Crop management ideas.

• Plant crops that withstand dryness, hold water, and reduce the need for irrigation.
• Rotate crops in ways that increase the amount of water that enters the soil.
• Shift to cropping systems that are less water dependent than your current system.

Land management ideas.

• Good land management before a drought provides greater flexibility when droughts occur.
  • Maintain healthy soils.
  • Balance stocking rates on pasture areas; do not allow overgrazing.
• Try to use minimum tillage techniques.
  • Leaving crop residue from the previous year on the surface can help to minimize evaporation of moisture from the soil.
• Use conservation practices to reduce runoff, erosion, soil degradation and encourage infiltration of water into the soil.
  • Establish riparian buffers, filter strips, grassed waterways, and other types of conservation buffers near streams and other sources of water.
  • Use conservation practices such as crop rotation, contoured row crops, terracing, windbreaks, etc.

If irrigation systems are currently used.

• Select irrigation systems that will minimize loss of water by evaporation, percolation, and runoff.
• Make your existing irrigation system more efficient and easier to maintain.
• Build a water storage system that holds water for use during irrigation season.
• Install measuring devices that keep track of water use.
• Identify alternate water sources (e.g., springs, deep wells).

If irrigation systems are currently used.

• Weeds, like other plants, consume large quantities of water. Competition for water can lead to reduced crop production.
• Lack of water can lead to reduced herbicide effectiveness as the efficacy of most herbicides depends on water.
• Mechanical weed control measures may be needed.

Have your soil tested.

Herbicide and fertilizer carry over may occur, so soil testing is very important following a drought year.

• If you plan to feed drought damaged crops (e.g., feed, forages) to livestock, be aware of these issues:
  • Drought conditions can reduce the nutritional quality of forages and lower forage succulence (and protein content).
  • Dry forages are harder to digest.
  • Drought conditions increases plant toxicities (e.g., nitrates, mycotoxins).
  • Test harvested feed and forages for nutrient content and potential toxins prior to feeding.

Talk to your County Extension office about drought assistance programs and the enrollment process.