In drought years, grass that once sustained a herd through the grazing season stops growing early, reducing overall biomass production, and water resources begin to tighten. For livestock producers, this period becomes a balancing act between meeting immediate cattle needs and protecting the long-term productivity of the land.

For producers of all commodities across Idaho, water has been a topic of conversation for months and for good reason. As the mild winter turned to an early, semi-wet spring and now to a forecast extra-dry summer, the conversations continue.

Take a closer look at the tools that, combined with thorough preparation, can help reduce the impacts of drought.

A region that can grow almost everything still comes up short when it matters most – fall.

For generations, Saskatchewan’s Touchwood Hills have been cattle country, a place where rolling grasslands, sheltering aspen bluffs and dependable water shaped ranching livelihoods and rural communities.

The Hackley family is blending 160 years of ranching heritage with modern technology, refining the grazing practices their ancestors pioneered.

Winter has faded in the rearview mirror, yet the summer road ahead is dogged by one unwelcome word: drought. Or, at the very least, excessive dryness. On beef ranches in parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan, producers are also facing forecasts of an El Nino effect, which could worsen the conditions.