Ingram says these considerations and management practices can help you build a drought-resistant forage base: Although it’s not possible to fully drought-proof pastures, Ingram says, there are steps you can take to make them drought-resistant. Well-managed, drought-resistant grazing acres better withstand the immediate impacts when rains stop and — most important — recover faster with less lasting damage when moisture returns. “The most effective drought managers base their decisions and grazing plans on the assumption moisture always will be a limiting factor,” says Sam Ingram, Ph.D., a Range & Pasture field scientist with Corteva Agriscience. “Even during times of abundant moisture, progressive producers avoid complacency and think long-term. They understand a strong, healthy grass stand is the best defense when moisture runs short.” Improve your Pastures’ Drought Readiness These 3 strategies can help you prepare for and withstand dry times. Drought management should be a standard practice in your grazing program. A proactive approach benefits grazing acres both during periods of adequate moisture and when conditions turn dry. 1 Focus on Root Health No matter the moisture level, Ingram advises prioritizing the protection of root reserves in forage grasses. “Above-ground growth directly reflects the below-ground status of a grass plant,” Ingram explains. “This drives home the importance of sound grazing management, as dry conditions often exacerbate overgrazing.” Reducing stocking rates, moving cattle more frequently and extending pasture rest periods can help protect against overgrazing and deteriorating root reserves.
Mesquite Control: No Place for ‘Gut Feel’
If you’re eyeballing your mesquite control program and making herbicide applications based on the calendar, soil temperatures or the number of days since rain, you’re very likely not getting an optimum level of control. “Mesquite is a notoriously tough plant to control,” says Benny Martinez, market development specialist with Corteva Agriscience. “Mechanical controls like bulldozing can work, but they’re expensive and invasive. Hand-cutting works but isn’t practical for large acreage. Prescribed burning is effective but more so as a maintenance tool. Therefore, broadcast herbicide application really is the best way to control mesquite.” The problem is that herbicide-based mesquite control depends on precise application timing. Miss the application window and you may kill the top portion of the plant while leaving the root
Drought recovery takes time — and rainfall. Be ready to maximize every drop. (Below) Drought Stress: Broom Snakeweed in Central Texas, July 6, 2022.
system intact, alive and eager to regenerate. In addition, mesquite is extremely well adapted to its environment. Hot, dry weather only seems to make it more determined to survive; deep taproots and a far-reaching lateral root system enable individual plants to draw water from a large area, depleting the soil moisture stores that would otherwise be available to lower-growing native grasses and forbs. New and Proven Technologies The combination of a proven-effective herbicide and advanced technology is helping ranchers achieve a greater level of control over invasive brush species like mesquite. “Most ranchers already know Sendero® herbicide as one of the most effective products available for mesquite control,” Martinez says. “But Sendero Powered by LandVisor® is a new package that helps identify ideal spray timing and lets you preview different scenarios to see what impact an application can have on your end goals, whether that’s forage production, rangeland restoration, or creation of wildlife habitat.”
LandVisor® advanced brush management combines advanced satellite mapping and imaging, data analytics, soil mapping and in-person consultation to identify soil and vegetation types, quantify plant density and calculate current and potential productivity. LandVisor can quantify photosynthetic changes in the plant canopy — changes too slight for the human eye to detect — and develop a customized spray timing prescription for the target areas. “Once LandVisor says it’s time to spray,” Martinez says, “Your Certified LandVisor Consultant will validate the recommendation to make sure the timing is right. Once everyone agrees, that job is released to a certified applicator of LandVisor.”
2 Incorporate Grazing Flexibility Breaking larger pastures into two or more smaller parcels offers significant benefits year-round, regardless of moisture levels, Ingram says. “Aside from improving forage utilization, crossfencing allows tighter grazing management. The ability to remove cattle from a pasture before overgrazing occurs can buy time early in the drought cycle, which allows you to be more strategic in your decision-making,” Ingram adds. “Plus, it improves productivity when moisture is good.” 3 Give Grasses the Resources They Need It’s critical to ensure that every drop of moisture contributes to grass growth and that pastures are adequately nourished. “Thin, weak grass stands are especially vulnerable to weed pressure, because nature tries to fill a void,” Ingram says. “Controlling weeds takes the moisture that the weeds
Guaranteed Consistent Performance Ranchers can rest easy knowing Sendero® Powered by LandVisor® is guaranteed by Corteva Agriscience. If re-treatment is necessary, Corteva covers the cost of herbicide, adjuvants and application. “We’re very confident in the performance of LandVisor,” Martinez says. “Since we first brought LandVisor to market in 2020, we’ve averaged 82% rootkill across all LandVisor acres. When you consider that aerial application using traditional methods of timing have resulted in control as high as roughly 90% but as low as 40%, you’ll see that LandVisor brings much-needed consistency and dependability to brush control.” For more information on LandVisor advanced brush management, visit Landvisor.com and request a demo on your own operation from a Certified LandVisor® Consultant. Learn more about Sendero® Powered by LandVisor® — SenderoPoweredByLandvisor.com
would have used and gives it to the grasses.” A broad-spectrum product such as DuraCor® herbicide offers effective control, along with residual activity that keeps weeds out and allows desirable grasses to reclaim bare spots. Proper fertility also is critical for reestablishing grasses. UltiGraz℠ Pasture Weed & Feed combines weed control and fertilizer in one cost- effective application. Learn More About Drought-resistant Pastures “Drought forces extremely difficult decisions, but we must have grass to maintain a sustainable beef operation,” Ingram says. “When we approach pasture management proactively with an eye on protecting against drought, we set ourselves up for success regardless of where we are in the drought cycle.” Visit RangeAndPasture.com/DroughtReady for more long- term drought management advice.
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™ ® Trademarks and service marks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. Under normal field conditions, DuraCor ® is nonvolatile. DuraCor has no grazing or haying restrictions for any class of livestock, including lactating dairy cows, horses (including lactating mares) and meat animals prior to slaughter. Label precautions apply to forage treated with DuraCor and to manure and urine from animals that have consumed treated forage. DuraCor is not registered for sale or use in all states. Consult the label for full details. UltiGraz SM with fertilizer is available for use with specific herbicides in the states of AL, AR, CO, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, KS, KY, LA, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NV, OK, OR, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WV and WY. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Always read and follow label directions. ©2026 Corteva.
™ ® Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. Sendero ® is not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. LandVisor ® is not available on all states. Always read and follow label directions. ©2026 Corteva
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