|
| Operation characteristics | Proportions or means (n) |
|
| Types of livestock produced | Beef cattle—97% (n = 237) |
|
| Total hectares | Mean 1,893 (SE 2,369) (n = 234) |
|
| Operation gross sales ($) | <25,000—10 |
| 25,000–99,999—30% |
| 100,000–249,000—33% |
| 250,000–499,999—17% |
| 500,000+—9% (n = 229) |
|
| Use and influence of drought monitoring information | On-farm rain gauge (n = 237), mean = 1.58 (SD 1.19) |
| Own assessment (n = 234), mean = 2.13 (SD 1.17) |
| Local extension resources (n = 236), mean = 0.60 (SD 0.95) |
| National weather service (n = 235), mean = 1.60 (SD1.08) |
| U.S. drought monitor (n = 236), mean = 1.23 (SD 1.15) |
| USDA resources (n = 232), mean = 0.88 (SD 1.08) |
| Television/radio reports (n = 234), mean = 1.69 (SD 0.98) |
|
| Average 3-month SPEI between October 2015 and June 2016 experienced by respondents | Mean = −0.10 (SD 0.26), with a range of −0.60 to 0.57 (n = 246) |
|
| Conditions observed by respondents | Decreased topsoil moisture (n = 250)—96%, May (mode) |
| Delayed or lack of plant emergence (n = 225)—74%, May |
| Decreased subsoil moisture (n = 239)—96%, June |
| Delayed or lack of plant growth (n = 243)—91%, June |
| Decreased forage productivity (n = 235)—94%, June |
| Deteriorating range conditions (=n235)—94%, July |
|
| Actions taken and mode month | Graze fall or winter pastures earlier than planned (n = 228), 68%, Sept |
| Destock pastures more than usual (n = 224), 56%, Sept |
| Purchase more supplemental hay/feed than usual (n = 224), 57%, Oct |
| Cull and sell more breeding animals than usual (n = 221), 47%, Oct |
| Took none of these actions (n = 235), 14% N/A |
|
| Mean percent loss from 2016 drought | Pasture hay yield (n = 197), 65.76% (31.86) |
| Range productivity (n = 180), 49.17% (24.72) |
| Range health or diversity (n = 134), 38.31% (30.37) |
| Animal gain or productivity (n = 158), 12.18% (16.68) |
| Net income of operation (n = 196), 32.52% (22.50) |
| Cash reserves or savings (n = 151), 25.15% (26.27) |
|
| Would have acted earlier or differently, given earlier warning | 28% yes (n = 243) |
|
| Would have seen less harm, given different/earlier action | 25% yes (n = 241) |
|
