Drought has reshaped the cattle industry in recent years, but according to the Drovers State of the Beef Industry survey, an increasing proportion of producers are opting to take some type of action to mitigate their risks. While the impact of drought persists for several years, likewise an increasing number of producers who report they reduced their herd size indicate they plan to begin restocking next year.
Despite the high percentage of producers answering they have been impacted by drought, very few operators considered leaving the cattle business because of dry years.
For producers who took action to help mitigate the effects of drought, the most common choices were reducing herd numbers, selling equipment and selling land. One of the other ways producers have mitigated drought effects is through written grazing management plans (GMP).
Weathering Droughts
LeValley Ranch is a fourth generation cow-calf operation located in western Colorado between Gunnison and Grand Junction — an area where irrigation is dependent on snowpack. Current conditions have reached extreme drought.
Robbie LeValley, who runs the ranch with her husband and sons, says this is the fourth drought they have weathered since 2000.
“Early on in April and May, when we weren’t getting the late snow and we knew what the reservoirs were measuring at, we made the hard decision to not hay the larger fields and just hay a few of the smaller fields — concentrating on keeping the majority of the fields wet,” LeValley says. “We could keep the grass and the alfalfa alive, but certainly not enough to produce a hay crop as well as graze.”
In normal years, LeValleys take one cutting to concentrate on grazing. They only provide hay from the middle of March to May, this year they had to purchase two-thirds of the hay they typically put up to get them through the winter.
Their grazing timeline changed as well.
“We have a very measured grazing rotation plan in several public land allotments and private leases, which are dependent upon water availability,” LeValley says. “Those ponds have dropped significantly, so we are moving cattle quicker through the rotation — about three to four weeks earlier than normal.”
There will be portions, allotments and whole leases left ungrazed because there is no water there. The cattle drink from natural ponds created by runoff and rain.
Virtual Fencing Aids During Drought
The LeValleys use virtual fencing in their grazing plan and have expanded areas this year to allow cattle to pick and choose to meet their nutrition needs.
In addition to making grazing adjustments, the family has also culled some of their older females.
LeValley says the grazing plan has been invaluable in being prepared for times of drought.
“The grazing rotation is definitely our insurance policy, and that’s why we’ve had grazing rotation plans in place since 1995,” LeValley says. “We modify it significantly when we have these drought times. But having that additional root mass, even in these drought times, allows for the feed to be relatively good and provides that nutrition the animals need. Having roots to respond when there is moisture is critical for the long-term sustainability moving forward when Mother Nature does decide to provide additional rain.”
Recognized for Stewardship Efforts
The LeValley family was recognized by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) as a regional winner of the 2024 Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP).
“The LeValley’s willingness to discuss differing ideas, problem solve complex issues and explore new ideas to improve management have led to positive and lasting rangeland conservation,” says Ken Holsinger, ecologist with the Bureau of Land Management-Uncompahgre Field Office. “The LeValley Ranch is deserving of this award for their proven commitment to the stewardship and conservation of their public land permits and for their cooperative efforts in working with agency partners and other landowners.”
For five generations, the LeValley family has been stewards of the land and they achieve their goals through an overall philosophy of land health and management that concentrates on allowing time to rest, grazing moderately and creating pastures where they are utilized in a different rotation in consecutive years.
“Healthy rangelands are important for the productivity of our ranch, and we wouldn’t be in business if we didn’t care for the land.” explains Mark LeValley. “If you manage the land right everything flourishes, and it is going to be here for the next generation.”
The State of the Beef Industry Report includes input from nearly 500 beef producers. The annual report provides information to help producers when making decisions. Click here to download the full report.
For more insights to the report as well as producer and economist perspectives, watch the State of the Beef Industry Webinar exclusive on FarmJournal.tv. The panel includes Ken Odde, a South Dakota cattle producer, along with Matt Perrier, Angus seedstock producer from Kansas, and Lance Zimmerman, RaboResearch senior beef industry analyst. You won’t want to miss their thoughts on the beef industry today and in the future.
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