If there is one concern for farmers that is blanket worldwide, it’s drought. There are changing climate patterns that we’re witnessing every single day, and with the climate crisis happening, it’s important to plan ahead and prepare for any drought.
It can make all the difference to preserving both crops and livestock if you have a plan in place. And effective preparation doesn’t just ensure that your file remains productive, but it minimises any potential losses. Having farm water storage troughs and barrels is one thing during reduced rainfall, but you need to make sure that you can secure an adequate water supply as well. Let’s take a look at some of the ways that you can help your farm prepare for drought.
Assess your current water use.
If you know you’re going to be in for a dry summer this year, then you need to make sure that you understand how much water your farm needs and how it’s being used. Having the minimum of what your farm needs is one thing, but it’s always a good idea to conserve water so that you have a little more than what you would need. Identifying areas for your usage where it can be optimised is key. Switching to drip irrigation or soaker hoses can reduce the amount of water that you use while you try to save water for the summer.
Implement storage solutions.
If you don’t have rainwater harvesting tanks, any ponds or reservoirs, or water systems on your farm already, it’s time to start investing in those. These are systems that will allow you to store water during times of normal rainfall. You then have a backup during dry periods. You can always collect and save water, but you can’t do anything about it if there’s a drought going on. Rainwater harvesting is very popular as essentially you’re allowing the earth to recycle from itself.
Improve soil health where you can.
Healthy soil is so important when it comes to water retention. Soils that are organically rich are better at holding water and that reduces the need for frequent irrigation. You can add compost, you can use no till farming and you can use crop rotation to be able to help to improve your soil and water retention rates.
Plan for your livestock needs.
We’re not just talking about growing crops and plants here, but feeding and ensuring that your animals are well hydrated. When there is a time of water scarcity, you need to still make sure that your access is granted to animals so that they have clean and reliable water sources. Farm water storage solutions should also be there for your livestock as much as your crops. You’ll need to be able to fill their troughs during the hot summers.
Keep an eye on the weather.
There is only so much that you can see ahead with the weather and even the most intelligent meteorologists can’t see the rest of the year. Investing in weather monitoring tools, subscribing to weather alerts and staying informed about weather patterns will help you to prepare for any droughts as much as it’ll prepare you for snowfall.
