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With changing climate patterns, many U.S. regions have experienced prolonged dry periods, which can severely impact crop yields and overall farm productivity. As we head into another planting season, it's crucial to adopt strategies that can help mitigate the effects of dry conditions.
Here are three tips to help you navigate planting if you’re currently experiencing dry conditions, followed by two considerations for proactively planning for warmer, drier weather next year as part of your overall strategy.
Regularly test your soil to understand its nutrient and moisture-holding capacity. Managing soil health during drought conditions requires specific strategies to conserve moisture, maintain soil structure, and support plant health.
Fertilization can help maintain optimal levels of essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Apply fertilizers based on soil test results to avoid over-application, which can harm soil health and water quality.
Keep in mind that soil pH affects the availability of nutrients to plants and the effectiveness of fertilizers. Managing soil pH through lime or sulfur applications ensures that nutrients are accessible to plants.
Incorporate organic matter such as compost or manure to improve soil structure and increase its water-holding capacity. Organic matter enhances soil porosity and supports microbial activity.
No-till or reduced-till practices can help preserve soil moisture and improve water infiltration.
Although you may be eager to get seed into the ground, it’s important to consider how weather conditions could impact crop success. During prolonged periods of dry conditions, use the planting techniques below to help protect seeds and encourage yield stability.
Consider adjusting planting schedules to align with periods of expected rainfall or cooler temperatures to optimize water use and reduce stress on crops.
Adjust row spacing to reduce competition for water among plants. Wider spacing can help each plant access more moisture.
Ensure seeds are planted at the correct depth to access soil moisture. Planting too shallow can expose seeds to dry conditions, while planting too deep can delay germination.
Having the right irrigation technology, as well as understanding and implementing proper irrigation timing, is crucial during dry seasons.
Monitor soil moisture levels — soil moisture sensors can help prevent over and under-watering — and weather forecasts to optimize irrigation timing. Watering during cooler parts of the day can reduce evaporation loss.
Consider using drip irrigation systems, which deliver water directly to the plant roots, reducing water waste and evaporation. Advanced systems can include remote monitoring and control capabilities, which allow you to manage irrigation schedules and monitor system performance from a phone or computer; or fertigation systems, which allow for the injection of fertilizers and other nutrients directly into the irrigation water, providing precise and efficient nutrient delivery to plants.
Although last year was the third wettest for the contiguous United States over the 130 years on record, 2024 also set a record for drought.
This year, “[f]orecasters predict above-average temperatures for the East and Gulf Coast regions, while drought conditions continue in the Southwest,” according to The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) 2025 U.S. Spring Outlook, released March 20.
“Since 1901, the average surface temperature across the contiguous 48 states has risen at an average rate of 0.17°F per decade,” reports the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “For the contiguous United States, nine of the 10 warmest years on record have occurred since 1998.”
The EPA indicates that the Southeast has not experienced significant temperature increases. The West, North, and Alaska are the regions most impacted by rising temperatures.
Consider proactively planning for warmer, drier conditions, particularly if you live in regions that have been historically impacted by increasing temperatures. Here are two ways to protect your ROI before extreme weather begins.
Choose crop varieties that are specifically bred for drought resistance. These varieties often have deeper root systems and better water-use efficiency.
Some examples include:
Sorghum
Millet
Drought-tolerant corn varieties
Soybeans
Wheat
Rotating different crops helps improve soil fertility by enhancing nutrient cycling. For example, legumes fix nitrogen in the soil, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers for subsequent crops.
Additionally, rotating crops can help stabilize yields by spreading risk across different crops with varying water needs and growth cycles. This diversification can buffer against the impacts of drought on any single crop.
Whether you need fertilizer to improve your soil health, supplies for planting and irrigation, or financing to cover irrigation equipment investments, FBN is your one-stop shop for preparing to plant in dry conditions.
We offer a broad portfolio of crop nutrition products that can help boost your soil fertility. Get direct-to-farm delivery of:
FBN.com offers pumps and meters for irrigation and personal protective equipment (PPE) like coveralls and gloves for handling chem. The “For Sale” section of the FBN Forum also includes a variety of used equipment listings from our members.
FBN Finance offers equipment financing to help you invest in irrigation equipment. We also reward qualifying farmers who practice no-till and soil conservation with exclusive savings on land loan refinancing through the Regenerative Agriculture Finance (RAF) Land Loan.
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Written by Norm℠, reviewed and edited by Stephanie Nikolopoulos.
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