Livestock producers are likely the first to feel the effects of the drought that is now classified as extreme across all of Stutsman County, according to Karl Hoppe, a livestock specialist at the Carrington Extension Research Center.
"The issue is feed resources for cow herds," he said. "Most producers have feed through June 1 because we usually feed that long. After that, well, the ditches look pretty good but the pastures not so much."
Hoppe said farmers could be faced with two choices, sell cattle or buy feed.
"Feed prices have doubled and the cow prices are down," he said.
Hoppe said turning cattle onto extremely dry pasture isn't good for the animals or the land.
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"Putting cows on dry pasture is starving the cows and hurting the range in the long run," he said.
Miranda Meehan, NDSU Extension livestock stewardship specialist and Extension disaster education coordinator, said 80% to 90% of pasture grass growth occurs from April 1 through July 1.
"We are halfway through that with little moisture," she said.
Another issue facing ranchers is water quality in pasture ponds, Meehan said.
"Some ranchers in western North Dakota have lost livestock," she said. "Others have had to take livestock out of pastures because of toxic water."
Chemicals such as salt and sulfides are common in some water sources but become more concentrated as the amount of water in the pond decreases.
Another drought-related issue facing farmers could be the importation of noxious weed seeds with purchased hay from outside the region brought into this area. The seeds could remain viable even after passing through the digestive track of the animal.
As livestock producers face feed and water issues, small grain farmers in Stutsman County are off to a "spotty start," according to Alicia Harstad, Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources in Stutsman County.
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"We are seeing some uneven emergence in the small grains," she said. "The planting progress is so fast that a lot of the soybeans and corn is in, but we haven't seen any emergence."
Harstad said most farmers aren't changing from their planned crops this spring.
"The prices are good," she said. "There is not much in changes in planting intentions."
The U.S. Drought Monitor now places 85% of North Dakota - including all of Stutsman County - in extreme drought. Only the very southeast part of North Dakota is outside the drought conditions with an abnormally dry rating. The outlook published by the Drought Monitor indicates the dry conditions will persist.
The Drought Monitor map is issued every Thursday and has shown a steady expansion of extreme drought across North Dakota from west to east since last fall.
"Yesterday is the best answer to when we need rain," Harstad said, "but timely is the most important factor in rain for crops."
Additional information from NDSU Extension Service is available on its website.
Hoppe also said continued rainfall is needed.
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"All we need is a good inch of rain to change people's attitudes," he said. "The Drought Monitor people say we need timely rains over a period of time."
