Capturing Local Drought Conditions and Impacts on Ranching
The USDA Livestock Forage Program compensates livestock producers for losses caused by drought and wildfire. The LFP bases payment eligibility on drought status categories of the U.S. Drought Monitor. This study evaluated how the LFP addresses drought and wildfire risks faced by Arizona and New Mexico ranchers and sought out drought monitoring best practices specifically for rangeland systems. CLIMAS researchers found official drought designations often differ from impacts experienced by ranchers, leaving some losses ineligible for reimbursement. This research highlights the need for a national effort to incorporate local drought experiences into characterizations of drought conditions.
"It's my favorite thing about CLIMAS, the pair between physical/social science, and learning in both directions. It helps me know what's worth focusing on. It has helped inform our other projects, like our current Aridity project. We can get faster further by teaming up on this work."
– Mike Crimmins, CLIMAS
CLIMAS Lead: Christina Greene
Research Team: Michael Crimmins, Mitch McClaran
Publications
Green, C., & Crimmins, M. A. (2024). Experiences With Drought and the Livestock Forage Program in Arizona. Climate Assessment for the Southwest, University of Arizona.