Dry weather and drought

Manage the impact of dry weather and agricultural drought using the resources below.

Make sure livestock are kept comfortable in hot weather and that you manage their grass and feed stocks.

It’s important to work out how much straw you will need during a prolonged dry spell, and to calculate whether there will be a deficit.

Guide on deciding which stock to graze, where and when in periods of dry weather.

Rotational grazing gives grass longer to recover and helps you make better use of available forage. Find out more below. 

Drought conditions force tough decisions on silage making. Explore how to strike a balance between yield and feed value.

Make changes to cutting height, timing and additive use to help protect silage quality during dry spells.

Check whether you have a deficit based on current livestock numbers and feed supply, to make informed decisions about stock sales or purchasing of additional feed.

If your farm loses access to water it is essential to have a plan in place.

Find out how nitrogen behaves in dry conditions, and what to do when the rain returns.

In our YouTube video a dairy consultant discusses N, P, K and sulphur applications in dry conditions to optimise grass growth.

While there is always a risk of fires breaking out on farm, the risk is greater during prolonged dry conditions.

Water regulations are in place to protect ground and surface water – make sure your business stay on the right side of the law.

Prepare for changing weather patterns and protect your business using our climate resilience on-farm action planner.