09/08/2026
As another hot, dry summer reminds us that climate change is becoming our new reality, it’s a good time to think about how we can make our alpaca farms more resilient. 🌱🦙
Some practical ideas include:
💧 Harvesting rainwater from field shelters and barn roofs during the wetter months, creating a valuable water reserve for dry summers.
🌾 Reseeding with herbal and meadow leys containing drought-tolerant species such as cocksfoot, timothy, smooth-stalked meadow grass, red and white clover, birdsfoot trefoil, chicory and ribwort plantain. Their deeper root systems help improve soil structure, retain moisture and create more resilient pastures.
🌿 Leaving some areas of grass longer during hot weather to shade the soil and protect young shoots underneath. This helps reduce evaporation, encourages regrowth when rain arrives and provides valuable habitat for insects and wildlife.
🌳 Planting suitable trees and hedgerows such as field maple, hornbeam, small-leaved lime, hazel and willow to provide shade, reduce evaporation, improve water infiltration and create cooler microclimates for livestock.
🚜 Managing hay crops to secure winter forage while reducing excessive dry vegetation that can increase wildfire risk.
🔥 Preparing for hotter summers by maintaining firebreaks, keeping field access clear for emergency vehicles, checking machinery regularly during hay making, and ensuring emergency water supplies are readily available.
Healthy soils are our greatest water reservoir. By adapting our farms today, we can better protect our alpacas, improve biodiversity and build resilient farms for the future.
What drought adaptation measures have worked well on your farm? We’d love to hear your ideas and experiences. 🌍💚
