From staff reports Nature Conservancy Partnership and External Affairs Manager Clay Pope recently gave insight on how to prepare for changing conditions in Oklahoma’s weather.
“The information is pretty undeniable that we are seeing an increase in overall temperatures, and that is affecting a lot of other things,” Pope said. “We are seeing changes in our rainfall patterns.”
Although precipitation volume has remained steady, Pope said that rainfall events are coming at varying times and in heavier amounts, impacting agricultural quality. “The impacts it can have are everything from water quantity, and it also impacts water quality,” he said. “When you have rain come in chunks, it impacts soil erosion.”
More prevalent flash droughts and hotter temperatures, Pope said, can lead to an increase in pests and heat stress in both livestock and crops.
“It is imperative that we recognize it, not turn our backs on what is going on, but try to come up with a plan so we can get ready for it and make sure we harden our operations as much as possible so that we can deal with these stresses just like we have with natural resource stresses in the past,” he said.
Pope recommends that producers evaluate their goals and their current standing to prepare for increased extreme events. During drought, he said, it is imperative that producers hold onto topsoil and increase water retention. Healthy soil can increase a producers financial situation in the long-term.
For livestock, Pope said incorporating goats with cattle and/or utilizing controlled burning could be a few positive conservation methods. He also mentioned the idea of introducing new genetics to herds or crops which may handle extreme conditions better.
“I heard a guy from Texas A&M saying that maybe we need to put a little more ear in our cattle,” Pope said. “We all want those uniform calves going through the pens, and a lot of us run black cattle. Maybe we need to do some things to incorporate some other genes in with those Angus to make sure we have got something that is a little more suited for extreme weather.”
Oklahoma State Climatologist Gary McManus has indicated El Niña is returning, as temperatures have slowly risen, and precipitation has been widespread. Pope said that producers should be aware of changing conditions going forward.
We have got to keep our eyes open and both hands on the wheel,” Pope said, “I do think we need to understand there are some twists and turns ahead.”