This year an earlier than expected dry season has left some cattle producers without the green pastures they usually rely on. And last year’s drought leaves little hay to feed, putting producers in a rut. “This early drought has caught many producers off guard,” said Kevin Glaubius, Director of Nutrition for BioZyme Inc. “And hay […]

As any farmer from the Western Dakotas to Wyoming and Montana can testify, the 2017 drought took a toll on the spring wheat crop. And now thanks to the drought, it’s created conditions for increased Canada thistle competition this growing season. “With every different type of growing condition brings different types of issues the following […]

Good news. Crops in dry areas or during stretches of drought can grow if the plants have been cultivated to protect themselves with a thicker layer of leaf wax, a new study shows. Sarah Feakins, a scientist at University of Southern California who has studied leaf wax in the context of climate change, teamed up […]

The North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) and North Dakota State University (NDSU) N.D. Agricultural Experiment Station are pleased to announced the hay lottery is expanding to drought-affected producers in the tri-state area. “We are pleased to open the hay lottery to producers in South Dakota and Montana experiencing drought and wildfire,” North Dakota Agriculture […]

With Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue’s announcement Thursday that the USDA is authorizing the use of additional CRP lands for emergency grazing and haying to help those ranchers affected by severe drought, more states may be able to help. The USDA is adding the ability for farmers and ranchers in these areas to hay and graze […]

During a drought, good quality water is vital for livestock. In fact, a 10 percent loss of body water is fatal to most domestic livestock species. Carl Dahlen, NDSU Extension beef cattle specialist, says the amount of water livestock need depends on the conditions and type of animal. The general estimates of daily water intake […]

With drier than desirable conditions across several pockets in the U.S., livestock producers have been challenged as they depend on those forages for their cattle to graze during the summer months. However, one BioZyme expert says there are several options for producers looking to survive the drought. “There is not one right answer,” said Kevin Glaubius, Director of […]

For the ag community looking to help their fellow ranchers affected by the drought, the North Dakota State University’s FeedList is making it easier. An update to the site now allows farmers and ranchers in other areas to donate feedstuffs easily to North Dakota ranchers who are short of pasture, hay, and other livestock feed […]

Some North Dakota State University Extension Service specialists are urging livestock producers in drought stricken states to be aware of nitrate poisoning. Nitrate poisoning may occur if livestock eat drought-stressed crops and forages, which can accumulate nitrates. Feeding drought-stressed forages from oats, barley, and corn causes the majority of nitrate poisoning cases in North Dakota. […]

The drought is not letting up across the Dakotas and Montana. And with this week’s forecast calling for hot, dry weather over the Northern Plains, it doesn’t look like relief is in sight for awhile. Thus the reason Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue is authorizing emergency grazing of CRP for any county in which any […]