Not a Dry Subject: Considerations in the Face of Possible Drought
Nearly every conversation held lately with anyone from long-time ranchers to new-to-Wyoming home gardeners has eventually found its way to the unusually dry and warm winter we have experienced.
More than just small talk, there are real concerns about the upcoming grazing and growing seasons.
What will forage look like if it stays as dry through late-May as it has been from November to now? How will livestock water quality be impacted if reservoirs are lower than usual? How can we cut back on water use around the home and yard?
There’s more to each of these questions than can be adequately addressed in a single column. For more detailed information, refer to the University of Wyoming (UW) Extension resources included in each of the following sections.
Climatology data for the state indicate the wettest months on average are May and June. Let’s hold onto hope until then.
Production agriculture interests
Seasoned ranchers are used to the boom-and-bust nature of Wyoming’s drought cycle. However, it never hurts to review trigger dates, dust off the drought management plan and keep an eye on stock water quality.
The forage component of rangelands in many parts of Wyoming is dominated by cool-season grass species which reach their peak production in late spring or early summer depending on the year.
Trigger dates are aligned with the growth stages of these cool-season grasses and can be thought of as subjective thresholds by when management decisions should be made.
An abbreviated schedule is included below.
On April 1, review how the current year compares to previous records of dormant season precipitation. Dig a few postholes to evaluate soil moisture profile. In cases of extreme drought, pencil a 10 to 20 percent reduction in stocking rate.
From April 15 to May 1, mid-range weather forecasts reaching the end of the cool-season grass growth window increase in reliability and accuracy. Use temperature and precipitation predictions to anticipate forage production of native range.
Temperature predictions skewing warmer indicate an earlier peak in forage production. Precipitation predictions skewing lower indicate a reduced quantity of available forage. Adjust stocking rates accordingly.
From mid-May to early June, cool-season grasses are at or past peak production. If the precipitation total from March to May is 50 to 75 percent of an average year, consider stocking rate reductions of 30 to 40 percent or more in response to the condition of available forage resources.
In addition to sufficient feed resources, liquid water resources are also critical to livestock health and productivity. Many producers have been supplementing water through the winter, especially those who rely on livestock reservoirs.
As water levels drop, substances like nitrates, sulfates and other salts dissolved in the water can become concentrated to the point they reach toxicity thresholds.
Early indicators of water toxicity issues include poor hair and hide condition, and neurological signs like circling, stumbling or head pressing indicate extreme toxicity issues.
If a rancher suspects water quality issues in a reservoir this summer, a livestock water suitability test is recommended to determine levels of dissolved substances and to help make an informed management plan.
Resources for ag producers include “Navigating Drought in Wyoming,” available at bit.ly/B-1325; “Skillful Grazing Management on Semiarid Rangelands,” available at bit.ly/EC-162 and “Water Quality for Wyoming Livestock and Wildlife” at bit.ly/B-1183.
Hard copies of these publications can be printed at local UW Extension offices.
Yard and garden interests
Residential properties also suffer the negative effects of drought – often with a spike in the water bill trying to keep green spaces alive.
A couple of easy changes can improve the drought resilience of a landscape.
Adopt a watering schedule which prioritizes deep and infrequent watering over shallow and daily watering.
Shallow watering keeps turf roots in the top layer of the soil, which dries out quickly. Roots will follow water down into the soil profile and can be trained to grow deeper when enough water is applied to wet the soil eight to 10 inches below the surface.
This training can be as easy as shifting from watering 15 minutes every day to watering for 30 minutes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Less evaporative loss occurs when water is applied during the early morning or late evening hours, when direct sun exposure, air temperatures and wind gusts are typically minimal.
Drip tape and soaker hoses are better alternatives to overhead sprinkles. If a home gardener doesn’t have one already, irrigation timers are a good investment and make water conservation practices much more user-friendly.
If considering the installation of a new garden landscape bed, include “water-wise” and drought tolerant species in the design. Many beautiful perennial plants native to our area are already adapted to thrive in our harsh, High Plains conditions.
Check out a full list in the UW Extension bulletin “Landscaping: Water-Wise Wyoming Gardens” at bit.ly/wy-water-wise. Hard copies of this bulletin can be printed at a local UW Extension office.
If dry conditions persist to emergency levels, it is recommended to prioritize the survival of established trees and shrubs in the landscape. Turf lawns will go dormant to survive and are easier to replace than a mature tree canopy.
Water each tree around the dripline – under the farthest tips of the branches – and plan 10 gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter.
For example, if a mid-size bur oak has a trunk diameter of six inches, then it should receive 60 gallons of water.
Repeat weekly during the growing season when the tree has leaves and monthly when the tree is dormant.
Get involved with local precipitation reporting
If it seems a geographic location is not well represented on the weather maps or the U.S. Drought Monitor – available at bit.ly/WY-drought – consider becoming a volunteer reporter for the Collaborative Community Rain, Hail and Snow (CoCoRaHS) Network.
Volunteer data from across the state are integrated into the larger dataset which informs the weekly update of the drought monitor. It also happens to be an easy way to track and recall digital records of local precipitation. This makes it easy to compare precipitation amounts from year to year for a precise location.
Also, note reports of zero precipitation are just as valuable as measurable amounts.
Volunteers need a four-inch standard rain gauge, a free online account and a willingness to commit a little time each day to the task.
The Johnson County Extension team reports from Station Number WY-JN-31, and it takes less than five minutes to submit a daily observation.
More information about this collaborative precipitation reporting project can be viewed on the CoCoRaHS website at bit.ly/CoCoRaHS-about.
Micah Most is the UW Extension agriculture and natural resources educator serving Johnson County. He can be reached at mmost@uwyo.edu or 307-684-7522.
