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FEATURE ARTICLE:

Facing Drought: Tough Decisions and Smart Solutions for Graziers

By SFA of MN | May 12, 2025

As we look at the weather forecast and study the drought monitor, it appears that we are in for another dry spring and summer in the upper Midwest. According to the drought monitor, about 75% of the state is experiencing abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions and it’s only the beginning of May.

In a timely webinar on May 19 from 7:00-8:30 PM, SFA’s Jonathan Kilpatrick and Kent Solberg will share practical, field-tested strategies for navigating drought with confidence. This webinar focuses on real-world tools, grazing management adjustments, and resource planning to help you stay productive through dry spells. Topics will include stretching forage, minimizing losses, adjusting grazing rotations, de-stocking decisions, and long-term planning for resilience.

Whether you’re in an area that is already experiencing droughty conditions or you just want to be prepared, this webinar will offer actionable insights to support your operation through the coming challenging conditions.

Registration

Click here to register for the webinar. It is free to attend, and advance registration is required. You will receive the link to the Zoom meeting when you register.

About the presenters

Jonathan Kilpatrick is the Farmer Education Director at the Sustainable Farming Association and a grazier based in west-central Minnesota. He works directly with producers across the region to build resilient grazing systems.

Kent Solberg is an experienced livestock producer and grazing consultant who serves as SFA’s Senior Technical Advisor. His decades of experience in regenerative grazing systems provide valuable perspective on adapting to environmental stressors like drought.

Want to learn more?

Kent Solberg shared eight tips for managing pasture and livestock during drought in this recent blog post.

This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement number 2004.25.085287 “Expanding Regenerative Grazing in the Upper Mississippi Watershed.”

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