Spring Updates, Information, & Events to prepare for a hot & dry summer.

Now's the time to prepare your property for a dry summer. Check out our webiste for information and ideas as you prepare for a summer of drought: https://www.jswcd.org/dealing-with-drought. 
Check-out current drought conditions across Oregon here.

Informative, free webinars:

Date and time: May 4, 2021, 6 p.m. –7:30 p.m. MDT, 5p.m.-6:30pm PST
Location: Zoom online meeting (register below)
Meeting Objective: As a follow-up webinar focused on the drought condition reporting for Utah agriculture producers (bit.ly/utahdrought), this webinar focuses on drought mitigation strategies for farms and ranches. We invite producers, Extension, and other agricultural professionals to attend our workshop.
Agenda
6:00 pm  Welcome, Introduction and Objectives:
Steve Price, Carbon Co. Faculty
6:05  pm  Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage insurance program:Jason Aiken, Leavitt Group Insurance
6:20  pm  Crop rotation options for drought: Dr. Earl Creech, Agronomy Specialist
6:40 pm   Safely feeding drought compatible forages: Dr. Kerry Rood, Veterinary Medicine Specialist
7:00 pm   Deficit irrigation: Dr. Matt Yost, Agroclimate Specialist
7:20 pm   USU’s drought information: Cody Penman, Program and Communications Coordinator
7:25 pm   Question and answer

Register
 

Weather Patterns for Fire Season 2021
Presented by Brett T. Lutz
Thursday, May 20, 6 - 7:30 pm
Register for this free Zoom webinar HERE

This online presentation will focus on Fire Weather. Specifically, common weather patterns during fire season, lightning, and lightning climatology will be discussed. Brett will explain how and why lightning strikes are caused, when and where they typically occur, and observed trends in lightning data. East wind events and dry, unstable atmospheric conditions favorable to fire growth will also be explained. Red Flag Warnings and what they mean will also be covered. This presentation will conclude with an overview of current local conditions as they pertain to drought, climate, and fire as well as an outlook for the 2021 Fire Season. 

Presenter Brett Lutz is a Lead Forecaster at the Medford National Weather Forecast Office. He is also an Incident Meteorologist (IMET), serving as a national resource to Incident Management Teams, for large incidents such as wildfires. Additionally, Brett is the Fire Weather Program Manager at the Medford NWS Office, as well as Assistant Climate Program Manager, and serves as a contributor to the United States Drought Monitor (USDM) and the Monthly and Seasonal Drought Outlooks. He has been at the Medford NWS Office and has been an IMET for 15 years. Previously, Brett served as a Weather Officer for the United States Air Force in both Germany and southeastern Virginia. Brett holds a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology from the University of Utah as well as Minors in Mathematics and Aerospace Studies. He currently lives in Ashland with his wife and their 3 children. 

With irrigation seasons shortened, and water at historic lows, it's up to all of us to be responsible water-users. Report illegal water use to Oregon's Water Resources Department, District 13 Water Master, Shavon Haynes .