Ranchers impacted by the drought and heat of 2011 now have an important resource available to them. The Oklahoma State University (OSU) Extension Beef Team has put together a listing of drought management tools at www.beefextension.com. Click on “Drought Resources.”

The website contains maps, weather forecast information, forage management suggestions, hay listings, cattle supplementation information, other cattle management suggestions, financial services, tax considerations, ongoing government policies resulting from drought, and much more.

In addition, Texas AgriLife Extension and OSU have developed a decision aid to help cattle producers make culling decisions due to extreme drought. The Cow Bid Price Estimate Calculator, a spreadsheet program, is available at agfacts.tamu.edu/~lfalcone/newweb/droughtmgmt.htm.

The Noble Foundation in Ardmore, OK has developed www.noble.org/drought>, a Web page that will serve as a central repository for information to assist agricultural producers in managing their properties and resources throughout this difficult situation.

"This is a once-in-a-generation drought," said Billy Cook, senior vice president and director of the Agricultural Division. "We haven't seen this type of heat and lack of precipitation since the record-setting drought of the mid-1950s or even the Dust Bowl. Lloyd Noble established the Noble Foundation to assist producers after he witnessed the devastating effects of the Dust Bowl. Decades later, we're equipped with the knowledge and experience to help farmers and ranchers to successfully endure this drought."