- Author: Dustin Flavell
Peak standing crop at SFREC for the 2013-2014 forage production year occurred on May 20, 2014 and yielded 2300 pounds per acre for the season. This is 77% of the historic average of 2971 pounds per acre. Ending the forage production season at 77% of average is better than originally predicted, considering the cold, dry fall and early winter , along with the historic low forage production through January.
Precipitation totals for the season came to 16.63 inches which is 56% of the historic average of 29.5 inches annually. Considering we received 12.5 inches of rain from February to May further shows that rain during the rapid forage growth season means more to overall forage growth than total precipitation. In fact, had we not had the very cold early December temperatures that immediately followed the 2.26 inches of precipitation at the end of November this forage season would have looked altogether different. Starting the rapid forage growth season at 98 lbs per acre instead of closer to our average of 515 pounds per acre is what most likely kept this from being closer to or better than an average forage season.
- Author: Dustin Flavell
Forage growth through the end of January at SFREC set an all-time low of 98 pounds per acre. Typically we should be around 515 pounds per acre this time of year. Forage composition is also leaning pretty heavily towards broad leaf species like filaree which can dry up pretty quick. The chances of having an average or above average forage year this season seems highly unlikely based on history, but there is still hope to have a decent below average year. In the 1990-91 forage production year forage production values through February indicated 162 pounds per ac and we reached 2,565 pounds per ac at peak standing crop, which was 86% of average, this was the year of the "Miracle March”.
Making the forage year look more optimistic, SFREC received over 5 inches of rain over the weekend brining our totals up to about 9.3 inches. While we should normally be around 17 inches this time of year it is a big step in the right direction.
- Author: Jeremy James
Recognizing the overwhelming need for extending drought mitigation information to ranchers across the state and the practical constraints many producers face in trying to travel for a day-long workshop the California Institute for Water Resources in cooperation with the Department of Water Resources has provided support to help extend information generated in the UC SFREC Drought workshop across the state. This includes local support for 7 UCCE satellite workshops that bring workshop information to other regional meetings across the state as well as support for a few “train the trainer” programs where UCCE academics, California Cattlemen, and Farm Bureau representatives can get support to learn about the UC SFREC workshop material and extend this information to regional partners. Given the immediacy of this drought and the need to quickly pull programs together, this sponsorship represents an effective opportunity to extend information.
- Author: Jeremy James
For ranchers in most parts of the state the 2013-2014 drought is shaping up to be one of the most serious forage situation in memory. As an example, forage data at UC SFREC showed that dryland range at the Center only produced about 40 pounds per acre through fall and the end of December.
In response to these serious forage conditions, the University of California Sierra Foothill Research and Extension Center, in cooperation with UCCE Advisors, UC Davis faculty and industry partners, are putting the final touches on the January 29th meeting that will discuss practical tools and strategies for reducing drought impacts on ranching enterprises.
Drought management and mitigation is a complex topic and this day-long event takes a comprehensive look at a range of linked issues including making the most of what you have on dryland and irrigated pasture, the economics and nutritional aspects of supplementation, animal health and making culling decisions, tax, NAP and insurance. Registration is close to capacity but will remain open until capacity is reached. For those that cannot attend in person, the program will be broadcast on the web. You can register to attend (here) and see the updated agenda (here).
- Contributor: Maddison Easley
- Author: Jeremy James