Dakota Drought Resources
Online guides in the Dakotas provide a wealth of information managing a farm or ranch during drought. Click on the colored links below for each site.

NDSU Drought Guide :

Weeds and Herbicides

• Weed Control Strategies with Dry Conditions
• Drought - When Weeds Can Become Friends
• Herbicide Applications with Hot, Dry Conditions
• Herbicide Restrictions for Grazing and Feeding
• Herbicide Concerns After a Drought

Insect Pests

• Grasshopper Management Under Drought Conditions
• Cultural Management Practices as Tools to Help Reduce Grasshopper Populations 

Diseases

• Managing Row Crop Diseases in Drought Years
• Small Grain Diseases: Management of Those More Common and Severe in Dry Years

General Production Concerns

• Dry Seedbeds Require Special Tactics, or Rain
• Irrigated Sunflower
• Tillage Techniques That Can Save Moisture
• Dry Spring Conditions: Considerations Before Deciding to Replant 
• Emergency Tillage To Control Wind Erosion
• Residue Management for Erosion Control
• Looking to Install Irrigation During a Drought?
• Fertilizer Application After a Drought
• Alternative Crops During a Drought
• Salvaging Drought-Stressed Crops

Livestock Production

• Ranch Management During Drought  
• Livestock and Water
• Protecting Livestock from Heat 
• Managing Livestock During a Drought

Forages and Grazing

• Drought Emergency Grazing Practices will have Costs Next Season
• Feeding Straw
• Drought Stressed Rangeland - What to Expect for Forage
• Forage Options - Warm Season Grasses
• Range Scientist Outlines Expectations for Drought-Stressed Pastures and Hayland 
• Native Emergency Hay Crops
• Don't Forget Annual Forages 
• Russian Thistles and Kochia for Forage
• Grazing and Feeding Restrictions 

Poisoning Concerns

• Toxic Plants Pose Livestock Threat During Droughts
• Blue Green Algae Poisoning 
• Nitrate Poisoning of Livestock 
• Prussic Acid Poisoning
• Drought and Feed Poisoning in Dairy Cattle 
• Drought- Related Livestock Poisoning by Weeds 

Feeds and Feeding

• Integrating Field Crops into Beef Cow Diets May Help Producers in Drought
• Early Weaning Beef Calves 
• Creep Feeding Calves
• Ammoniation of Low Quality Roughages 
• Supplementing Cattle on Drought Affected Pastures and Ranges 
• Dairy Feeding During Drought
• Limiting Forage Intake for Dairy During Drought
• Use Caution When Feeding Dairy Cattle High Levels of Concentrate
• Feed Strategies For Certain Purchased Feeds and Feed Additives
• Partial List of North Dakota Co-Products, Sources and Prices

Economic Concerns

• Opening of CRP Acres for Haying Raises Question: Is There Enough to Harvest?
• Economic Evaluation of Alternative Feeds for Dairy
• Purchasing Quality Hay 
• Managing Income Over Feed Costs

SDSU Drought Site

News:

• Feed choices important when early weaning calves
• Early weaning of beef calves during drought
• Managing pastures during and after drought
• Consider alternative feeds
• Monitor water quality for healthy livestock
• Limit-feeding cows in a drylot
• SDSU Web site provides drought information
• Test water quality to avoid problems in cattle
• SDSU publication: Herbicide replant restrictions
• SDSU publication: Small grain forages and herbicides
• Drought-related livestock sales pose tax issues
• Salvaging forage from winter wheat
• Emergency late-seeding options depend on moisture

Publications

• ExEx8145 Obtain a Representative Plant Tissue Sample for Nitrate Testing PDF NEW
• ExEx2046 Drought and Stocking Rate Effects on Forage Yield from Western South Dakota RangelandsPDF
• ExEx8141 Harvest Restrictions for Soybean Herbicides PDF
• ExEx8143 Corn Herbicide Reduction Forage or Grazing dry Conditions PDF
• ExEx5039 Economics of Grazing or Haying Conservation Reserve Program Land PDF
• ExEx4029S Ensilaje de granos de destileria con otros alimentos (spanish) PDF
• ExEx4029 Ensiling Wet Distillers Grains with Other Feeds PDF
• ExEx8120 Emergency Late-Seeding Options PDF
• ExEx2042 Interpretation of Water Analysis for Livestock Suitability PDF

Drought Maps and Weather Information

• Weather Observations, Crop Water Use Maps and Wheat Growing Degree Days
• U.S. Drought Monitor Map
• Palmer Drought Index 

Services

• NDSU Feedlist - Individuals who have and/or need Hay, Feed, Pasture, CRP etc.
• Manitoba Haylist
• Minnesota Extension Service Haylist 
• South Dakota Feed/Harvest Finder 
• Montana Hay List 

Horticulture

• Heat and Drought Trouble for Some Trees 
• Time to Rethink Your Landscaping? 

Financial Concerns:

• Tax Issues After a Drought
• Family Resource Management Extension Publications 
• National Drought Mitigation Center

Stress and Family Concerns:

• Talking to Children About Tough Times 
• When To Seek Outside Help For Stress
• North Dakota Support Network Directory 

• Nebraska - University of Nebraska, Lincoln
• South Dakota State University Drought Info
• South Dakota Drought Information (Dept of Ag)
• Montana Drought Information Site
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• U.S. Drought Monitor
• Drought Watch on the Prairies: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Other Disaster Sites That Include Drought Information

• Extension Disaster Education Network 
• University of Wisconsin-Extension Disaster Handbook for Extension Agents
• USDA Disaster Assistance
• USDA Farm Service Agency Disaster Assistance