchers n=12

3. Questions Asked “Describe your (or a sample) drought management plan.”
“How did you put the plan together?”
“What resources or information do you use?”
“What problems did you have in planning for drought”
“What suggestions would you give a rancher just starting out in drought planning?”
“What components should be included in a drought plan?

4. Steps Pretty Well Agreed Upon
Actual strategies used to do each of these steps vary, of course.
Inventory Resources
Understand ecology and impacts of drought
Monitor resources
Implement best management practices before drought

5. Steps Agreed Upon but with Variation in How Producers Actually Do Them
Critical dates
Create a Plan for Drought (one written plan, plan individualized for drought year, plan in head)

8. Other Steps Mentioned Base Drought Strategies on Ranch Objectives
Plan for Recovery from Drought
Mentioned by one producer, specifically with regards to finances
Mentioned by many advisors, specifically with regards to finances
Two advisors also spoke to critical nature of letting pastures recover
Keep Learning from other Producers and New Research
Mentioned specifically by two producers as being critical components of drought planning

9. Planning for Drought Inventory Resources
Understand ecology and impacts of drought
Monitor resources
Base Drought Strategies on Ranch Objectives
Implement best management practices before drought
Set Critical dates
Create a plan for drought
Plan for Recovery from Drought
Keep Learning from other Producers and New Research
(Steps Mentioned by Most) (Steps with Variations) (Steps Mentioned by a Few)