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Strategies For Range Beef Cattle Producers In Arid Environments Following Drought, Tom Holman, David Baltensperger, Pat Reece, Ivan Rush

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Precipitation can be below average for much of the Nebraska Panhandle and adjoining areas for prolonged periods. Prolonged drought results in an inadequate supply of forage for hundreds of thousands of beef cattle on millions of acres of rangeland. While some variation occurs among ranches and among pastures within a given ranch, all rangeland vegetation in arid environments like western Nebraska can be moderately to severely damaged by drought stress and/or excessive grazing. Consequently, even if soil moisture is not limited in the years following a drought, spring growth rate will be reduced and total annual forage production can be …