How to Prepare for Drought: Essential Strategies for Agricultural Resilience

Drought conditions have become increasingly common across many agricultural regions, with the USDA reporting that over 63% of the contiguous United States experienced some form of drought in 2022. For farmers and agricultural businesses, preparing for these extended dry periods isn’t just about surviving the next season—it’s about developing long-term resilience in an era of climate uncertainty. The economic impact of drought on American agriculture averages $9.5 billion annually, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information, making proactive drought preparation not just environmentally sound but financially essential.

At Batten Home Security, we’ve worked with numerous agricultural operations to develop comprehensive emergency preparedness plans, and drought readiness consistently emerges as a top concern for sustainable farming operations. The farmers who weather drought conditions most successfully are those who implement strategic planning well before the first signs of water scarcity appear.

Understanding Agricultural Drought and Its Impacts

Agricultural drought occurs when soil moisture becomes insufficient to meet the needs of a particular crop at a particular time. Unlike meteorological drought (a period of below-average precipitation) or hydrological drought (depleted water supplies in aquifers, lakes, and reservoirs), agricultural drought specifically relates to the impact on farming operations. The National Drought Mitigation Center identifies four key stages of agricultural drought: reduced soil moisture, plant water stress, decreased biomass and yield, and economic losses. Early recognition of these stages allows for timely intervention.

The cascading effects of agricultural drought extend beyond immediate crop failures. Secondary impacts include increased susceptibility to pest infestations, higher irrigation costs, reduced livestock forage quality, and even long-term soil degradation through erosion and compaction. Recent USDA Economic Research Service data shows that drought-related crop insurance payments have exceeded $4 billion in multiple years since 2010, highlighting the financial vulnerability that comes with inadequate preparation.

Water Management and Conservation Techniques

Water conservation sits at the heart of effective drought preparation. According to research from the University of California Cooperative Extension, implementing comprehensive water management strategies can reduce agricultural water use by 20-30% without significant yield reductions. The most successful drought-resistant operations we’ve worked with prioritize water efficiency investments years before severe drought conditions emerge. This proactive approach not only conserves water but often improves overall operational efficiency and crop quality.

Efficient Irrigation Systems: Convert from flood or furrow irrigation to more efficient methods like drip irrigation, which can achieve up to 95% efficiency compared to 60-70% for traditional methods.
Irrigation Scheduling: Implement scientific irrigation scheduling based on soil moisture monitoring, evapotranspiration data, and crop water requirements rather than fixed schedules.
Water Recycling: Install tailwater recovery systems to capture and reuse irrigation runoff, potentially reclaiming 15-25% of applied water.
Deficit Irrigation: Apply regulated deficit irrigation techniques that strategically reduce water at specific growth stages that are less sensitive to water stress.
Mulching: Use organic or synthetic mulches to reduce soil evaporation by up to 35% while suppressing weeds that compete for soil moisture.
Rainwater Harvesting: Develop systems to capture and store rainwater from buildings and other structures for supplemental irrigation during dry periods.

Soil Management for Drought Resilience

Soil health serves as the foundation for drought resilience. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service estimates that for every 1% increase in soil organic matter, soil can hold approximately 20,000 gallons more water per acre. This water-holding capacity becomes critical during extended dry periods, essentially creating a moisture bank that crops can draw from when rainfall is scarce. Many of the agricultural operations we advise have found that investing in soil health provides the best long-term returns for drought mitigation, with benefits that extend beyond water conservation to include reduced input costs and improved crop quality.

Cover Cropping: Implement cover crops during off-seasons to build organic matter, improve soil structure, and increase water infiltration rates by up to 59% according to SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) studies.
Reduced Tillage: Adopt conservation tillage or no-till practices to maintain soil structure and prevent moisture loss through evaporation.
Organic Matter Management: Regularly add compost, manure, or other organic amendments to increase soil’s water-holding capacity and microbial activity.
Contour Farming: Plant across slopes rather than up and down to slow water runoff and increase infiltration during rainfall events.
Windbreaks: Establish trees or shrubs as windbreaks to reduce evaporation and soil moisture loss from wind exposure.
Soil Testing: Conduct regular soil tests to optimize fertilization and prevent nutrient imbalances that can reduce drought tolerance.

Crop Selection and Diversification Strategies

Strategic crop selection represents one of the most fundamental drought adaptation strategies available to farmers. The National Climate Assessment reports that diversified farming systems are up to 44% more resistant to climate variability than monoculture systems. This resilience stems from the different water requirements, root structures, and growth patterns that diverse crops exhibit. When working with agricultural clients on emergency preparedness plans, we consistently find that operations with thoughtfully diversified crop portfolios experience more stable yields and income streams during drought conditions.

Drought-tolerant crop varieties have made significant advances in recent years. Traditional breeding programs and newer genetic approaches have developed varieties that can maintain yields with up to 30% less water in some cases. For example, drought-tolerant corn hybrids have demonstrated yield advantages of 5-7% under water-stressed conditions according to multi-year field trials by major agricultural universities. Beyond variety selection, the timing of planting can be adjusted to align sensitive growth stages with periods of higher expected moisture availability.

Recommended Drought-Tolerant Crops by Region

Regional adaptation is essential when selecting drought-tolerant crops. What works in the arid Southwest may not be appropriate for the Southeast’s humid but increasingly drought-prone climate. Based on extension service recommendations and farmer experiences:

Midwest/Great Plains: Grain sorghum, drought-tolerant corn varieties, sunflower, and winter wheat
Southwest: Tepary beans, guar, safflower, and drought-adapted cotton varieties
Southeast: Cowpeas, pearl millet, sesame, and certain soybean varieties
West: Drought-tolerant alfalfa varieties, small grains like barley, and specialized orchard management for tree crops

Technology and Monitoring Tools for Drought Preparation

The technological landscape for agricultural drought monitoring has evolved dramatically over the past decade. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, farms using precision agriculture technologies report water savings of 8-20% and yield increases of 3-10%, even during water-stressed conditions. These technologies enable data-driven decisions that optimize limited water resources. In our experience helping agricultural operations prepare for emergencies, we’ve found that farms integrating these monitoring tools typically respond 7-10 days earlier to emerging drought conditions than those relying solely on visual assessment, often making the difference between manageable adaptation and significant crop loss.

Soil Moisture Sensors: Deploy sensors at various depths to monitor real-time soil moisture conditions and inform precise irrigation timing.
Weather Stations: Install on-farm weather stations to track local precipitation, temperature, humidity, and evapotranspiration rates.
Satellite and Drone Imagery: Utilize normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and thermal imaging to identify crop stress before it’s visible to the naked eye.
Irrigation Management Software: Implement programs that integrate soil, crop, and weather data to generate optimized irrigation schedules.
Drought Early Warning Systems: Subscribe to NOAA’s Drought Monitor and prediction services for advance notice of developing conditions.
Smart Irrigation Controllers: Install systems that automatically adjust watering based on weather conditions and soil moisture readings.

Emergency Response Planning for Severe Drought

Despite the best preparation, severe drought conditions may still require emergency response measures. The National Drought Mitigation Center emphasizes that operations with formal drought response plans experience 16-23% less economic damage during severe drought events. These plans establish clear decision triggers and predetermined actions that prevent the paralysis that often accompanies crisis situations. When helping agricultural clients develop emergency preparedness strategies, we recommend creating a staged drought response plan that activates increasingly aggressive water conservation measures as conditions worsen.

Establish Trigger Points: Define specific measurable conditions (soil moisture levels, days without rain, reservoir levels) that will activate each stage of your drought response.
Prioritize Fields and Crops: Identify which fields and crops will receive priority for limited water resources based on soil type, crop value, and drought sensitivity.
Water Allocation Strategy: Develop a tiered irrigation plan that may include deficit irrigation for some crops while maintaining full irrigation for high-value or drought-sensitive crops.
Livestock Considerations: Create plans for alternative feed sources, potential herd reduction strategies, and emergency water supplies for livestock operations.
Equipment Readiness: Maintain emergency pumping equipment, water hauling capabilities, and backup power sources for irrigation systems.
Communication Protocols: Establish clear lines of communication with employees, water districts, and neighboring operations for coordinated response.

Financial Preparedness for Drought Periods

Financial resilience is as important as operational resilience when preparing for drought. According to the USDA Economic Research Service, farms with robust financial risk management strategies are 35% more likely to remain operational through extended drought periods. This financial buffer provides the flexibility to implement drought mitigation measures and absorb temporary yield reductions without threatening the operation’s viability. The agricultural operations we’ve seen navigate drought most successfully maintain dedicated drought contingency funds and diversified income streams that remain stable even when primary production is impacted.

Insurance Coverage: Secure appropriate crop insurance policies, including consideration of Rainfall Index insurance and other specialized drought protection products.
Cash Reserves: Maintain emergency operating funds sufficient for at least 6-12 months of expenses during reduced production.
Credit Arrangements: Establish lines of credit before drought conditions emerge, as lending options may become limited during widespread agricultural stress.
Government Program Familiarity: Research and prepare documentation for USDA drought assistance programs, including the Livestock Forage Program and Emergency Conservation Program.
Enterprise Diversification: Develop multiple income streams through crop diversification, value-added products, or agritourism that can provide stability during drought.
Forward Contracting: Consider forward contracting a portion of expected production to secure prices before potential drought-related market volatility.

Long-term Infrastructure Investments for Drought Resilience

Strategic infrastructure investments can dramatically improve an agricultural operation’s drought resilience. The Natural Resources Conservation Service estimates that well-designed water infrastructure improvements typically pay for themselves within 3-7 years through reduced pumping costs, labor savings, and improved yields. These investments represent the physical backbone of drought preparedness, creating systems that maximize efficiency during normal conditions and provide critical flexibility during water shortages. From our experience working with farms across different regions, we’ve observed that operations making these investments typically maintain 70-85% of normal production during moderate drought conditions, compared to 40-60% for operations without such infrastructure.

Water storage capacity becomes particularly valuable during drought, allowing operations to capture water during periods of availability for use during scarcity. According to Colorado State University Extension, even modest on-farm water storage can extend irrigation capability by 2-4 weeks during critical growth stages. Beyond storage, investments in water delivery efficiency can reduce losses from evaporation and leakage, effectively increasing available water without requiring new sources.

Key Infrastructure Investments to Consider

When advising agricultural clients on drought preparedness, we typically recommend prioritizing infrastructure investments based on their potential water savings and operational impact:

Water Storage: Develop ponds, tanks, or reservoirs to capture and store water during periods of availability
Irrigation System Upgrades: Convert to high-efficiency systems like subsurface drip irrigation or low-pressure precision sprinklers
Conveyance Improvements: Line irrigation ditches or replace with pipes to prevent seepage losses
Greywater Systems: Install infrastructure to safely reuse appropriate wastewater for non-food crop irrigation
Shade Structures: Construct shade cloth or other protective structures for particularly valuable or sensitive crops

Community and Regional Drought Preparation

Individual farm preparation exists within the broader context of community and regional drought readiness. The National Integrated Drought Information System has found that regions with coordinated drought response frameworks typically experience 25-30% less economic damage during severe drought events. Participating in these collective efforts not only strengthens an individual operation’s resilience but also helps ensure that limited water resources are allocated effectively across the community. Many of the agricultural clients we work with find that their involvement in watershed management groups and regional planning efforts provides valuable information and resources that enhance their on-farm drought preparations.

Watershed-level management approaches recognize that drought impacts and solutions often extend beyond individual property boundaries. Collaborative approaches to water resource management can create solutions that would be impossible for individual operations to implement alone. For example, coordinated reservoir releases, shared water banking systems, and regional aquifer management have proven effective in maximizing water availability during drought conditions in many agricultural regions.

Consider these community engagement strategies to enhance your drought preparedness:

Join local watershed management groups or irrigation districts to participate in regional water planning
Participate in community water conservation initiatives that may provide technical or financial assistance
Engage with agricultural extension services offering drought-specific education and resources
Explore cooperative agreements with neighboring operations for shared water resources or equipment during emergencies
Advocate for policies that support sustainable water management and drought preparedness in your region

Conclusion: Building a Drought-Resilient Agricultural Operation

Preparing for drought requires a comprehensive approach that integrates water management, soil health, crop selection, technology, emergency planning, and financial readiness. The most resilient agricultural operations develop strategies across all these dimensions, creating multiple layers of protection against water scarcity. While drought conditions cannot be prevented, their impacts can be significantly mitigated through thoughtful preparation and adaptive management.

The investments required for drought preparedness often deliver benefits beyond drought protection alone. More efficient irrigation systems reduce energy costs, improved soil health increases nutrient efficiency, and diversified cropping systems can open new market opportunities. These co-benefits make drought preparation a sound strategy even in years with adequate rainfall.

As climate patterns continue to change, drought preparedness will likely become an even more essential component of successful agricultural management. By implementing the strategies outlined in this guide, agricultural operations can build the resilience needed to withstand dry periods while maintaining productivity and profitability for the long term.

Want to ensure your property is prepared for drought and other emergencies? Browse Batten’s expert-recommended emergency preparation products to start protecting what matters most today.

Sources used for this article:

U.S. Drought Monitor, https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/natural-resource-concerns/water/drought

National Integrated Drought Information System, https://www.drought.gov/sectors/agriculture

USDA Economic Research Service, https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/farm-practices-management/risk-management/government-programs-climate-change/