By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is offering an online drought course called Drought Proofing the Ranch.

Texas ranchers have, and continue to, experience drought. The course provides advice and guidance for those affected by drought and for those preparing for future droughts.

“Participants will increase their understanding of drought management strategies,” said Dr. Morgan Treadwell, AgriLife Extension rangeland specialist in San Angelo. “Drought is an ever-present specter for Texas livestock and forage producers, and this course will help producers create plans for managing livestock and rangelands, specifically brush and weeds with herbicides, during drought.”

The topics the course will cover include:

  • Creating a Plan to Address Livestock Management During Drought.
  • Risk Management Products for Drought Mitigation: Forage and Livestock Insurance Options.
  • Nutritional and Other Management Strategies.
  • Rangeland Management and Wildfire Mitigation Strategies During Drought.
  • Economic Management Strategies to Minimize Drought Impact.
  • Evaluation Strategies for Feeding Through a Drought and Longer-Term Consequences.
  • Tax Implications for the Sale of a Large Number of Livestock.
  • Stocking Rate Adjustments and their Consequences.

“The course will help producers develop risk management strategies, identify the best risk management tools and recognize the importance of advanced preparation for when a drought occurs,” she said. “The goal is for producers to learn to identify drought conditions and to develop a plan to mitigate losses due to drought ahead of time.”

The course is taught by Treadwell; Dr. Jason Smith, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist in Amarillo; Pancho Abello, AgriLife Extension economist in Vernon; and Dr. Justin Benavidez, former AgriLife Extension economist in Amarillo.

The self-paced course takes about 2 hours to complete.

The Drought Proofing the Ranch course costs $100, but the first 100 participants to register will receive the course at no cost.

Register at tx.ag/DroughtProofingRanch.