The Texas Dairy Industry’s Drought Preparedness Program
Drought rarely arrives with a siren. It creeps in through feed prices, dry ponds and thin pastures, and a dairy that plans for it does better than one that waits.
What does drought preparedness mean on a dairy?
It means having a plan for water and feed before the rain stops. The headline names a Texas dairy industry program. Check specifics, including who sponsors it and what it offers, at the official source it names, and be cautious about any numbers you see secondhand.
Start with the weekly U.S. Drought Monitor map and the Drought.gov pages to see conditions near Stephenville and the rest of Texas.
How do you plan feed?
Feed is the biggest lever. Ask your nutritionist about alternative feeds, storage and how long current inventory lasts under dry conditions. Compare ideas against your herd's needs rather than copying a neighbor. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension has Texas-specific drought resources.
Look at pasture management as well, resting fields and watching stocking so grass can recover when rain returns.
Whatever your plan says about hauling water, check local rules first. Some districts regulate withdrawals, and a pond that looks full may not be yours to draw down. A phone call to the groundwater district saves a headache.
- Inventory what you have and its quality
- Talk to a nutritionist early
- Identify backup feed sources
- Plan how many animals the farm can feed
How do you plan water?
A dairy uses water for drinking, cooling and cleaning. Know your sources, their capacity and their backup. Ask the Texas Water Development Board about regional water planning, and check your local groundwater district's rules before drilling or hauling.
Cooling water matters in Texas summers. The dairy herd care guide covers comfort basics that tie into water planning.
One practical habit is to keep a simple log of rainfall, pond levels and feed on hand. After a dry season, the log tells you what you used and what you would do differently.
Write down your water numbers in a notebook that stays in the barn office: how many gallons the herd uses in a hot week, how long the tank refills, and which pump is the weak link. When the dry stretch comes, those numbers turn a guess into a decision, and they help when you talk to an advisor.
What can a fair or festival add?
County fairs and festivals reach families who rarely sit through a technical meeting. A booth that explains where water goes on a dairy, or a youth exhibit on pasture, shows the public why drought hits farms hard. Organizers can invite extension agents and members of the fair and rodeo planning guide audience to host a short demo.
Keep it simple and friendly: a map, a jar of dry soil, and a clear take-home sheet.
Pair the booth with a sign that tells visitors where to find official drought updates, so they leave with a habit, not just a memory.
What financial tools exist?
Check the Dairy Margin Coverage page for dairy support, and review disaster programs at USDA Farm Service Agency. Terms change, so confirm current rules and deadlines directly. Talk to your lender about cash flow before the pinch.
This is general education, not financial advice. A licensed professional can look at your numbers.
How do you keep perspective?
Drought stress hits families as well as herds. If the pressure feels heavy, talk to someone. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available by call or text at 988. Neighbors and clergy help too.
Talking with neighbors at the fair helps too, and the farm.FM dairy section has farm satire for after the serious talk. A farm.FM story on drought and feed can start a conversation.
What can youth and families do at a dry-year fair?
Kids remember hands-on stuff. A water-use game that shows how many buckets a cow drinks in a hot week, a pasture sample table, or a short talk by a local 4-H member about how their project adjusted to dry weather all make the topic real. Ask your local extension office what is available, and invite a producer to tell a short story from their own farm.
Keep it honest. If a display uses numbers, source them from an official page and say where they came from. The USDA NASS site and the NOAA climate pages are good places to find official data, and you should check them for the current figures before printing anything.
Sources and further reading
- U.S. Drought Monitor: weekly drought maps
- Drought.gov: national drought information
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: Texas extension service
- Texas Water Development Board: water planning and funding
- Dairy Margin Coverage: FSA Dairy Margin Coverage program
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988
Ask locally: Ask your AgriLife Extension agent and your groundwater conservation district.