Increasing Your Operation’s Resilience to Persistent Drought Conditions

Dr. Mark Svoboda with the National Drought Mitigation Center discusses a new global drought report and resources to help operations increase drought resilience.

LINCOLN, Neb. (RFD-TV) — Efforts are underway to strengthen drought resilience in agriculture as dry conditions continue to challenge farmers across Rural America and around the world.

Dr. Mark Svoboda with the National Drought Mitigation Center joined us on Tuesday’s Market Day Report to discuss a new global drought report, its key findings, and how they impact farmers and rural communities in the U.S.

In his interview with RFD-TV News, Svoboda shared insights on the drivers of worsening drought in the Great Plains and across the country, explaining how climate trends are influencing both crop production and water resources.

Svoboda highlighted the tools the Drought Center is developing to help producers prepare, such as its updated web tool, Managing Drought Risk on the Ranch, which includes advanced risk-management and planning resources tailored to local conditions. He also discussed how producers can utilize these resources to develop stronger, drought-resilient operations.

He also notes the center is rolling out new tools to help producers prepare and manage drought risk, including advanced planning resources that can be tailored to local conditions.

Farmers and rural residents can access the global report and drought planning tools at the National Drought Mitigation Center’s website.

Related Stories
Roger McEowen with the Washburn University School of Law joined us to provide legal analysis on key cases shaping the agricultural landscape heading into the year ahead.
NASDA declared 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer. President Amanda Beal joins us to share NASDA’s new hub, which highlights the impact of women in agriculture worldwide.
Matt Brockman, communications director for the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, joined us to share a preview of the upcoming event.
RFD News correspondent Frank McCaffrey reports from Texas on the ongoing water dispute and its implications for U.S. farmers.
Agronomy experts explain why standing crop residue protects soil and reduces costs for crop growers, while shredding often yields little benefit at higher costs.
Secretary Rollins also met with specialty crop producers at a local strawberry farm to discuss workforce needs and the Trump Administration’s recent wins related to significantly cutting the cost of H-2A labor for California farmers.
Brent Graves, auctioneer and mentor, shares his journey supporting youth in agriculture, livestock competitions, and how he is turning junior livestock auctions into a classroom for youth in agriculture.
China’s beef policy risk stems from domestic volatility, making export demand inherently unstable. Jake Charleston with Specialty Risk Insurance offers his perspective on cattle markets, risk management, and producer sentiment.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said permanent access to the higher ethanol blend would provide farmers with much-needed certainty while supporting domestic crop demand.