Adair County
Livestock Water in a Dry Winter
by John H. Ferguson
The dry weather this fall has been perfect for harvesting crops but not so beneficial for livestock producers. Many cattle producers are experiencing a shortage of fall grazing. Fortunately this is somewhat offset by a productive hay season earlier in the year.
More serious, though, is the condition of many ponds through parts of Northwest Missouri. In many areas, ponds range from low to dry. Depending on how much rain we receive in November and December, many producers will have a difficult time keeping cattle adequately watered through the winter.
Those with access to rural water should consider their options for supplying it to the livestock. While this can be an expensive source. it makes an excellent back-up when other systems fail. A producer with a dependable, high-producing well also has an ace in the hole.
Producers who depend on ponds for livestock water have few options when the ponds dry up. Hauling water for cattle is expensive and time consuming, and can be difficult in freezing weather. If there is a good pond on a neighboring farm, pumping may be a reasonable option. Freezing temperatures also make this approach problematic, however. All in all, it may be easier to move the cattle to water than to bring the water to the cattle. If you are in this position, I would encourage you to explore your options, visit with your neighbors, and see what arrangements can be made.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman has declared all counties in Missouri eligible for disaster assistance. Several types of cost-share and loan programs are available through you local USDA-Farm Service Agency office, although specifics may vary from county to county. Livestock water supply and distribution systems may be eligible practices. Your local FSA office can provide more details on eligibility and repayment requirements.
Looking past the immediate concern, this may be a good time to make some improvements to old ponds. Ponds tend to go dry if they have an inadequate drainage area or because they leak. Many older ponds have both of these problems.
As a rule of thumb, a pond should have at least 10 acres of drainage for each surface acre. Many older ponds were built close to the top of the hill and have small drainage areas. It is often possible to increase the drainage area by building a diversion terrace from one or both ends of the existing dam on a grade line across the hillside. This will help replenish and refresh the water more frequently when it does rain.
The diversion usually does not need to be large, and can often be built with a plow and a blade on a farm tractor. It is beneficial however, to survey the grade line. If the line is too flat, it will not drain properly. If it is too steep, a gully is likely to develop in the channel. A gradient of about six inches per 100 foot is usually suitable. You should also consider that the pond is more likely to run over in times of heavy rainfall, and maintenance of the spillway will become more important. It is also important to reestablish grass cover on the disturbed ground as quickly as possible to prevent erosion.
If your pond is poorly sealed and tends to leak or seep, this problem is best addressed while it is low or dry. This is not an easy repair, and there is no sure-fire remedy. Treatment with bentonite clay is probably the cheapest and most successful choice. Bentonite is a type of clay that swells to several times its normal size when it contacts moisture, and is readily available in granular form. It should be spread at a rate of 1 or 2 pounds per square foot, and blended with the existing soil to a depth of about four inches. Spreading bentonite on top of standing water is usually not very successful. Other approaches include blanketing the area with heavy clay, or installing a flexible plastic or rubber membrane.
For more information about sealing ponds, ask for publications G1555, G1548, and G1546, available from your local Extension Center. For assistance in staking and building a diversion, contact your local NRCS/SWCD office. For information about emergency assistance available for watering livestock, contact your local USDA-FSA office.
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University of Missouri Extension |
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