Ministry of Agriculture & Lands
Drought
Drought Strategies
Agriculture is a major water user in this province. The following are areas where water can be utilized more efficiently.
Click on the following sections to find out more information.
- Irrigation Management
- Crop Management
- Soil Management
- Livestock Management
- Pasture and Range Management
- Feed and Pasture availability
- Drought Programs
- Drought Mangement Links
- Resource Management Publications (BC Agriculture)
Any of these links for agencies outside of BC will open in a separate browser (so you can easily come back to this page) and the BC government makes no claims for the accuracy of its information or the applicability of the information to British Columbians.
Irrigation Management
The following factsheets will be of help during a drought.
Irrigation Operation
- Alternate forage crops when irrigation water is limited by BC Agriculture
- Forage crops and irrigation management in drought conditions by BC Agriculture
- Irrigation decisions with limited water by BC Agriculture.
- Irrigation tips to conserve water on the farm by BC Agriculture.
- Irrigation Water-Saving Tips by BC Agriculture.
- Key drought management tips by BC Agriculture.
- Managing irrigated forage Crops during drought - An introduction by BC Agriculture.
- Soil Water Storage Capacity and Available Soil Moisture by BC Agriculture.
Irrigation Scheduling
- Irrigation Scheduling Techniques by BC Agriculture.
- Irrigation Scheduling with Tensiometers by BC Agriculture.
- Sprinkler Irrigation Scheduling using a Water Budget Method by BC Agriculture.
- Trickle Irrigation Scheduling using Evapotranspiration Data by BC Agriculture.
- Crop Coefficients for use in Irrigation Scheduling by BC Agriculture.
Collecting Evapotranspiration Data
- Factsheet Determining Evapotranspiration with Evaporation Pans by BC Agriculture.
- Farmwest.com (BC Pacific Field Corn Assoc.) website has information used to calculate evapotranspiration.
Water Purveyors
- This factsheet is useful to purveyors. WURLD -- Water Use reporting and Land use Database by BC Agriculture.
Irrigation links
- Irrigation Industry of BC
- Publications -- of Irrigation Industry of BC
- Looking to Install Irrigation During a Drought? by North Dakota State University
- Irrigation System Management for Better Water Management by University of Idaho
- Surface Irrigation Systems by Washington State University
Crop Management
Useful links
- Practices to Conserve Water by University of Idaho
Berries
Cereal
Useful links
- Is Wheat the Best Crop to Grow in a Dry Year? by PFRA (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
- Small Grain Diseases: Management of Those More Common and Severe in Dry Years by North Dakota State University
- Irrigation Management of Barley by Alberta Agriculture
Forage
Useful links
- Irrigated alfalfa management under drought conditions by BC Agriculture
- Alternate forage crops when irrigation water is limited by BC Agriculture
- Forage crops and irrigation manegement in drought conditions by BC Agriculture
- Alfalfa Irrigation by University of Idaho
- Alfalfa Irrigation Management by Washington State University
Corn
Oilseeds
Useful links
- Oilseed Rape Keeps Irrigated Land Productive During a Drought by Washington State University
Field Vegetables
The BC Agriculture factsheet
Field Vegetable Water-Saving Tips
will be of help during a drought.
Useful links
- Managing Row Crop Diseases in Drought Years by North Dakota State University
Grapes
Tree Fruits
Soil Management
Useful links
- Drought impacts on soil fertility by BC Agriculture
- Tillage, residule management and their effect on soil moisture by BC Agriculture
Livestock Management
The BC Agriculture factsheet Managing through Drought will be useful during a drought.
Useful links
- Cattle Management During Drought by Montana State University
- Drought Management Strategies for Beef Cattle by Montana and North Dakota State Universities
Livestock Watering
The BC Agriculture factsheet
Livestock Water-Saving Tips
will be of help during a drought.
Useful links
- Livestock Watering Requirements - Quantity and Quality by BC Agriculture.
- Water Quality and Cattle by PFRA.
- WATERING LIVESTOCK DIRECTLY FROM WATERCOURSES by BC Agriculture.
- IMPROVED LIVESTOCK ACCESS TO WATER USING GEOSYNTHETICS AND GRAVEL by BC Agriculture.
- OFFSTREAM WATERING - To Reduce Livestock Use of Watercourses and Riparian Areas by BC Agriculture.
- Livestock Watering Publication list by BC Agriculture.
- Securing Livestock Water During Drought by PFRA (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
- Watch for Sulphates and Blue-Green Algae in Cattle Water Supplies by PFRA (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
- Algae, Cyanobacteria(Blue-green Algae) and Water Quality by PFRA
- Blue-Green Algae Poisoning by North Dakota State University
- Farmers Urged to Choose Water Sources Carefully by PFRA (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
- Dugouts Showing Effect of Drought by PFRA (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
Early Weaning
Useful links
- Early Weaning Beef Calves by North Dakota State University
Marketing Strategies
Feeding Strategies
Useful links
- Supplementing Cattle on Drought Affected Pastures and Ranges by Washington State University
- Supplementation During Drought by University of Arizona
- Feeding and Managing Horses During Drought by Alberta Agriculture
- Stretching Your Horse's Hay Supply During Drought by Colorado State University
- Using Cereals to Feed During a Drought by PFRA (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
- Don't Forget Annual Forages by North Dakota State University
- Intergrading Field Crops into Beef Cow Diets May Help Producers in Drought by North Dakota State University
- Drought Options: Ration Options for Beef Cows by Alberta Agriculture
- Emergency Rations for Wintering Beef Cows by Montana State University
- Substituting Grain for Hay by Montana State University
- Dairy Feeding During Drought by North Dakota State University
- Limiting Forage Intake For Dairy Cows During Drought by North Dakota State University
- Use Caution When Feeding Dairy Cattle High Levels of Concentrate by North Dakota State University
- Nitrate Poisoning of Livestock by North Dakota State University
Pasture and Range Management
Pastures
The BC Agriculture factsheet "Managing your tame pasture through drought"
will be of help for pastures.
Useful links.
- Drought on Pastures and Rangelands by foragebeef (Western Canada research)
- Emergency Grazing Practices Will Have Costs Next Season by North Dakota State University
- Managing Small Acreage Pastures During and After Drought by Colorado State University
- Salvaging Drought-Stressed Crops by North Dakota State University
- Grazing and Feeding Restrictions by North Dakota State University
- Managing Irrigated Pastures and Hay Land by Washington State University
Range
The BC Agriculture factsheet "Managing your Range through drought
will be of help for ranges.
Useful links.
- Rangeland Management During Drought by PFRA (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
- Tips for Dealing With Drought on Range by University of Idaho
- Community Pasture Drought Checklist by PFRA (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
- Range and Pasture Management When Dealing with Drought by Alberta Agriculture
Feed and Pasture availability
Feed and Pasture is available through The BC Feed Exchange by BC Peace River Forage Assoc.
Drought Programs
Programs which are available to offset drought.
Cattlemen's Livestock Management and Watershed Stewardship Program BC Cattlemen's Assoc. website.
Ducks Unlimited -- Livestock Watering Incentive Program Ducks Unlimited website.
Resource Management Publications (BC Agriculture)
The following factsheets will be of help during a drought.
- Factsheets by BC Agriculture
Drought Management Links
Link to agencies who devote some of their resources to drought strategies.
Drought Pages
- Drought Information by (BC) Provincial Emergency Program
- Waterbucket by (BC) WATER BUCKET WEBSITE PARTNERSHIP
- Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Act by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
- USDA Drought Information Center by US Department of Agriculture
- Drought Checklist by Alberta Agriculture
- Prairie Drought Watch by PRFA (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
General
- Drought Preparedness and Response by University of Wisconsin
- Ranch Management During Drought by North Dakota State University
- Drought, Water, Forage and Cattle by Alberta Agriculture
- Farm Water Conservation During Drought by PRFA (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
Climate
- Farmwest.com by the Pacific Field Corn Assoc. of BC
- Long term forecast by Environment Canada
- BC River Forecast by BC Enviroment
Crops - Cropping Decisions
- Cropping Decisions are tough in a year of Drought by PFRA (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
- Alternate Crops During a Drought by North Dakota State University
Crops - Grasshoppers
Any of the following links outside of BC may refer to insecticides and rates for products which may not be registered for use in BC. If in doubt the chemical must be registered for use in BC and follow the directions on the label.
- Grasshopper Control Methods by PFRA (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
- Grasshopper Management Under Drought Conditions by North Dakota State University
- Cultural Management Practices as Tools to Help Reduce Grasshopper Populations by North Dakota State University
Crops - Seedbed Preparation
- Seedbed Preparation Requires Special Tactics, or Rain by North Dakota State University
- Dry Spring Conditions, Considerations Before Deciding to Replant by North Dakota State University
Crops - Summer Fallow
- Fallow Management by PFRA (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
Crops - Tillage
- Tillage Practices for Water Management by University of Idaho
- Tillage Technique that can save Water by North Dakota State University
Crops - Trapping Snow
- Trapping Snow can Increase Yields by PFRA (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
- Start Planning Now to Trap Snow Moisture Later by PFRA (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
Crops - Weeds
Any of the following links outside of BC may refer to insecticides and rates for products which may not be registered for use in BC. If in doubt the chemical must be registered for use in BC and follow the directions on the label.
- Water Conservation, Weeds go Hand in Hand by Washington State University.
- What Happens to Herbicides in the Soil Under Drought Conditions? by Washington State University.
- Weed Control Strategies with Dry Conditions by North Dakota State University
- Herbicide Applications With Hot, Dry Conditions by North Dakota State University
- Herbicide Concerns After a Drought by North Dakota State University
- Drought Related Livestock Poisoning by Weeds by North Dakota State University
Farm Water Supplies
- Drought Proofing Farm Water Supplies by Alberta Agriculture
- Water Wells During Drought by PFRA (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
Financial
- Drought Options: Working With Your Lenders - Keep them in the Loop by Alberta Agriculture
Soil - Soil Erosion
- Residual Management for Erosion Control by North Dakota State University
Soil - Wind Erosion
- Emergency Control of Wind Erosion by PFRA (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
Taxation Deferral
- Drought Options: Understanding the Federal Livestock Drought Tax Deferral by Alberta Agriculture