Preparedness and Resiliency
Long-term drought escalates damage to plants, ecosystems, and wildlife. Even short-term drought depletes topsoil moisture, harming crops quickly if alternative water sources are unavailable. Prolonged drought can lead to total crop and forage failure and livestock sell-off.
Below are ways to mitigate drought impacts and build farm resiliency:
Irrigation Efficiency
Saving water on your farm can help during drought and can offset rising water costs; reduce expenditures for energy, chemicals, and labor; and enhance revenues through higher crop yields and improved crop quality.
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Understand crop water needs: Know the specific water scheduling requirements of your crops and irrigate at the most appropriate intervals.
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Use precision tools: Implement systems like drip irrigation to deliver water precisely where and when it’s needed. Enhance accuracy with flow meters and soil moisture sensors.
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Water during cooler times: Irrigate early in the morning or late in the evening to minimize evaporation and maximize water conservation.
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Seek local support: Contact your irrigation district for guidance and assistance tailored to your area.
Soil health and natural resources
Soil health conservation practices—such as reduced or no-till farming, cover crops, mulching, and residue management—can help make your farm or ranch more resilient to drought. Healthy soil can absorb and retain more water for longer periods, improving your operation’s ability to withstand dry conditions.
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Maintain and establish riparian buffers, filter strips, grassed waterways, and other conservation buffers near streams and water sources.
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Leave crop residue in your fields (conservation tillage) to improve soil water-holding capacity and reduce evaporation and erosion.
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Monitor soil moisture closely and irrigate based on actual needs.
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Use conservation practices that minimize runoff and promote water infiltration into the soil.
Livestock
During a drought, livestock care requires a proactive approach that prioritizes water, feed availability, and overall animal health. Ensuring a consistent water supply and monitoring water quality are essential.
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Increase both the availability and quality of forage, and ensure cattle have a reliable and adequate source of water.
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Use rotational or prescribed grazing (moving cattle among pastures) to reduce pressure on stressed vegetation and maintain a more consistent forage supply.
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Plant drought-tolerant forage species that are best suited to local soils and growing conditions.
Aquaculture
Shellfish
Drought conditions can significantly affect shellfish health and farm operations by altering water quality—particularly salinity—and increasing disease risk. Consider the following best practices to prepare for and respond to drought-related impacts:- Early harvest – Removing shellfish from the water before adverse conditions occur.
- Relocating product – Moving shellfish to areas with more favorable weather or tidal conditions.
- Cooling methods (used rarely) – Applying sprinklers or using shade cloth on tidelands to help keep shellfish cool.
Drought can change water quality, especially by increasing salinity, which can stress shellfish or make other problems worse. It can also lead to more frequent or severe shellfish diseases. For example, on the East and Gulf Coasts, drought and higher salinity have been linked to outbreaks of Dermo disease, caused by the oyster pathogen Perkinsus marinus (SRAC_4704.pdf). While Dermo disease has not been found in Washington State, it's important that we stay vigilant.