Drought conditions have been widespread in the U.S. this year, creating challenges for ranchers. Grazing management decisions directly influence the ability of rangelands and pastures to recover from drought and can increase a ranch's drought resilience.

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

Drought has consumed much of the nation. Winds replaced winter. Heat replaced cold. And nothing replaced the snow or rain.

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

“It was the warmest winter on record since 1895,” said Erin Whorton, a hydrologist and water supply specialist with the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service during the Idaho Water Users Association summer meeting in June.

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.

While new irrigation technologies can be valuable tools, improving irrigation efficiency does not always require a major investment. In many cases, small management changes can have a significant impact on water use, crop performance and overall profitability.

Across the Great Plains, farmers and ranchers are entering another summer under dry conditions, balancing feed costs, stocking rates and long-term pasture health while hoping for rain that may or may not come in time. For many, drought planning is no longer an occasional challenge, but rather a part of the business model.