RIMBEY, Alta. – Drought recovery requires detailed planning and
adjustments.
“When you’ve got problems happening on the land, don’t blame the grass
or soil. Management is the key,” said Albert Kuipers. He is the manager
of the Grey Wooded Forage Association, which draws membership from
west-central Alberta.
“Don’t assume next year will be a good year. Assume anything can
happen,” he told about 50 producers attending a forage seminar in
Rimbey.
The drought of 2002 was not as serious in this region but many
Read Also
Why selenium is still an important factor in horse health
Selenium is an essential equine trace mineral that supports antioxidant defense, muscle integrity, immune function, metabolism and thyroid activity.
livestock producers are short of feed and many crops remain
unharvested.
“Things people could get away with for many years, they couldn’t get
away with this year. As soon as you get dry conditions, things are not
as forgiving,” he said in an interview.
Kuipers believes climate change is causing wider variations in weather
patterns and producers must learn to better manage through drought.
In the more serious drought areas, pastures that were part of a
continuous grazing plan may take longer to return to normal. Weeds will
be a problem and fertility will be depleted.
“Nature hates a void, so where the grass won’t grow, weeds will grow,”
he said.
Many producers have noticed an increase in pasture sage, an indicator
that pasture is not being managed well in a drought.
Management is critical next spring regardless of moisture. Land needs
time to recover.
“If the grass was chewed off because of overgrazing and no rest, it
will be tough to get it going again in the spring,” said Kuipers.
Plant roots are likely weakened and growth will be slow even with
adequate heat and spring moisture.
Kuipers said overgrazing is a common mistake during a drought. It
reduces ground cover and exposes the surface to wind erosion.
Sufficient cover holds water under the grass canopy. A protective layer
of thatch also holds water during dry periods. He advised producers to
consider planting an annual forage as a buffer until normal conditions
return.
This fall, many producers are using salvage feeds from the poor harvest
because there is no stockpiled forage. Salvage feeds must be tested for
nutrient and nitrate levels, especially if the crops were heavily
fertilized in spring.
Rather than opening a gate and turning animals loose in the swaths, get
a portable electric fence and ration out available supply, Kuipers said.
