In this episode, we chat with Lealand Schoon from the South Dakota NRCS about drought management, grazing strategies, and the long-term health of pasturelands. Lealand covers how subtle factors like trigger dates and residue levels impact grazing decisions, stressing that if land is left with less than 1,000 pounds of residue per acre, it can be much slower to recover. This makes it crucial for ranchers to manage grazing carefully, especially during drought conditions. He also distinguishes between droughts and dry cycles, explaining that while droughts are more extreme, dry cycles are a natural part of the landscape and require adaptive management to cope with.

Lealand also touches on the current beef market, where prices are solid, and the availability and cost of hay are favorable. However, he warns against becoming complacent just because things are looking good right now. The market can shift quickly, and the right grazing and land management decisions today will determine how well ranchers are set up for future years, particularly when it comes to managing land during drought. He also talks about de-stocking strategies, noting that if the land is in poor condition, de-stocking will need to be more aggressive to avoid further damage.

Throughout our discussion, Lealand emphasizes the importance of being proactive with land management—especially when conditions are good. He stresses that staying on top of things today can help ensure that ranchers can handle the challenges of tomorrow. The ability to adapt to changing conditions now will make all the difference when the inevitable droughts or market shifts arrive.

This episode offers essential advice for ranchers looking to maintain healthy, resilient land, no matter the market conditions.

For more on drought management and range conservation, check out the links in the show notes:

Growing Resilience – Drought Management

https://www.growingresiliencesd.com/drought-management

Natural Resources Conservation Service- Range and Pasture

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-by-state/south-dakota/range-pasture

Ag-Wx

https://www.ag-wx.com

Mesonet SD (Go to tools to see Ag Weather, Degree Days, Livestock Stress, etc.)

https://climate.sdstate.edu/

Rangeland Analysis Platform (RAP)

https://rangelands.app/

Alexjandro Carillo

https://www.cuencalosojos.org/alejandro-carrillo