Drought preparation is more than just a good idea, it’s a lifeline. It is possible to not just survive dry spells, but thrive through them by building drought resilience into your soil, animals, and water sources. As farmers and ranchers, we know the land gives back what we put into it; so let’s talk about how to properly steward over your farm even when the skies run dry.
First, keep up-to-date on your local drought conditions. The National Integrated Drought Information System offers current and predictive data for moisture levels in your area. They also offer helpful tips specific to the farming community.
The right mineral program can fill in the gaps in your animals’ diet and condition their bodies to be more resilient during weather stress.
Bodies lose a lot more than water during dry spells; they also lose electrolytes. Do not wait until you notice physical stress and dehydration in your animals. Provide your animals with an unrestricted supply of electrolytes to help them get the most out of every drop of water they drink. Remember that electrolytes control the water balance in their cells, and power all the electrical impulses their brain, heart, and muscles need to function.
Offering your animals a more expansive mineral profile helps them better utilize what they are already eating and drinking. Avoid the temptation to offer low salt/heavy mineral mixes because they can be very bitter and hard for your animals to eat. A higher salt to mineral ratio with a greater variety of trace minerals provides more balanced electrolytes and resolves deficiencies more effectively than heavy mineral mixes.
Pica is an eating disorder that causes animals to chew on or lick non-food substances, like: rocks, dirt, wood, plaster, etc. If you see these behaviors in your animals, they most likely are suffering from mineral deficiencies, typically salt. Consult your vet/nutritionist and try using a higher salt to mineral ratio and offer a more expansive mineral profile.
Mineral blocks have plenty of benefits, and there are many circumstances where they are preferable. However, switching to loose minerals during drought conditions can help increase your animals’ intake. Moving your mineral stations closer to water sources and adding mineral stations will also make it easier for your livestock to get what they need. Here are some helpful tips about when to use blocks vs. loose minerals.
Each plant in your pasture reacts differently to moisture stress. With less water mobility in the soil, some nutrients may not make it into your vegetation, while other substances (like nitrates) can build up to unsafe levels. Feed that is harvested under moisture stress and stored for later can also be high in nitrates and other substances that can cause toxicosis. Test the feed and forage you are offering your animals to watch for deficiencies and toxicities so you can supplement accordingly.
During drought conditions, your animals' digestive tracts need to absorb every drop of moisture, and every speck of nutrition that they can. Adding a digestive conditioner, like volcanic bentonite clay, helps:
Improving your stewardship over the water you do have can help your farm safely weather drought conditions. First, familiarize yourself with the surface water laws in your state before investing in surface water collection. Some states have thresholds
Contouring your land with berms and swales is an ancient permaculture practice that helps catch and retain runoff. The main goal is the SLOW, SPREAD, and SINK natural rainfall into your land. (Note: drier, sandier soil is more prone to runoff and is less able to retain water. Some soils may need to be amended with clay to help with water retention.)
• First, identify sloped and low-lying areas of your land where runoff can and has occurred.
• Build up half moon shaped berms or embankments that nestle around shallow trenches (swales). For larger slopes, these earthworks can be terraced and repeated.
• Plant native, perennial vegetation to help control erosion. Mulch around new plants and saplings. Once root zones for low lying plants are well-established, larger plants and crops can be added to terraces.
• At the bottom of the slope, create a low-lying, in-ground tank/pond to catch overflow from the swales above. (Learn more about rainwater harvesting from the experts at Santa Cruz Permaculture).
• For sandy and dry soils, add a layer of sodium bentonite to the bottom of swales and the overflow pond to protect from ground loss. Applying Western Clay’s PondSeal® creates a natural water containment membrane to keep vital water where you need it most. Click to learn more about how to naturally seal a pond or stock tank on your land.
Believe it or not, planting certain trees, shrubs and other embankment plants in a buffer around your natural water sources can also help your land’s water holding capacity. These riparian buffers increase the “sponginess” of your land so it can hold more water when it is available. Learn more about agroforestry and how to build a riparian buffer on your farm.
Watering more conservatively (ie. shorter and more frequent watering sessions) reduces runoff so water can actually infiltrate soil. Consider using a smart irrigation controller that can help you optimize your water usage based on what is happening in your exact location.
Did you know that standing water can lose over 4 inches of water to evaporation in a single day? Move water troughs to shaded areas and check in throughout the day to make sure they are shaded as much as possible as the sun moves.
Put simply, healthy soil is more drought resilient. Properly amending with sea minerals, volcanic conditioner, and humates will improve:
Redmond Mineralyte is nature’s perfect recipe for conditioning your soil into a more healthy and drought resilient environment for crops, pastures, and gardens. Learn more about how to improve soil quality with Mineralyte.
Rotational grazing relieves pressure on stressed vegetation so your animals have a more consistent grazing supply. This carefully managed approach to grazing improves the quality of your pastures, more evenly distributes plant-boosting manure around your land, and helps keep soil covered.
Bare ground loses more moisture than covered ground through evaporation into the air and can actually lower your water table. Here are some tips for keeping your soil covered to improve your land’s water-holding capacity:
Soil moisture loss increases the deeper and more frequently you till your ground. Many farmers are turning to regenerative ag practices of either no-tilling or very low depth tilling to help keep hard-earned nutrients and moisture on their land.
Since the 1950s, Redmond has supported healthy farms all across the country. Our unique sea mineral and volcanic deposits in central Utah are the foundation of a wide family of products. With electrolyte mixes for you, your soil, and your animals, Redmond can help your entire farm thrive.
Find Redmond products at a store near you or call us today!
© 2026 Redmond Minerals Inc.