Strategies on dealing with drought for livestock producers will be discussed at a program scheduled for August 18 at the Van Zandt Farm Bureau Event Center beginning at 6:30 p.m. The event center is located at 220 Burnett Trail in Canton. There is no cost to attend.

Extended dry weather has turned to full drought for Van Zandt and surrounding counties according to the National Weather Service’s Drought Monitor. The latest release by the NWS on August 4, showed much of Van Zandt County in Stage 4 Exceptional Drought (the most severe category).

In an effort to help farmers and ranchers make informed decisions, the Van Zandt Extension Livestock and Forage Committee and Van Zandt Farm Bureau have put together a program to look at fall weather forecast, culling strategies, importance of forage analysis and ways to stretch limited hay supplies.