community-based disaster risk management and the media media kit

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MEDIA KIT
Drought Preparedness
Before the drought
• Examine your water use effi ciency and irrigation needs.
• Keep up-to-date forage inventories. Accurate forage inventories in
silos, haymows and other storage areas help you to determine feed
supplies during a drought.
• Consider alternative on-farm related businesses (AOFRB).
Diversifi cation can be a good long-term approach to revenue
shortfalls from drought. Some potential businesses include:
- Alternative crops such as shiitake mushrooms, ginseng, specialty
vegetables, greenhouse plants, dried and/or cut fl owers, etc.
- Alternative livestock
- Non-production farm-related ventures such as camping, fee
hunting/shooting preserves, trout ponds, farm vacations, resort
establishments, summer camps on the farm, herd sitting, boat
and camper storage, and farm markets
- Home-based enterprises including sewing projects, crafts, catering
services, upholstery, secretarial services/word processing,
taxidermy, etc.
During the drought
• Discuss fi nancial and feed assistance in the early phase of a
drought.
• Look to your country agricultural agent for up-to-date information on
managing during a drought.
• Adjust fertilizer rates. If you have not yet applied fertilizers, adjust
your rates based on lower yield expectancy for the drought year.
• Protect livestock from heat.
• Consider alternative crops.
• Consider selling unprofi table livestock.
Managing Livestock During a Drought
Drought usually gets its reputation from its impact on crops. But its
impact on livestock can be equally dramatic. Hot, dry weather increases
the water needs of livestock, but often decreases water supplies. Crops
may not yield as planned, causing a feed shortage. Consequently,
farmers may face special challenges, including decisions about whether
to buy feed or sell livestock.