Rangelands across the globe are tightly coupled with local and regional climates, benefitting from periods of enhanced precipitation and suffering during prolonged drought periods. Climate variability and change pose unique challenges to livestock producers, pastoralists and land managers the world over. An increased understanding of large-scale modes of climate variability like the El Niño-Southern Oscillation have improved seasonal forecasts and can aid in rangeland drought planning and preparedness efforts, helping to sustain production operations and guide land stewardship. A changing climate shifting towards warmer conditions and increasing hydroclimatic variability is further raising the stakes on becoming ‘climate-smart’ in using climate monitoring and forecast information in managing rangelands.