Drought is an adaptive challenge where management strategies and practices that work today might not work tomorrow. Adaptive challenges facing management may require thinking systemically to determine leverage points.

Systems thinking can be an effective way to see the big picture, deal with complex situations, and create effective long-term management alternatives for the ranch.

Successful management alternatives will provide flexibility to protect the core business (i.e., cow herd), be enterprise-diverse to spread risk, and allow management for the good of the whole, not simplyto maximize the pieces.

It is important to evaluate your own ranching system to identify the appropriate enterprises or practices, there is no best mix.