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Irrigation, Soil & Fertility TimingDrought Response Calendar
Drought rarely arrives all at once, so a response plan works best when it is organized by stage. Preparing before the dry spell, acting as it builds and recovering afterward each call for different choices.
Key points
- Write a drought plan before the dry weather arrives.
- Use the Drought Monitor and your own rain and soil records as triggers.
- Prioritize water for the most sensitive crops and stages.
- Contact your insurance agent and FSA early.
- Rebuild soil cover and test soils after the drought.
What should you do before a drought?
Build resilience when conditions are normal. Improve soil organic matter, keep residue or mulch on the surface, and review your water supply and equipment. Know your water rights and any local restrictions that might apply in a dry year.
Oregon State and Nebraska extension both encourage written drought plans for farms, including triggers for decisions and a list of contacts. A plan made in calm weather is easier to follow than one made in a crisis.
Write down your plan, even on a single page. List the crops and fields in order of priority, the water sources you can use and the decisions you will make at each trigger.
How do you monitor conditions?
The U.S. Drought Monitor publishes weekly maps of drought conditions across the country, and the National Weather Service issues forecasts and outlooks. Combine these with your own rainfall records and soil moisture checks.
Set triggers in advance, such as the Drought Monitor category in your county or a rainfall total below your usual level, and decide ahead of time what each trigger means for your operation.
Compare notes with neighbors and your extension office. Local conditions often become clear faster when several people share what they see.
- Check the Drought Monitor weekly in dry spells.
- Keep a rain gauge and a simple rainfall log.
- Note soil moisture at root depth in key fields.
What can you do as drought builds?
Prioritize water for the crops and stages where it matters most. Consider adjusting planting plans, reducing plant populations where your extension guidance supports it, or delaying planting of nonessential crops. Mulch and shade can slow water loss in gardens.
Avoid heavy tillage that dries the soil, and manage weeds, which compete for water. Review livestock and forage plans early, since waiting limits your options.
If you grow in a garden, group thirsty crops together, hold back on new plantings during a severe dry spell and keep the soil covered. A smaller, well-watered planting does better than a large, stressed one.
How do you manage water you do have?
Irrigate based on soil moisture and crop stage instead of habit. Fix leaks, check uniformity and avoid watering during the hottest, windiest part of the day. Focus on the most sensitive stages of your most valuable crops.
Check local restrictions and any water allocations, and keep records for reporting.
If you irrigate from a well, track your water level and pumping times. Some wells decline in drought, and early notice gives you time to plan.
What financial and program steps matter?
Contact your crop insurance agent early and ask about reporting requirements and deadlines. USDA's Farm Service Agency and Risk Management Agency provide information on programs that may apply, and eligibility rules change, so check the current details.
Keep records of rainfall, yields, costs and decisions. They support claims and help you learn from the season.
Ask your insurance agent which practices the policy treats as good farming practices in a drought, since changes you make on your own can affect coverage.
How do you recover after a drought?
Test soils and check for salt buildup or compaction, and be cautious about fertilizer, since unused nutrients may remain. Reseed damaged pastures with guidance, and rest stressed ground if you can.
Cover crops and residue help rebuild soil structure and protect bare ground from erosion when rain returns.
Remember that wildfire and dust risk can rise with drought. Keep fuel breaks around buildings and stay aware of local burn restrictions.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Waiting too long to make decisions, spreading limited water thinly across everything, ignoring insurance deadlines and overgrazing stressed pasture are common mistakes.
Climate patterns vary, and any one dry year does not predict the next. Use forecasts and your own records, not a single season, to plan.
Write down what you learn in each dry spell. Next time the plan will be sharper, and you can share the notes with others who farm nearby.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: November 2026. Educational information, ranges only. Confirm timing with your county extension office.