Like a lot of farmers and ranchers who coped with severe drought in 2017, John Weinand is praying for rain.
“One year is not so bad.
Most people can get by on one year,” said Weinand, who farms near Beulah and is past president of the North Dakota Grain Growers Association.
“It does have a significant impact because our economy is so strongly rooted in agriculture,” said Julie Ellingson, executive vice president of the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association.
Because of the severity of the drought in 2017 and the low amount of moisture the state has received this winter, Ellingson said producers are concerned about another dry year.
Ranchers are taking steps to prepare, such as assessing their feed resource base and planning to allow pasture lands a longer recovery time this spring before turning out cattle, Ellingson said.
The National Weather Service’s drought outlook through May 31 predicts that drought will persist in north central and northwest North Dakota.
Producers discussed strategies for finding crop success during a drought and grazing strategies for pastures stressed by last summer’s dry weather.
Ranchers will continue to benefit from drought disaster livestock water supply projects the State Water Commission has helped fund.
The agency has made $2 million available in matching funds for producers in drought-stricken areas to pay for new wells, hookups to water pipelines and other projects.