Drought Requires Move From 'Brittle' to 'Flexible' Management

By Linda Geist

University of Missouri Extension state beef nutritionist Eric Bailey says cattle producers should plan for drought by moving from a “brittle” management style to a flexible and resilient one.

Bailey will share insights on how to diversify beef enterprises so that cattle can be moved off the farm during drought at the seventh annual NEMO/WCIL (northeastern Missouri/west-central Illinois) Soil Health Workshop. The free event is Jan. 31-Feb. 1 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Monroe City, Mo.

“Drought and prolonged winter hay feeding are threats to the profitability of ranches and the sustainability of the natural resources,” Bailey says.

Forages should be part of a business model that provides more acres to stockpile fescue for winter grazing as an alternative to feeding hay in winter, he says. “Ranchers that devote 100% of carrying capacity to cow-calf production are vulnerable to drought risk through elevated feed prices and the need to sell cattle at depressed prices.”

Instead, Bailey advocates replacing a portion of the beef cows on a farm with “flexible grazing units” that can be moved off-farm quickly with minimal financial loss during times of drought.

Other workshop topics include relaying cropping and wide-row corn, understanding soil health testing, managing herd health with soil health, nutritional values of covers and summer annuals, stocking options to fit pasture production and several producer panels.

Register for the free event at https://mosoilandwater.land/ralls by Jan. 24. For more information, contact Lucas Brass at 573-985-8611 or lucas.brass@usda.gov.