Drought Plan 3 Ways to Save on Hay Costs

This fall I had to move my herd onto hay earlier than I’d hoped. Even with some rain, the grass just isn’t bouncing back. If you’re in the Southeast, you’re probably seeing the same thing.

Moments like this are a reminder: droughts and tough pasture years will happen. The difference between scrambling for hay and staying ahead is having a plan.

That’s why I put together three simple strategies you can use to prepare your pastures for dry spells and cut down on hay costs.

🔹 Tip #1 – Build a Drought Grazing Plan

• A drought plan isn’t just about reacting when the grass runs out — it’s about knowing exactly where you’ll pivot when your regular rotation no longer works.

  Ask yourself:

  • Where will the herd go when pastures stop recovering?

  • Can you easily deliver hay to that spot?

  • How large does the area need to be — a few weeks, or a month or two?

  • How will you feed — rolling hay out behind a polywire, or dropping a hay bomb?

  • Should you have more than one backup area?

  For me, the solution is tying my drought plan into my silvopasture project. That area needs seeding anyway, it’s shaded, close to the barn, and has water on site. It becomes a perfect drought holding area. When the herd is just in a holding pattern, I want them somewhere easy and efficient, while the rest of my pastures get a chance to recover.

  Diversify Forages

• Manage Stocking Rates

🔹 Tip #2 – Diversify Forages

One of the best ways to build resilience into your pasture is by diversifying the forages you depend on. If all you’ve got is one grass species, a hot dry stretch can wipe out your grazing plan in a hurry. But with a mix of grasses, legumes, and deep-rooted species, something will usually hang on.

That can look like:

• Overseeding with drought-tolerant annuals.

• Adding deep-rooted perennials that can reach moisture lower in the soil.

• Mixing in legumes that fix nitrogen and improve soil health.

Diversity doesn’t just help in drought years — it also improves overall pasture nutrition, soil cover, and grazing flexibility. On my own farm, I’m adding grass seed into the silvopasture area as part of my drought plan. It’s not just filling a gap, it’s creating a stronger pasture for years to come.

🔹 Tip #3 – Manage Stocking Rates

No matter how good your rotation or forage mix is, drought exposes one hard truth: too many animals for the available grass will drain your pastures fast. That’s why stocking rate management has to be part of any drought plan.

Options to consider:

• Early butchering or culling animals you don’t plan to keep long-term.

• Custom grazing — sending a few animals to another farm with stronger forage.

• Adjusting herd size seasonally so your pastures can recover instead of getting eaten down to bare soil.

And remember — needing to reduce numbers doesn’t mean you’re failing. It’s actually a smart time to step back and evaluate your goals, breeding program, and holistic context. Sometimes letting a few animals go brings your whole farm operation back into balance and sets you up stronger for the next season.

If you’re ready to put a drought plan in place for your own pastures, I can help. I offer Pasture Audits that walk you through stocking rates, grazing strategies, and drought prep — plus access to my Pasture Doctor GPT tool for quick insights.

👉 I’ve got a couple of October audit slots open. Send me a message if you’d like details. [email protected]