Workshop Topics

• What the U.S. Drought Monitor means to you

• How California Ranchers are coping with the drought

• New feeding strategies for livestock during drought

• NOAA's forecast for the coming season

On November 7, 2014, we brought the U.S. Drought Monitor authors and the California State Climatologist to UC Davis to talk about 1) how the U.S. Drought monitor is updated weekly; and 2) how local expert knowledge, real time ranch impacts, and other relevant data can be used to inform the U.S Drought Monitor. We also shared new information on California Ranchers’ perceptions and experiences with drought, new livestock feeding strategies during drought, and seasonal weather forecasts for California.

Videos and Presentations

Welcome from Ken Tate, UC Davis. Presenters: Mark Svoboda, Brian Fuchs, Brad Rippey

Panel - Questions and Discussion about the Drought Monitor and California.

Presenters: Leslie Roche, Glenn Nader, Michael Anderson

Closing Remarks: Justin Oldfield and Tim Koopmann, California Cattlemen’s Association

A Behind the Scenes Look at the Drought Monitor: History, Tools, and Methods

Mark Svoboda, Climatologist/Monitoring and Program Area Leader/National Drought Mitigation Center/University of Nebraska-Lincoln

As the NDMC’s Monitoring Program Area Leader, Mark’s duties include overseeing the center’s operational national drought monitoring activities. Mark co-founded the development of the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) in 1999 and serves as one of the principal authors of both the weekly USDM and monthly North American Drought Monitor products. He currently sits on the American Meteorological Society’s Applied Climate Committee as well as NOAA’s National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) Program Office’s Implementation Team.

How to Get Information into the US Drought Monitor Process

Brian Fuchs, Assistant Geoscientist/Climatologist, National Drought Mitigation Center, School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Climatologist with the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska. I am one of the 11 US Drought Monitor authors and have been working in the applied climate field for the last 15 years.  My research focus deals mainly with drought monitoring and the development of tools and information for stakeholders.

The California Drought of 2011-14: Brief History and Current Impacts

Brad Rippey, USDA Meteorologist Office of the Chief Economist World Agricultural Outlook Board

Brad Rippey is an agricultural meteorologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of the Chief Economist, and the managing editor of the Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin. He is one of eleven rotating authors of the weekly U.S. Drought Monitor. Prior to joining USDA in 1998, Rippey worked as a meteorologist with the U.S. Department of Commerce for more than 10 years.

New Livestock Drought Feeding Strategies

Glenn Nader, Livestock and Natural Resources Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension.

Glenn is responsible for applied research and education on livestock and natural resources in Yuba, Sutter, and Butte counties. He works with ranchers on feeding strategies for livestock during drought, sustained ranching, ranch budget analysis, general livestock nutrition and health, and marketing. Glenn is a 4th generation California rancher.

Seasonal Climate Forecast and Opportunity for Q&A’s for the Coming Season

Michael Anderson, State Climatologist, California Department of Water Resources

I provide technical support to programs within the Department related to observations, planning, forecasts, and projections of weather and climate.  I have 10 years of experience in my current position and spent the previous 15 years at the University of California Davis getting my advanced degrees and post-doctoral research in the area of hydroclimate studies.  For the current drought, I provide information on the historical positioning of the magnitude and duration of the drought, outlooks for future evolution of water conditions, and provide outreach in the form of presentations and interviews.  I also serve on the Department’s Drought Management Team.