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Nebraska ranchers prepare for extended drought
University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Extension is helping the state’s farmers prepare for the possible continuation of drought conditions in 2013.
Associate dean for Extension at UNL, Rick Koelsch, says much of the focus has been on range and beef issues—helping cattle producers develop strategies to deal with reduced grass and forage resources.
“A lot of producers are looking at downsizing herds—and they’ve usually got several choices they can consider,” says Koelsch. “And what are the implications of each of those choices—and more and more what are the economic implications—both short-term and long-term? So our faculty are helping them think through some of those.”
Koelsch says they have also been fielding questions about growing forages under center pivot irrigation systems this summer.
“What would be an appropriate forage to put under these—how much water is going to be required—those kinds of questions in areas where we’re used to growing corn and we’re maybe not so used to growing forages under those conditions.”
Koelsch says UNL Extension’s range and beef team has held nearly 50 meetings with cattle producers across the state this winter.
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