June 14, 2002

Range Scientist Outlines Expectations for Drought-Stressed Pastures and Hayland

Although some parts of the region received timely rains recently, many areas lack moisture and pastures and native rangeland are suffering, notes a North Dakota State University range scientist.

Samples taken in mid-May indicated native rangeland in western and central North Dakota was 40 to 60 percent below normal production levels, according to Kevin Sedivec, rangeland management specialist with the NDSU Extension Service. "Forage samples collected on June 13 in southwestern North Dakota indicated slow growth of warm-season grasses while cool-season grasses were extremely stressed with a loss of growth."

What can livestock producers expect for the rest of the grazing and haying season?

"Pasture and haylands that received rain in early June should show a progressive improvement in plant growth, especially the warm-season grasses,"Sedivec says. If moisture is near normal throughout June and July, forage production will be depressed by 10 to 30 percent compared to average years.

"Since May was very dry throughout the state, most pastures grazed and hay ground harvested in 2001 were stressed and showed reduced production," Sedivec explained. "Because of this early stress, forage production will be less, but much improved due to the rains. The warm-season grasses are on pace to yield normal levels provided moisture and temperatures remain normal. The cool-season grasses will produce 60 to 80 percent of average yields if moisture levels are normal throughout the remainder of the growing season."

Many areas, however, remain dry, and those will see production continue to decline. "Cool-season grasses are producing seeds with very little leaf tissue, creating a situation where new forage growth must come from new root growth," Sedivec notes. "Root growth, or tiller development, is slower and very dependent on moisture and temperature and will generally be much less now than in the spring."

Warm-season grasses are showing little growth due to loss of moisture from cool-season grass uptake and evaporation from the wind. "If moisture conditions continue to be low, many ranchers and hay growers can expect 40 to 80 percent losses in forage production," he says.

What will happen if drought-stricken areas receive rain? "Rain will definitely help and will be needed to stave off a total disaster," Sedivec says. "If the drought continues, ranchers will lose grazing days and suffer from reduced production of hay needed to feed livestock during the winter. If rainfall occurs at normal levels, grass growth will occur, but there will be significant forage loss."

As of June, drought-stricken range and hayland are about 40 percent of average production. "Those grasses are rapidly becoming mature, so most of that lost production from spring growth is irreversible, even if it begins to rain," he says. "Only about 20 to 30 percent of grass growth in North Dakota’s rangeland occurs after June. So if precipitation occurs at normal levels, we can expect to capture this 20 to 30 percent. That means even if rains finally arrive and continue, some ranchers can expect no better than 60 to 70 percent of their normal forage crop."

Sedivec advises producers to begin planning now for forage shortfalls. "You will either need to develop a secondary feed source, purchase feedstuffs or market animals earlier. Visit with your county extension agent to develop alternatives and ideas to adjust for reduced forage production."

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Source: Kevin Sedivec, (701) 231-7647, ksedivec@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu