Drought Impacts on Finances, Livestock, Land and Families

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Drought Impacts on Finances, Livestock, Land and
Families

• The Whole
• Hot Enchilada

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Some Realities
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Drought Impacts

• Families
• Land
• Livestock
• Finances

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Families

• The human impact on individuals and lifestyles is
  significant on both a short-term and long-term
  basis
• Stress increases causing disputes and conflict
• Off-farm/ranch employment often is required at
  higher levels changing family dynamics.
• Retirement plans are often modified, set back or
  lost.
• Intergenerational transfer potential is strained
• Community activity level are often curbed.

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Land Impacts

• Reduced production and carrying capacity.
• Reduced herbicide effect and greater weeds
  infestation.
• Greater erosion levels begin occurring.
• Disrupted plant communities change the character
  of the landscape.
• Water scarcity inhibits normal function.
• Greater competition happens between plant and
  animal species.
• More toxic plant consumption occurs due to lack
  of desirable plants.

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Livestock Impacts

• Expend a higher level of energy to find
  sufficient water and forage (travel costs).
• Forage quality decreases and is available.
• Heating, cooling and physical maintenance costs
  are higher for animals.
• Livestock gains less and are less productive.
• Disease, pestilence and health issues plague
  animals.
• Animals become resistant to movement and
  containment.
• More stress and shrinkage during management.

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Financial Impacts

• Family income degrades.
• Additional income sources are required.
• Watering and feed costs increase.
• Borrowing value of land and stock drops.
• Tax penalties occur from sell down.
• Future price/income risks loom large.
• Production potential drops fast and recovers
  slowly.

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Monitoring For Drought

• Observe amount and availability of H2O
• Adjust stocking rates ASAP, HEDGE!
• Identify alternative resources.
• Identify alternative income sources.
• Mitigation is faster than Recovery!!
• Develop infrastructure to resist drought.
• Build drought into your plans.

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Options

• Sell down stock levels.
• Early weaning of young.
• Herd movement to non-drought areas.
• Disaster programs from USDA.
• Alternate income / enterprise generation.
• No Action Alternative Let It Hit You?

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Scott Cotton

• UNL Extension Educator
• POB 670
• Chadron, NE 69337
• [phone]
• scotton2_at_unl.edu