FARGO, N.D. (NDSU) – The majority of livestock producers in North Dakota are faced with forage shortages due to drought.
Currently, 99% of the state is experiencing some level of drought, with 18% and 49% categorized as being in exceptional (D4) and extreme (D3) drought, respectively.
“Unfortunately, the window for forage production is closing,” says Miranda Meehan, North Dakota State University Extension livestock environmental stewardship specialist. “In North Dakota, our grasslands are dominated by cool-season grasses. As a result, about 80% of forage growth occurs due to precipitation occurring between April 1 and June 30.”
Ranchers who have tame grass pastures or hay land should expect at least a 50% reduction in forage production. In the D4 areas, tame grass production will be 25% at best.
Drought Creating Forage Shortage
newsdakota.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from newsdakota.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Producers May Be Dealing With Winter-killed Alfalfa
Kevin Sedivec and Marisol Berti
DEVILS LAKE - Winter-killed alfalfa may be a widespread problem this year in North Dakota and northern Minnesota because of drought conditions.
The northern Plains has been experiencing severe drought since 2020, with alfalfa plants stressed due to a shortage of water. The lack of snow cover and almost two weeks with temperatures below 0 F in February likely has caused alfalfa winter-kill.
“Alfalfa crowns tolerate temperatures down to 5 F, but without snow cover to insulate alfalfa plants and temperatures dropping below 0 F for at least 10 days in a row in February, alfalfa plants were damaged or winter-killed,” says Marisol Berti, North Dakota State University forages and biomass crops specialist.
Producers may be dealing with winter-killed alfalfa
The northern Plains has been experiencing severe drought since 2020, with alfalfa plants stressed due to a shortage of water. 1:45 pm, May 11, 2021 ×
Drought may lead to widespread winter-killed alfalfa this year. NDSU photo
Winter-killed alfalfa may be a widespread problem this year in North Dakota and northern Minnesota because of drought conditions.
The northern Plains has been experiencing severe drought since 2020, with alfalfa plants stressed due to a shortage of water. The lack of snow cover and almost two weeks with temperatures below 0 F in February likely has caused alfalfa winter-kill.
“Alfalfa crowns tolerate temperatures down to 5 F, but without snow cover to insulate alfalfa plants and temperatures dropping below 0 F for at least 10 days in a row in February, alfalfa plants were damaged or winter-killed,” says Marisol Berti, North Dakota State University forages and biomass crops spec
By Ruth Wiechmann for Tri-State Livestock News
Prolonged drought conditions and a forecast for warm, dry weather in the Great Plains have livestock producers concerned about the upcoming grazing season and beyond. Timely management strategies can help pastures and livestock weather the lack of moisture.
Kevin Sedivec, Extension Rangeland Specialist North Dakota State University Extension and interim director of the Central Grasslands Research Extension Center near Streeter, North Dakota, says that careful management now can help pastures to be more resilient.
“We have some delay of spring growth because of the lack of rain last fall; with most grasses expiring a loss of fall tillers” he said. “If producers have enough hay to feed for a few more weeks and can delay their turnout until the end of May to give the grass a chance to get a head start that can be very beneficial. Anything helps; here at the station we’re delaying turnout by one week, not two. We have some data f
vimarsana © 2020. All Rights Reserved.