Snow

Wisconsin Dairy Farm Faces Rare Milk Dump During Brutal March Blizzard

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 21:32:06 GMT

A powerful March blizzard brought parts of Wisconsin to a standstill, blanketing roads, cutting off access, and forcing one dairy farm into an extraordinary decision.

Even as the storm shut down everything around one dairy farmer, it couldn’t stop the work, or the heart, of this farm family in Manawa, Wisconsin.

Whiteout conditions made travel impossible across the region, and for Chris Henschel, a dairy farmer in Manawa, the storm quickly turned from difficult to unprecedented. The March blizzard forced a decision he says he never expected to make.

“I would say this is probably one of the worst ones I’ve ever seen,” Henschel says.

Snow drifts reached five to fifteen feet high, and roads were impassable for roughly 36 hours. Milk trucks couldn’t get through, and employees couldn’t reach the farm, leaving the Henschel family to run everything on their own.

“The wind was huge because anytime you would plow anything, it would drift right back closed. So actually it basically wasn’t safe for drivers to be out… just my family trying to run everything by ourselves,” Henschel says.

With no way to move milk off the farm, the family was forced to make a decision no dairy farmer wants to face.

“Yes, we ended up dumping basically almost a day’s worth worth of milk because nobody could get here And have you ever had to dump milk before? We personally have no, we’ve never had, we’ve heard of other farmers having to do it, but we have never had to do,” Henschel says.

Even as the milk was lost, the cows were still cared for through the storm. Thanks to robotic milkers, the herd remained on schedule, but the human effort behind the operation became the biggest challenge.

“We milked with robots. So we did not have, our cows did not, it was more impact on our, the people, you know, just trying to get to the barn to take care of the cows and get the cows fed, you know, they did get fed a little late yesterday, but yeah, more, more so on the people than the cows. We made sure that cows were taken care of,” Henschel says.

While the financial impact remains uncertain, the storm tested the limits of the entire family and revealed just how far they were willing to go.

Ten-year-old Jack and six-year-old Elliot joined their parents in braving the blizzard, helping feed the cows and keep the farm running.

“Just getting around, getting the cows fed, you know, trying to open things up. So we could get the cows fed and get, you know, everybody taken care of and trying to keep everybody dry and clean. And yeah, that was a big truck, big struggle,” Henschel says.

Chris Henschel, Dairy Farmer, Manawa, Wisconsin

(The blizzard earlier this week created blinding conditions. With roads closed and employees unable to make it in, Henschels two sons stepped in to help. )

Through the wind, drifting snow, and near-impossible conditions, the family pushed forward—ensuring the cows were fed and cared for even when simply reaching the barn was a challenge.

“Dad’s still plowing some snow, but just kind of cleaning some things up, but yeah, everything’s pretty much back to normal,” Henschel says.

It was a storm Henschel says was worse than the blizzard of 2018, and one he hopes never to see again. But it also became a powerful reminder of the resilience of farm families—where grit, teamwork, and family come together when it matters most.

Winter-Proof Your Workforce: Keeping Employees Warm on the Job

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 17:11:57 GMT

What started as a mild winter is bound to become brutal as plunging, dangerous temperatures sweep across much of the U.S. While most of the country will stay bundled up inside, farmers and their employees don’t have the luxury of skipping work for a snow day.

To create a safe and comfortable work environment for your farm employees, it’s important to address the specific challenges posed by cold weather on the farm. As temperatures begin to drop, consider implementing the following tips to keep your crew safe, warm and productive:

Make Sure They Have Adequate Clothing

Dressing poorly shouldn’t be considered “cool,” especially when it comes to harsh winter weather conditions on the farm. However, not all employees know how to appropriately dress for the bitter weather. Consider providing them with the following checklist and keeping a few extra items in a bin for employees to use in case they forget.

Some examples of warm winter clothing include:

Lined jackets
Lined overalls
Stocking caps / hats and lined gloves
Long thermal underwear
Lined boots – waterproof and anti-slip
Wicking wool socks
Scarf

Provide Warm Break Areas

Working out in the cold can take a toll on the body. That’s why it’s necessary to take frequent breaks to rest and warm up. To keep employees going, be sure to create designated warm break areas for your employees to recuperate.

Offer snacks that are not only tasty but also provide energy. Nutritious options like trail mix, energy bars, and fruits can help replenish energy levels. You can also supply a selection of hot beverages like coffee, tea or hot chocolate. If employees are coming in from wet or snowy conditions, consider having a designated area with a drying rack for wet outerwear, gloves, and boots.

Adjust Schedules

Adjusting schedules in the winter is a practical strategy to address the challenges and potential hazards associated with cold weather. Along with allowing more frequent breaks to prevent prolonged exposure to the cold, consider scheduling more grueling outdoor tasks during the warmer parts of the day.

Keep Up Communication

Safety concerns rise as cold weather intensifies. This rings true for not only our employees, but livestock as well. Keep the lines of communication open with employees to address concerns and gather feedback on their comfort and to learn if areas of the farm need immediate attention.

Work in Pairs

While farmers are already hard-pressed to find labor, working in pairs allows employees to get the job done quickly and safely. Using the buddy system ensures that every employee is accounted for and that the work gets done in a timely fashion. This system is especially important for employees working in remote areas.

Have an Emergency Kit

Winter weather can be unpredictable. Having an emergency kit in a well-known location can be a lifesaver when it comes to coping with unexpected challenges. Keep your kit filled with the essentials, such as:

Medical supplies
Extra clothing
Blankets
Handwarmers
Flashlights
Non-perishable snacks

Know the Signs of Cold Stress

Hypothermia and frostbite are the two most common forms of cold stress and can be fatal if left untreated. To help minimize the risk of these conditions going unnoticed, make sure to review and be on the lookout for the following symptoms.

Signs of Hypothermia:

Fast and shallow breathing / trouble breathing.
Going from shivering to not shivering.
Hunger, fatigue and confusion.
Lack of coordination.
Increased heart rate.
Weak pulse.
Slurred speech / mumbling.
Dizziness and nausea.

Signs of Frostbite:

Cold skin, prickling feeling and numbness.
Red, white, bluish-white or grayish-yellow skin.
Hard or waxy-looking skin.
Clumsiness due to joint and muscle stiffness.
Blistering after rewarming when severe (expect exposed skin to peel off).
If the skin turns black seek medical attention..

Meteorologists Say to Prepare For An Active December

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 19:11:28 GMT

For those in the Midwest, a low pressure system arrived Tuesday night bringing strong winds — a wide area of wind advisories — and for some winter precipitation.

“Wisconsin is having an amazing snow event today,” says Eric Snodgrass, meteorologist for Nutrien, in his latest YouTube update. “There’s a blizzard warning in northern Wisconsin.”

Are there more rounds of snow coming and will it be widespread?
While Snodgrass says for most, Thanksgiving Day itself will be quiet-weather-wise, the day after brings increased interest for travel-effecting weather, especially for those east of the Rocky Mountains.

“There will be 10°F to 20°F temp drops through the northern Plains to the Gulf coast,” Snodgrass says. “Snow is more probably because of the cold temperatures — the transition line between rain and snow on Saturday night — we don’t know. It’s going to be a fine line.”

He points to parts of Missouri, Illinois, most of Iowa, Minnesota and all of Wisconsin and Michigan to see some snow. With Wisconsin and Michigan seeing models indicating snow totals from 1’ to 2’. There will be better precipitation chances for the southeast in the form of rain.

The precipitation event forecast comes with greater confidence heading into the holiday weekend.

“I was happy to see the models align this morning,” Snodgrass says.

Eric Snodgrass highlights the latest ECMWF Ensemble forecast for getting at least 3" and 6" of snow through Thanksgiving weekend.

(AgWx.com)

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey notes some will see extreme cold for the first time this winter.

“Look for our first outbreak of sub-zero temperatures of the 25/26 winter season,” Rippey says. “And by Monday morning, December 1, those sub-zero temperatures will encompass large parts of the northern Plains and upper Midwest.”

And then early next week, there’s another system moving from the Mississippi delta through the southeast to bring additional rainfall totals.

Some areas that will remain dry through early December include the Canadian prairies, California and the southwest.

The First of Many
“It’s the post-Thanksgiving period that I’m most concerned about. We will be looking at a series of storms moving out of the northwest and eventually reaching the nation’s midsection,” Rippey says. “If you’re going to wait a little bit for heading home after the holiday, do look for some potential for very disruptive weather late Sunday into Monday, eventually reaching airports like Denver and spreading toward Chicago as we head into the first day of December.”

Rippey adds as we head into the winter months it’s reasonable to expect it to be colder and much more stormy across a vast swath of the country.

Normal La Niña Pattern to Return By Thanksgiving

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 16:25:32 GMT

What are the primary weather events being watched by the leading ag meteorologists right now? Here’s a round-up.

A Bit of an Oddball La Niña

“We need to be really careful about making big assumptions about this La Niña. It is not a classic La Niña,” says Drew Lerner, World Weather, Inc. He points to two large rain events in the southern U.S. Plains this past week.

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey adds southern California has also received a lot of precipitation. He says it’s the timing and strength of the La Niña bringing a different pattern than could be expected.

“The big thing we’re watching is the fact that we’re in a La Niña during the month of September for the fifth time in six years,” Rippey says. “And with that, November’s been a little bit strange so far. We haven’t fully kicked into what you would expect to see with a La Niña regime.”

More Precipitation on Its Way

“We also have a lot of warm ocean water between Hawaii and California, so watch for more heavy rain, like we saw this week coming into California a little later in the winter,” Lerner says.

Rippey says people across the Great Plains can expect more storms through this week.

“Given the fact that we are heading into a La Niña winter, we need the moisture across the southern Plains now,” Rippey says. “It looks like more of a La Niña regime setting in for the latter part of November and certainly by Thanksgiving. By that I mean stormier, colder weather across the north, and some of that warm and dry weather should become more established across the South. It’ll be a while until we get there.”

The week of Thanksgiving is showing some increased chance for winter storms and perhaps travel-impactful weather events.

Droughty Conditions Bring Concerns

Dry weather persists in key grazing areas, which Matt Makens from Makens Weather says is his biggest concern for the rest of this year and early into 2026.

Lerner adds: “The northern Plains and neighboring areas of Canada’s prairies won’t see much precipitation. There’s still a big, bad drought up there, and they’re hoping for better moisture. But in the meantime, our wheat that’s in the soft wheat that’s in the lower Midwest bowl will get a nice drink of water.”

Pacific Storm Season Brought More Action Than the Atlantic

Reflecting on the ongoing hurricane season, Rippey says while it was indicated we could have an active season, there have been only 13 named storms and only five hurricanes.

Without any major storms making landfall in the U.S., Rippey points to a few factors:

“We had the African feeder storms, the thunderstorms that come off the African coast, came off a little further north than they normally would. And that put some of those thunderstorm complexes into a more hostile environment as they developed or tried to develop,” he says.
“We had a protective jet stream across the eastern United States, a little dip along the East Coast of the United States that really forced any developing storms to recurve before they ever reach the United States,” he says.

“A lot of that moisture ended up in the western United States eventually, remnant tropical moisture, and that certainly has helped to chip away at the drought across the western United States, courtesy of the active eastern Pacific season with 18 overall named storms,” Rippey adds.

Planting Season Outlook

While planting season is about five months away for many, the weather trends are tipping the scales to a slow start.

“I still have some confidence in saying that some of the northern areas of the country — northern plains, upper Midwest — could face a spring with a delayed warm-up,” Rippey says. “We could see some snowy cold conditions lingering into the early to mid-spring across some of those northern production areas. Typically coming out of La Niña, we do see a later planting season in the north, and we will have to watch drought in the south.”

La Niña Will Flip to El Niño

As for what’s ahead in the new year, Maken says while we might start with a La Niña, toward the end of the year, we’ll flip into an El Niño.

“And when you do this flip, it depends on how quickly it flips, because it can mean a lot of rainfall for a lot of folks,” he says. “And not that La Niña and El Niño are the end-all, be-alls, but they’re the major players in the room. Some really like hearing El Niño. Others really do not like the person saying that.”

Widespread Warmth, Lingering Drought Dominate Early November Outlook

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 16:07:22 GMT

It’s been an unusually warm start to November, a trend that’s gripping the West and preventing moisture from reaching areas that need it. But that trend could shift later in the month, at least in terms of temperatures.

Several parts of the U.S. experienced their warmest November days on record in 2025, including Denver, Colo., and Tucson, Ariz. Other locations like Goodland, Kan., Sidney, Neb., and La Junta, Colo., also set daily record highs. But just how high are we talking?

Denver : Broke its all-time record November high, reaching 83°F and significantly exceeding the previous record of 78°F
Tucson : Set a record for the hottest day of the year on Saturday with 88°F, then broke its own record the next day with 92°F
Cheyenne : Recorded its latest-ever 70°F
San Jose : Reached 80°F

Meteorologist Brian Bledsoe, of Brian Bledsoe Weather, says through the first half of November, he expects above-normal temperatures across the western two-thirds of the country, with the Southeast seeing slightly cooler conditions.

“The western two-thirds of the country are just going to be a blowtorch,” he says.

Not Good News for Chances of Rain

It’s not just the warmth, but also the lack of moisture in the forecast. Bledsoe says rain chances will stay limited for most regions, especially the Mid-Mississippi Valley and the Gulf Coast, where below-normal precipitation is likely. The Pacific Northwest and parts of the Northern Rockies are the exceptions, potentially seeing wetter-than-average conditions.

“We’re continuing to build on some of these dry areas that have expanded across much of the country,” Bledsoe says. “If you look at the current drought monitor, there’s still a good bit of the country suffering from drought.”

The most recent look at the U.S. Drought Monitor paints a troubling picture heading into winter.

(U.S. Drought Monitor )

He notes that drought persists in the Southwest, where the monsoon season failed to deliver consistent rainfall. Washington, Idaho, and northwest Montana are also struggling with dryness, while parts of the Corn Belt — and even sections of the Northeast — remain abnormally dry.

“Absolutely, we have areas we need to work on,” he says. “But the current pattern just isn’t conducive to big storms bringing widespread moisture.”

Ridge Holds Firm Across the West

Bledsoe explains a strong ridge of high pressure anchored over the interior West — covering Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico — is pushing most storm systems northward.

A look at how the warmth will shift in November.

(Brian Bledsoe )

“That ridge is basically diverting the storm track,” he says. “Meanwhile, farther east — across the eastern Great Lakes and into the far eastern Corn Belt — we’ll be under the influence of a trough of low pressure. That brings a few chances for colder air and maybe some brief moisture, but it’s not a setup for big storms.”

Pattern Shift Possible Later in November

There is some hope for change as the month progresses. Long-range European models show the upper-level ridge beginning to weaken, opening the door for a more active storm track.

“As that ridge gradually breaks down, we’ll start to see less of the drier-than-average pattern,” Bledsoe says. “Areas farther north will likely see moisture first, and then hopefully that extends farther south into the Plains.”

Precipitation outlook for the first half of November.

(Brian Bledsoe )

Snow in the Forecast?

While the heat was the headline to start November, and continues to be the case in the western U.S., there will be a blip of not just cooler air, but much colder air that could bring snow to the central and eastern parts of the country. But it won’t last long.

AccuWeather says you’ll need to brace for a big change this weekend and early next week in the central and eastern United States . AccuWeather meteorologists warn the weather pattern indicates a surge of cold air and at least one storm capable of producing a band of accumulating snow across parts of the Midwest, followed by lake-effect snow and perhaps a bit of snow in portions of the Appalachians to the south.

AccuWeather says cold air will fail to gain a lasting foothold for the remainder of this week, with significant temperature swings from one day to the next in the Midwest and Northeast.

(AccuWeather)

AccuWeather is calling it “Christmastime cold” that’s on the way.
Their meteorologists say a large push of cold air arrives this weekend, which will cause conditions to drastically change.

A significant dip in the jet stream is forecast to begin this weekend for the Central and Eastern states.

“Temperatures will feel more like mid-December or even Christmastime in many places by next week,” AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok says.

A storm is forecast to track along the boundary of the advancing cold air from this weekend in the Midwest to early next week in the Northeast.

(AccuWeather )

But the cold air will fail to gain a lasting foothold for the remainder of this week, with significant temperature swings from one day to the next in the Midwest and Northeast, according to AccuWeather.

It may be temporary, but the colder air will bring chances of accumulating snow in areas of the Midwest and the Appalachians that are farther south and rather low in elevation, according to AccuWeather. The storm is forecast to track along the boundary of the advancing cold air from this weekend in the Midwest to early next week in the Northeast.

“As we see it now, the most likely time for snow showers in Chicago that can bring a small accumulation is late Saturday night to Sunday morning,” Pastelok says. “Around Detroit the most likely timing for accumulating snow showers is from Sunday morning to Sunday midday.”

While an excessive accumulation of snow is not anticipated on the roads, AccuWeather says the snow can fall at a heavy enough rate near the Interstate 94 and 80/90 corridor to make for slushy conditions in some areas.

As Temperatures Near 100 Degrees in the Upper Midwest, Does it Signal a Bigger Problem for Summer?

Tue, 13 May 2025 17:11:11 GMT

The weather this week just might prove how unusual the spring of 2024 has been. From the disparities in moisture, to temperature swing of 60°F in just a matter of days in North Dakota, the weather pattern is abnormal, and weather models are confused on snowfall totals even 10 days out.

Eric Snodgrass, Science Fellow and Principal Atmospheric Scientist for Nutrien Ag Solutions, says this spring has been anything but normal.

“I don’t think anybody has told me, ‘This spring’s been pretty much what I expected.’ I think most folks have been saying, ‘Wow, when is this [rain] going to quit so I can get in the fields versus, hey, we got everything done early. Just don’t send a frost my way.’”

Just last weekend, cool temperatures gripped the Great Lakes with frost warnings. And with another cold blast on the way for the Plains and northwest this weekend the temperature swings continue.

“Some folks are still battling with those cold late spring temperatures” Snodgrass says. “But I think that you’re going to look back on spring of 2025 and think this didn’t look anything like 2023, and it definitely doesn’t look like 2024. Are we looking at something entirely different for this growing season than our past few years for reference? And I think the answer to that is yes.”

Weather Whiplash Hits the Northern Plains

North Dakota reached record-breaking temperatures already this week. The National Weather Services (NWS) in Bismark reports a record temperatures of 97°F on Monday, which beat the previous record of 92°F set in 1880.

Four record high temperatures were set or tied at primary climate sites in western through central North Dakota today. #ndwx pic.twitter.com/bNQz1qN4z6
— NWS Bismarck (@NWSBismarck) May 13, 2025

Those temperatures will drop to near freezing by this weekend with some models even pointing to snow. Snodgreass says the weather models aren’t in agreement about snowfall amounts, but one thing is certain: it will get much colder.

The storm system Snodgrass is watching will hit early next week, but he says the models are confused and not handling the cold and snow risk very well.

And this just keeps getting "better". The 18Z GFS on Sunday is off the rails with snow over the next 10-days. https://t.co/Ij3MRkMOgU pic.twitter.com/Thb93bgMzK
— Eric Snodgrass (@snodgrss) May 12, 2025

This is the GFS model run on Sunday pointed to as much as 2' of snow in parts of North Dakota and South Dakota early next week. Snodgrass says that model has been unreliable recently, so don’t bank on that.

“The GFS has been having serious problem lately,” Snodgrass told AgWeb. “Do not rely on the GFS right now.”

Snowfall forecast according to the latest Euro model.

(Eric Snodgrass)

Meanwhile, the European mode also shows snow in the forecast, but Snodgrass says he doesn’t trust that model either. However, he says temperatures will drop even further before the snow chances next week.

“There are a pair of deeper lows that are following each other,” he says. “The first comes through and increases the severe storm risk Thursday and Friday, and the second one feeds on the cold air behind the first dropping temps even further giving rise to the chance for snow.”

Disparity in Moisture So Far This Spring

The good news is those cooler temperatures will come with chances of moisture, which will fall in areas of the country that need it. But that moisture will also hit the mid-South, an area that can’t seem to catch a break from the rain.

“Take a look at parts of the mid-South getting over to the southern Plains,” Snodgrass says. “I mean Oklahoma and Texas, we’ve got places that have had five to six times their normal amount of rainfall in the last 30 days. And then you go just north of it. Corners of Kansas, Colorado, most of Nebraska, Western Iowa, pockets of Illinois, Minnesota. You have spots that are like, hey, share the rain a little bit. And they’re looking at very, very dry conditions.”

Precipitation Over the Past 30 Days

(Eric Snodgrass)

The agricultural meteorologist is most concerned about Nebraska. He says it’s not just the fact that area has been lacking moisture recently, but the fact disappointing moisture over the winter is creating a deficit for subsoil moisture.

“We have very low soil moisture values in pockets of the western Corn Belt, while soils are completely saturated across the southern tier of the United States in pockets in the Northeast,” Snodgrass says. “So when you look at that, it’s the story of who’s been getting the rain and who’s not, and this spring has not been very equitable in the delivery of that rainfall.”

Soil moisture map

(Eric Snodgrass)

Drought Risk Still a Concern for Summer

The Climate Prediction Center recently released its outlook for summer, saying “ENSO-neutral will continue through the Northern Hemisphere summer and early autumn 2025.” The CPC says the forecast also favors ENSO-neutral with chances nearing 50% during the autumn.

What does this mean? Snodgrass says you don’t need a La Niña to produce drought.

“There’s often a thought process that you have to have a La Niña in order to have a drought in the summer in the Midwest. You don’t, right? The actual more important thing is the ocean temperatures off the Baja of California or in the Gulf of Alaska,” says Snodgrass. “We’ve already got cold ocean temperatures off the Bay of California. If we kind of double whammy that up with cold water in the Gulf of Alaska or even all the way back over toward Japan, hugging the land, that is the recipe for problems.”

The reason drought this summer is still a concern.

(Eric Snodgrass)

Snodgrass says the forecast for June, July and August is pointing to risks of dryness, especially in July. Even the newer European model is indicating the growing chance of dryness this summer.

“Here’s the lesson: If in the next 40 days, those water temperatures warm, you know what’s going on? The atmosphere is gaining momentum,” Snodgrass says. “If it gains momentum, we tend to have more frequent weather systems and no major risk of drought. If they stay cool, we tend to have greater risk of central United States drought. That’s what I’m watching most closely over the next 45 days.”

Preciptitaion Forecast for June through August.

(Eric Snodgrass)

This Winter's Lack of Snow Cover Could Spell Trouble for Drought in These Areas

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 20:02:43 GMT

It was the winter that wasn’t for some areas of the U.S. Farmers located in the upper Plains, northern Plains and Northeast came up short on snow for the 2024/25 season. In some cases, they experienced the winter that wasn’t, now sitting 10" to 30" short on normal snowfall.

It’s been the “haves” and “have nots” when it comes to moisture. April started with monsoon rains that brought flooding all the way from southern and eastern Arkansas to the Ohio Valley. According to USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey, some of those areas saw their worst flooding since the spring of 1997.

“Some of these bottom lands and low lands that are filled with pastures and normally planted to crops, we’re going lose that, or we’re going to have to wait a long time to plant that this year. So, there’s certainly an impact with this early April flooding on top of the mid February flooding across the same general area,” Rippey says.

Observed flooding map

(NOAA )

While there’s too much moisture in the South, which is delaying planting for some, the lack of snow and moisture in the northern tier of states is bringing an early start to planting this year.

Rippey says if you draw a line just north of Kansas City directly east to Washington D.C., the area above that line is where he’s concerned about the lack of snow and what it means for soil moisture this spring.

“Pretty much folks north of theNorthern Plains, upper Midwest and Northeast came up short on snow for the 2024/25 season. In some cases, as much as 10" to 30" short,” Rippey says. “That’s a concern for those areas heading into the spring because they depend on melting snow to provide soil moisture in the spring for newly planted crops. So, if we were to have a dry spring and summer on top of that nearly snowless winter, that is where we get into concerns for drought, expansion or intensification heading into the heart of the growing season.”

Season-to-date snowfall maps shows just how dry it’s been across the northern tier of states.

(Brad Rippey/USDA )

Rippey points to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor , which shows elevated drought coverage compared to normal, in areas of Southern California into Texas. There’s also a second area of drought across the Northern Plains and upper Midwest that’s drawing his attention, which is the area that had very little snow over the winter.

“I think it’s really those two Western drought areas which have almost merged at this point where we do have big concerns for drought heading into the growing season,” Rippey says.

The latest map shows three main pockets of drought across the U.S.

(U.S. Drought Monitor )

The National Weather Service Outlook (NOAA) seasonal outlook for May, June and July shows that stark line for moisture could continue.

“The precipitation outlook, unfortunately, shows odds are tilting toward dryness in a lot of the north central and northwestern United States. So, picture that fairly snow-less winter and then a potentially dry summer. Could that drought expand into the upper Midwest and the western Corn Belt? Yes, it certainly could. That’s one real area of agricultural concern for the summer of 2025,” Rippey says.

NOAA’s Seasonal Precipitation Outlook indicates areas already struggling with drought and dryness could see continued dry conditions through July.

(NOAA)

Rippey says areas of the country already dealing with dryness and drought are also areas that could struggle to see moisture May through July, according to NOAA.

“It looks like that haves and have nots may continue as you see that wet pattern across the East and hopefully a decent monsoon in the Southwest, but we’re gonna have to wait until July for that to move in,” Rippey says.

As for NOAA’s outlook on temperatures, the agency is forecasting much of the U.S. will see above-normal temperatures, with a pocket hovering over the four corners region in the bullseye for extreme heat.

NOAA’s Seasonal Temperature Outlook points to warmer conditions for much of the U.S. over the next three months.

(NOAA )

Is The Planting Light Red, Green Or Yellow?

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 18:36:01 GMT

When the race to plant crops gets underway in your area this spring, take care to not stumble at the starting gate, advises Ken Ferrie, Farm Journal Field Agronomist.

One way to start strong is to evaluate weather and soil conditions to determine whether they’re signaling you have a red, green or yellow light for field work and planting.

“We don’t let the calendar, the coffee shop or neighbors dictate when we go to the field,” Ferrie says. “We do our own investigating and check all soil types, especially those in the lower topography parts of the field.”

Here are four considerations as you prepare for #planting2025:

1. Do The Ribbon Test
Jumping the gun with spring tillage and planting is costly. Ferrie points out that 80% of the compaction service calls he goes on each year can trace their roots back to the first pass the farmer made in the spring.

“Compaction put in by a field cultivator is a bad gift that keeps on giving all year long. You can’t take this gift back and get a redo,” he says.

Before you take off with spring tillage or plant, he advises checking conditions just under your tillage depth. It’s a practice that he calls making a soil ribbon.

Here are three simple steps to make a Soil Ribbon:

a. If you usually run a tillage tool 4” deep, take a shovel and dig down under that to about 5” deep.

b. Collect some soil in your hand and attempt to ball it up. If the soil is wet, it will readily ball up.

c. Once you get the soil balled up, squeeze it between your thumb and forefinger to see if you can make a ribbon about 1½” long.

“If you can make a ribbon, your tillage will not only put in a density change, but it will also put in a compaction layer. That’s a red light,” Ferrie says. “If you decide to move forward with tillage and planting, you probably will need to adjust your yield expectations later in the season as well as your marketing plan.”

Ferrie adds he has known growers who spent a lot of money and time the previous fall with deep tillage that got wiped out by one bad tillage pass the following spring. Don’t be that farmer this season.

2. Know the germ quality of your soybean and corn seed.

That can help you determine planting order or whether you need to check in with your seed supplier about making a product switch, notes Missy Bauer, Farm Journal Field Agronomist, based in south-central Michigan, near Coldwater.

Bauer says farmers are finding soybean seed is a mixed bag quality-wise this season, because of dry weather conditions that hammered much of the Midwest in 2024.

“Some of the seed that was harvested for soybeans last fall was under pretty dry conditions, 8%, 9% moisture, things like that,” she reports. “So, the seed quality this year has just been real up and down. We’ve had beans that are just awesome seed quality. And then we get another batch that comes in that’s got issues.”

For growers who might not have tested their soybean seed, she would say see what the cold germ scores are, because of the variation in quality.

“If you’re going to plant early, you want to know it can handle germinating in cold conditions, so we really encourage guys get seed tested,” she says.

With seed corn, if you have seed that tests on the lower end of saturated cold score ranges, Ferrie says to plant that seed once conditions will enable the crop to emerge in five to six days.

“You guys putting starter in-furrow, keep in mind that severe pericarp damage scores tend to lead to more starter burn issues,” he adds. “When it comes to corn stands, many issues are solved when we plant corn based on soil conditions and not the calendar. This could be your highest-yielding corn crop of your career. Let’s not shoot ourselves in the foot before we start.”

Here are some additional thoughts on how to Test Your Seed Before Planting To Avoid Quality Issues

3. Avoid Corn Seed Chilling

To avoid seed chilling, Ferrie advises farmers to plant corn only under two conditions. First, check to see that the soil temperature is 50 degrees F or higher, and second, you want a promising weather forecast in the days following planting.

“One of the challenges of planting in soils that are 45° or lower is seed chilling,” Ferrie says. “When the corn seed imbibes moisture, the temperature of the water it takes in has an effect on the seed itself. Water under 50° means that when swelling takes place the cells aren’t as elastic and they tear, which can cause disoriented mesocotyl, no sprouting, etc. It might not kill the plant completely but effects could show up in ear count.”

Corn requires approximately 120 accumulated growing degree days (GDDs) to emerge, under ideal conditions. To calculate GDDs, you can use this equation: GDD = (Daily Maximum Air Temperature + Daily Minimum Temperature)/2 – 50.

He says the first 48 hours after planting corn are most critical. Seed that is subject to cold during that period of time is most vulnerable to chilling. When that occurs, the metabolic reactions necessary for emergence don’t take place in a timely manner.

“Cold seed corn is unable to swell in the ground with the same elasticity as it’s able to achieve with soil temperatures at 50° F or warmer,” Ferrie explains.

When corn emergence isn’t timely, yield potential is docked and you won’t get it back.

“Chilling can eliminate between 10% and 20% of your yield potential,” says Ferrie “You’ll never see that loss driving down the road, but you will if you stretch a tape measure for ear counts.”

4. Plant Soybeans Ahead Of Corn
If your weather conditions and soil temperatures turn unfavorable for corn, consider whether you can plant soybeans.
If the ground is fit, Ferrie would give farmers a green light to plant their full-season soybeans. Ferrie says Group 4s, mid-Group 3 and late-Group 3 soybeans need about 950 growing degree days (GDDs) pre-solstice. Early to mid-Group 3 soybeans need about 810 GDDs.

“We try to get those fuller season beans planted here by April 18,” he says. “With those earlier Group 3s and later Group 2s, maybe shoot for the planting timeframe of April 25 to May 4.”

For more insights on picking the right maturity for your soybean planting window, Ferrie recommends checking out the information from Crop-Tech Consulting Agronomist Matt Duesterhaus. You can find his recommendations here .

Your next read: 300-Bu. Corn Has a Big Appetite for N, P and K

Ag Meterologists Worry More Drought Lies Ahead For Spring

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:14:24 GMT

As Eric Snodgrass looks six weeks out to the end of March, he doesn’t like the weather pattern he sees shaping up for spring planting season – more dry conditions.

Varying levels of mild to moderate drought have dogged much of the upper Midwest, West and Southwest since last fall, and the outlook is for more of the same, according to Snodgrass, a leading U.S. meteorologist.

Check out the soil moisture deficit currently in the upper Midwest and West. At the opposite extreme, a broad band of soil moisture shows up in blue across much of the Ohio Valley region.

(Eric Snodgrass)

“I’m concerned about the way the central United States and the western Corn Belt, in particular, are going to be dealing with the risk of drought building into spring,” Snodgrass told farmers attending the Top Producer Summit in Kansas City earlier this week.

History shows that drought tends to beget drought. In six of the past 10 years with a really dry fall, Snodgrass says the spring to follow was also dry.

The weekly U.S. Drought Monitor echoes his observations. The Monitor released Thursday (Feb. 20) shows drought is impacting 45% of corn production acres, 36% of soybean production acres, 40% of spring wheat and 20% of winter wheat acres, respectively.In addition – of particular concern to beef and dairy producers – 49% of the U.S. alfalfa hay production acres are also experiencing drought.

Arctic Air Is Contributing To Drought Conditions
Snodgrass spells out what usually happens in late winter to create the moisture farmers need at planting time in the Corn Belt.

As the jet stream moves across the Pacific Ocean, it typically splits and sweeps into the West Coast from two positions – one from the northern North Pacific Ocean and the other from the southern North Pacific Ocean, close to Hawaii. The two portions of the jet stream usually then scream across U.S. western mountain ranges, picking up moisture they then deposit in portions of the Corn Belt before moving on to the East Coast and exiting the U.S. in Maine.

This year, the portion of the jet stream that normally comes from Hawaii has veered from its usual course and possibly even stalled. One indicator of that happening, Snodgrass says, is a drop off in ocean temperatures in the Baja of California and the Gulf of Alaska. The result is dry, arctic air has been moving into portions of the U.S.

In years when the Gulf of Alaska is in a warming trend, U.S. crop yields tend to be higher. The opposite is true when the Gulf cools.

(Eric Snodgrass)

For some parts of the U.S. the cold, arctic air has brought snow along with it. But the snow holds little moisture that would help alleviate the frozen dry soils. “We have some deep snow in areas right now, but it’s only got maybe two-tenths of an inch of liquid in it,” Snodgrass explains.

That’s bad news for farmers who need a full profile of soil moisture going into spring and don’t have one.

“If I’m in Iowa, Minnesota, northern Illinois, the Dakotas, even parts of Nebraska and Missouri, I’m going, holy smokes, that arctic air has prevented any sort of meaningful precipitation coming back at this point of the year,” he says.
Similar concerns were voiced by Drew Lerner, founder and president of World Weather, Inc., during the Top Producer Summit.

“If we continue bringing these cold shots of air through North America, we will have a below-normal precipitation bias [for the western Corn Belt] as we go forward through spring planting season,” Lerner explained during the taping of the U.S. Farm Report.

This map shows what the precipitation could look like in March. But remember, Mother Nature is unpredictable. It’s certainly feasible she could change course and bring moisture to the states west and southwest of the Mississippi River.

(Eric Snodgrass)

That’s not the meteorologists’ expectation for the eastern Corn Belt and portions of the Southeast. Lerner and Snodgrass agree those areas are likely to have plenty of moisture going into spring planting.

More Weather Trouble Brewing For Summer
If the current cold conditions continue through March, which Lerner and Snodgrass anticipate will be the case, what will likely occur is a knee-jerk reaction in the atmosphere: a warming trend will start in late March or early April and build through late spring and into early summer.

“If we warm up quickly in the spring, which is a high possibility, we could end up falling behind the eight ball a little bit more on soil moisture,” Lerner says.

While some meteorologists point to this year’s La Niña as a cause of the continued move to dryer conditions, Snodgrass and Lerner say that’s not the case.

“La Niña will be gone by the time we get into mid-March,” Lerner predicts. “This La Niña hasn’t lasted long enough to really have a big footprint in the atmosphere. As we get into April, it’ll be pretty much a non-event.”

Keep An Eye On The Pacific Decadal Oscillation
Lerner and Snodgrass believe a negative phase of what scientists call the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) could be a primary contributor to ongoing drought and higher temperatures by April. The PDO is a long-term climate pattern that affects the temperature of the Pacific Ocean and can influence weather patterns across the globe.

While the PDO has not had what Lerner calls a “tremendous amount of impact” in past years in the U.S., it’s looking more influential for the 2025 growing season.

“I’m seeing some additional cooling off the West Coast of North America that may end up leading us into a greater ridge building with all the dryness that’s in the soil and that negative PDO,” Lerner says. “I’m not ready to go all the way over with [that prediction], but that’s where I’m headed.”

The Surprising Solution To Drought
If Mother Nature continues on her worrying course, Snodgrass says continued low temperatures in the Gulf of Alaska would be a signal in early summer for farmers.

“If we get into June and it’s cool there, that is telling me that the atmosphere is not moving. And if it doesn’t move, well, all of a sudden we could find ourselves in a situation in late June into July with more drought and excess heat,” Snodgrass says.

The North American Multi-Model Ensemble (NMME) is a seasonal forecasting system, showing this summer could be a dry one in portions of the West and upper Midwest and into Canada. However, summer is still months away, and Mother Nature could change course. However, being forewarned can help farmers plan ahead.

(Eric Snodgrass and NMME)

Another worrying sign he says to watch for is where the active spring weather pattern falls. If areas of Kansas and the Great Plains see an active tornado season, Snodgrass says that means the weather pattern is more favorable for rains to fall across the Corn Belt. But if tornado warnings blare across the Southeast, Snodgrass says that’s a signal drought could be a problem this summer.

There is a solution to the troubling weather patterns, he adds, one most farmers won’t welcome – a big, wet snow on the Northern Plains.

“The No. 1 thing I’m praying for right now is an April 4 blizzard. I want a foot of snow,” Snodgrass told farmers at Top Producer Summit, many of whom laughed.

Snodgrass laughed, too, and added, “You’ll hate me for about a week, and then love me through the rest of May.”

Your next read: ‘Stay Tuned, We’ll Be Right Back With Your Forecast’

With More Arctic Air Set to Blast the U.S., Why This Winter Could Be Remembered for Its Extremes

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 21:04:43 GMT

After ice and blizzard conditions blasted the Midwest, South and East to start January, another round of frigid temperatures is set to blanket much of the U.S., and this time, temperatures could fall even lower than the previous round of cold.

Much of the U.S. is still seeing snow cover, with temperatures too cold to melt the recent snow. But now, we’re bracing for even colder temperatures as what’s called the “Siberian Express” is set to arrive this weekend. What exactly is the Siberian Express? Well, it gets its name from the cold air’s geographic origins. It’s when arctic air spills into the U.S., and it can have multiple sources, including Arctic Canada, Alaska, and in this case, Russia’s Siberia region, which is home to the coldest place on earth.

snow cover

(Weather Undground)

Meteorologists say the active start to January is a sign of what’s ahead.

“We’ve tried to bring some moisture back into places that have not seen it,” says Eric Sodgrass, principal atmospheric scientist with Conduit. “I’ve had this concern for a while about the lack of good flow in the atmosphere and what that’s meant toward building drought in some places through fall and now early winter. And I hate to say it, but nasty winters tend to give us a much better outlook for the next year. So, hey, let’s keep these things going for the rest of January and February, too.”

It’s not just the cold that’s turning heads, but it’s also the amount of snow that’s fallen since the start of the year, and it’s setting records. Take Kansas City, Mo., for example. That area has seen 13.” of snow in January, which makes it the second snowiest start to January in Kansas City history. Some parts of Arkansas saw as much as 15" of snow last week. That compares to areas that typically see snow, such as Chicago, recording little to no snowfall so far this year.

pic.twitter.com/rC9Dbh0qHE
— NWS Climate Prediction Center (@NWSCPC) January 13, 2025

The Winter of Extremes and Episodic Cold Outbreaks

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey thinks the winter of 2025 will be remembered for the extremes.

“With this pattern set up, it’s going to be too dry in the Southwest, stormy in the Northwest, and episodic cold outbreaks across the country,” he says. “Everybody remembers those because especially embedded in an otherwise relatively mild winter, you really remember those hard hitters.”

Cold

(GFS Model )

And that’s exactly what we are in for later this week. According to Rippey, the upcoming Arctic blast is one of those “episodic cold outbreaks” we typically see during La Niña, and what he describes as a re-amplification of the pattern we’ve been seeing for much of the month.

“Sunday night’s GFS model is showing this for extreme minimum temperatures over the next seven days,” says Rippey. “Bitter cold should stay out of the Deep South, but it may get a bit colder than this early next week before it gets better.”

Cold

(GFS Model )

Recent Moisture Helps Drought in Places
What about the moisture? The recent moisture is helping drought conditions in parts of the upper Midwest and some areas of the plains.

“But as you move to the south, that’s where I have concerns, that southwestern quadrant of the country, southern California, to the High Plains, like West Texas, western Kansas, western Oklahoma,” Rippey says. ”All I can say is it’s very fortunate those areas in the central and southern plains had a wet November because it doesn’t look good for the foreseeable future.”

But what about areas farther north, like Montana and the Dakotas? Lerner doesn’t expect widespread relief this winter.

“We’re getting some waves of snow to come across Montana and the Dakotas, but it’s a dry, powdery snow, and it’s really not providing high volumes of moisture,” says Drew Lerner, founder and senior agricultural meteorologist at World Weather, Inc. “This pattern will continue for the next several weeks, so we’ll put out a little bit more snow up that way. But as far as being able to get a big soaking rain type, you’re going to have to wait until spring.”

Meteorologists say one thing we are seeing that’s consistent with La Niña, is the sharp dividing line between wetter conditions and drought. And NOAA’s seasonal outlook shows that divide with below normal precipitation forecast for much of the southwest and Deep South over the next 90 days. Above normal in areas of the northwest and east.

Precip. Outlook

(NOAA)

Temp Outlook

(NOAA )

Drought Watch
Lerner thinks parts of the upper Midwest and northern Plains could see more active weather with rain into spring.

“So, I’m not too terribly concerned about the fact that we’re still seeing persistent dryness in those areas,” Lerner says. “Not all of that region will get relief when we get to the spring, but I would say probably two-thirds of that region will.”

But even with more moisture across other parts of the U.S., Snodgrass says he’s concerned about drought in other areas due to the weak La Niña.

“We tend to be wet through the Mississippi valley and east going into spring. There tends to be lots of storms, but we tend to see the drought that’s in West Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, the Sunbelt expand up toward Colorado,” Snodgrass says. “Most models want to bring dry conditions out of the southern Canadian prairie into Montana, and that’s kind of funneling toward the western Corn Belt. And I’ve based this off historical analogs looking at a lot of different years that looks something like this one. We just tended to be a bit hotter and drier.”

He says looking back, six out of 10 years that we’ve seen a similar pattern, we’ve ended up with heat and dryness in key months of July and August.

“To be honest with you, this is the first time in fall and winter that I’ve been kind of saying, ‘Hey, I think our risk is elevated for drought,’” Snodgrass says.

He says something extremely important to watch is what happens in the Gulf of Alaska.

“If between March and June, if that’s where it gets cold, the risk of drought in the Midwest goes way up. Watch that March time frame,” Snodgrass says. “I think that’s where our risk factor is going to be going forward. So I’m watching winter, but I’m more concerned about spring/summer.”

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Hope For Drought-Stricken Land? Your Winter Weather Outlook

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 20:30:45 GMT

What is it you remember from last year’s winter? Maybe it was when the wind chill in Kansas City brought temperatures down to -30°F and Patrick Mahomes’ helmet shattered in the middle of a playoff game. A more accurate representation of the season, though, is probably Wisconsin’s snowmobile industry dubbing the season a “lost winter” from the lack of snowfall.

Regardless of how we remember it, last year’s winter was incredibly mild, with temperatures well above normal and snowfall almost nonexistent. But according to Eric Snodgrass, senior science fellow at Nutrien Ag Solutions, the consensus is that the months ahead are going to look a lot different.

“We didn’t really have a winter last year,” Snodgrass says. “This year, we have a better chance of a storm track coming through the “I” states and out through the Ohio Valley toward the northeast. So, the forecast is a little wetter there with periods of colder air. It doesn’t mean it will get cold, stay cold and not stop snowing, but it’s certainly going to be different than a year ago.”

That’s because this winter brings about a 75% chance for La Niña to develop, which is when the trade winds across the equatorial Pacific are strong. With La Niña in the forecast, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting wet conditions in the north and dry, warm weather in the south.

The 2024-2025 U.S. Winter Outlook map for temperature shows the greatest chances for cooler-than-average conditions in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S.

(NOAA)

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says La Niña can also bring chances for extreme cold events.

“Not every La Niña is like this, but I will say two prime examples were in 1989 and 2021 — that latter outbreak was when Texas pretty much lost power,” Rippey says.

Drought Dangers
With dry conditions in the forecast, Snodgrass says the big story this winter will be whether or not there will be enough moisture to work against the drought that has been building.

“The best winters for agriculture are the ones we hate and remember as being terrible — we get good, hard freezes and plenty of moisture comes in,” Snodgrass says. “If we don’t see that, we get into a situation where we become very dependent on spring rains and may have a conversation about 2025 drought risk.”

The 2024-2025 U.S. Winter Outlook map for precipitation shows wetter-than-average conditions are most likely across the Great Lakes region of the U.S.. Drier-than-average conditions are forecast for parts of the U.S. Gulf Coast.

(NOAA)

Snodgrass explains drought is often a multiseason effect, and Rippey says this one has been building since June.

“There’s been a four-fold increase in drought to now affecting about 50% of the country,” Rippey says. “That was great for summer crops, dry down and harvesting, but now the problem is what will happen with winter wheat, cover crops, pastures and range land.”

While much of the north will have the opportunity for relief from this growing drought, that likely won’t be the case in the south.

“We are expecting a generally warmer- and drier-than-normal winter across the entire southern tier of the United States, reaching all the way from Southern California to the middle and southern Atlantic coast. That does include important winter wheat production areas into the Southern Great Plains,” Rippey says. “There’s not much reserve right now in terms of soil moisture, and this could amplify already existing dry conditions.”

That brings concern for river transportation as the bump in water levels that came from Hurricanes Milton and Helene has worked its way through the system now.

“Historically, those levels tend to bottom out around January at the latest,” Rippey says. “We’re probably talking about a few more months of low water issues, and then you start to turn a corner around February because plants don’t use as much water during the winter.”

Timing Will Be Everything
Because winter is technically the country’s dry season, it won’t be easy to break drought in the months ahead. For the wet forecast in the north to make a difference, Rippey says it will all come down to timing.

“It’s important to start getting moisture before it gets too cold,” Rippey explains. “When you go into a cool season like this with limited soil moisture, if the cold air comes in too quickly, you freeze the soils before you get moisture, which can limit the absorption of rain and snow into those soils.”

The timing of when La Niña really starts to take effect will be important as well.

“December is going to be the month where we test if this La Niña really has what it takes to give us the things we expect,” Snodgrass says. “Normally, La Niñas peak around Christmas, and then they start to fade. If we miss that opportunity, we will watch all of the sub-seasonal things and hope they can deliver good winter weather to knock out the risk of drought going into 2025.”

But even with a few “drought risk” boxes being checked, it’s still too soon to speculate or worry about what next year’s growing season will look like.

“2022 had major fall drought, and then what happened? It rained in July, didn’t get terribly hot, and we had a decent crop. Indiana had one of its best crops ever in 2023, even though it was so dry in spring,” Snodgrass says. “We have to remember that the crop has many ways by which to stay alive and do well, and we’ve engineered that seed to be better performing even when there is some stress. We can’t make big, broad assumptions that 2025 is going to be a year of substantial drought risk that destroys yield.”

Winter Storm Survival: A Nightmare for Livestock Producers in Western Illinois

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 18:01:05 GMT

Despite nearly 24 inches of snow, below-zero temperatures and raging winds, livestock producers are finding ways to overcome the horrific conditions in western Illinois to provide the best care possible to their animals.

But it’s not been easy on the farmers.

“This weather is going to kill me,” Chad Bell, a pork producer from Viola, Ill., told his followers on social media when the second round of snow hit western Illinois at the end of last week.

^{Source: Cole Boock, Sumner Township, Little York, Illinois}

Historic drifts have made getting into the barn a challenge in and of itself. Many north-south roads have been impassable and getting access to livestock on pasture has been nearly impossible in some situations. Bell says he had to walk from the highway to his barn for three days to check pigs.

“It took a day to get the loader to run, hauling a battery charger and kerosene to the barn by sled,” Bell adds. “A blown tire stopped what little snow clearing progress I made. It took a bulldozer to open the road and clear my driveway!”

^{Source: Chad Bell}

Extreme Weather’s Impact on Livestock

The cold temperatures continue to exacerbate every little issue, Bell points out. From keeping the outside equipment from freezing up to preventing blowing snow from coming into the feed bin lids to causing flowability issues, Bell says it’s been one thing after another for him as a farmer.

“It’s snowing and blowing, but in the barn it’s 65 degrees – nice and dry – with no drifts. The pigs are definitely enjoying it,” Bell explains. “Being in a heated modern hog facility, they can use their energy to grow instead of simply trying to survive.”

^{Source: Chad Bell}

But for Brent Titus, a sheep producer from Alexis, Ill., that’s exactly what some of his sheep must do right now – survive.

“January is so hard because we are lambing and every available enclosed space is being used to ensure that ewes and lambs stay warm,” Titus says. “Unfortunately for us, that means later bred females and replacements are left on pasture. Wind breaks are about the best we can offer them, and it’s made last week miserable.”

^{Source: Brent Titus}

Although he would like to have covered spaces for every animal during times like this, he says it just isn’t feasible.

“It’s a full-time job tending to livestock during this kind of weather,” Titus says. “Tractors don’t start, skid steers can’t maneuver the drifts, and the freezing cold has resulted in lots of gelled-up diesels. We bust automatic drinkers three to four times a day, even though they are not supposed to freeze. We do the best we can.”

Cattle producer Scott Campbell of Little York started calving when the first snow came through. However, he considers himself lucky despite the challenges he’s faced.

^{Source: Scott Campbell}

“So far, all our calves have been born in the barn. We have enough room right now that the ones we have are under roof,” Campbell says. “They don’t seem to mind the temperatures as much as I do.”

Campbell has been farming for over 20 years and says frozen waterers, pushing snow and keeping a close eye on health are “givens” during this kind of weather. But he’s never had to plow paths in the snow for cattle to get to feed and water like he has in 2024.

Prepare for the Worst

Staying ahead of the storm is key, Bell explains. On his hog farm, he pays special attention to feed bins, propane and generator fuel levels during bad winter conditions.

“In the event that I can’t get back to the barn for a day or longer, I know the pigs will be fine without me if these three things are in place,” Bell says.

^{Source: Chad Bell}

But that’s exactly what keeps Campbell up at night – the possibility of not being able to get to his calving barn that is 2.5 miles from his house.

“Most years it’s not a concern, but it has been a few times already this year,” Campbell says.

Titus is not a full-time farmer – he serves as a regional sales manager for Atticus LLC. He says it’s an all-hands-on-deck situation when the winter weather strikes.

^{Source: Brent Titus}

“My wife is absolutely integral,” Titus says. “She mans the lambing barn so the rest of the crew can do the best to clear paths to feed the places that aren’t under roof. I’m not sure the general public understands just how much time is spent simply feeding every day.”

Technology is a Lifesaver

For these three farmers in the Mercer-Warren County area, technology has been incredibly helpful during these extreme weather events.

A year ago, Bell purchased Barn Talk, technology from Barn Tools that allows him to check power, temperature, water and feed levels at the barn at all times from an app on his phone.

“It’s super handy in this weather,” he says. “It can’t pull frozen chunks from my feedline or ensure my generator will start, but I will know right away if I have a problem.”

^{Source: Scott Campbell}

Checking propane and generator fuel levels is also important, especially when temperatures are expected to stay dangerously cold for a while.
Campbell says barn cameras have been lifesaving technology for his operation.

“During winter storms, the thing we depend on most are our barn cameras. We have had them for several years and have always worked with Altman Monitoring Solutions from Taylorville, Ill. Their service is second to none and he can keep technology-disadvantaged people like myself going when there is a problem,” Campbell adds.

Titus is also a big fan of Altman’s barn cameras. Of course, he says anything that wants to start is always a positive in temperatures like this. And nothing beats a close-knit community that is willing to help each other through the storms.

Read more:

7 Tips You Need to Know to Keep Employees Warm

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7 Tips to Protect Farm Buildings from Heavy Snow Loads

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 19:27:41 GMT

A powerful winter storm is gearing up to blanket the northern part of the country with heavy amounts of snow, sleet and ice. This coast-to-coast winter storm could be among the top snowstorms to ever strike Minneapolis, with the Twin Cities potentially seeing up to 2 feet of snow by the time the massive storm system exits the region, according to Fox Weather.

With more than 40 million Americans now under some sort of winter weather alert, farmers and ranchers are working to prepare their operations for the worst. While caring for livestock is typically a farmer’s No. 1 priority, building safety should also be a top concern, according to Rural Mutual Insurance Company. They offer the following tips to help prevent buildings from collapsing due to heavy snow loads.

Know Your Area’s Snow Load

Did you know each zip code has a different snowfall average, and therefore, different snow loads? Use the Applied Technology Council’s Ground Snow Load by Locati on tool to determine how much weight your building needs to accommodate.

Calculate How Much Snow Your Roof Can Handle

Not all buildings are built the same. Therefore, it’s important to know just how much snow your roof can handle. Use this formula provided by the Wisconsin Cooperative Extension Service to calculate an estimated snow load:

Calculated Roof Loading (lb/ft2) = Depth (ft) x Density (lb/ft2/ft depth). The approximate density (lb/ft2/ft depth) is: light snow=5-20; packed snow=20-40; packed snow with ice=40-58; ice=58.

Keep Buildings Clear of Snow

Clear snow whenever you see more than 4 feet of dry snow or more than 2 feet of heavy snow or ice on the roof.

Your building may be able to handle a snow load for several days or weeks, but the weight will cause more damage as time increases. Use a snow rake with a long extension arm to remove snow, while standing safely on the ground.

If you’re working on the roof, use the appropriate safety harnesses and secure ladders. Make sure everyone is a safe distance away, since snow can suddenly fall and bury people or animals below.

Watch for Signs of Stress

Keep a watchful eye on your roof all winter, especially on buildings with considerable loads. Look for the warning signs of overbearing loads, such as sagging, misaligned or bowed trusses and creaking sounds.

Metal buildings, unlike wood buildings, however, give virtually no warning before collapsing.

Plan Before You Build

If you live in region that constantly receives snow, make sure to plan ahead before you build. Work with a licensed contractor to design a building that will meet your area’s estimated snow loads.

Talk With a Pro

Here are some tips to keep in mind when meeting with your builder:

Use machine stress-rated lumber to know the exact strength of every piece used in construction.
Build your MSR-made trusses to be sturdy and have truss plates designed to support large loads of snow.
Consider prevailing winds and building orientation – your building should be designed to accommodate uneven snow distribution.
Build drainage that will drain snowmelt away to avoid pooling aside your building.

Know Your Coverage

You never know when an accident might happen, but you’ll be thankful you have insurance in case one does. Talk with your insurance agent to make sure your buildings are covered, in case disaster strikes.

For more on facilities, read:

Four Strategies to Help Cows Conquer Cold

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 01:12:08 GMT

When Old Man Winter sets up long-term residence, both animals and people have extra daily challenges. But cows are amazingly resilient creatures, and are better able to withstand cold than many other animals, according to Dr. Jon Pretz, dairy nutritionist with Hubbard Feeds.

In a recently published, comprehensive bulletin on evaluating feeding strategies for the winter, Pretz noted that cattle are extremely cold hardy due to their large body mass; propensity to naturally increase metabolic rate; and ability to add insulation through hair growth and fat deposition under their skin.

Still, there are management measures that can help cows cope and stay productive through cold conditions. Pretz advised:

Prioritize dryness – “A cow with a dry winter coat can withstand temperatures of about 18°F, also known as their lower critical temperature, before feeling cold stress,” said Pretz. As temperatures fall lower and wind chill becomes a factor, cows with a wet haircoat will have double the energy deficit compared to cows with dry haircoats.
Monitor water – Cows prefer water between 40 and 65°F. Lower temperatures may cause water and dry matter intakes to drop. Also, be sure waterers remained thawed, and manage ice surrounding waterers that may deter cows from visiting them.
Keep the feed bunk loaded – Cows will eat more when it’s cold to keep up with maintenance. But when cold temperatures become extreme, more feed may be necessary because dry matter intake is temporarily outpaced by increased metabolism, causing cows to enter a state of negative energy balance. Step up bunk and push-up management and consider feeding more on frigid days. “It’s not uncommon for cows to require an additional 20% more feed during cold weather,” advised Pretz.
Watch for frozen feed – Wet forages and byproducts can freeze during long cold spells. This can result in issues of sorting off chunks of frozen feed in the bunk, reduced intakes, slower digestive passage rates, and more energy expelled by the cows to warm up and process the feed internally. Pretz advised that, as a result, ration energy levels may need to be boosted temporarily through increased starch, sugar, and/or fat during periods of extreme cold.

“With shelter from the wind and elements, adequate body condition, a dry coat, fresh water, dry bedding, and good nutrition, dairy cattle can tolerate temperatures well below zero,” concluded Pretz.

Untypical Snow on Oregon’s Coast Makes Dairy Farmers Days Grow Longer

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 17:09:31 GMT

Trees, cheese and ocean breeze, wet is par for the course when you live in Tillamook County, Ore. The annual precipitation for this coastal region is around 90 inches a year.

Last week the region was blanketed with up to a foot of snow and the adverse weather forced multiple school closures in both Lincoln and Tillamook County. Downed trees closed several roads, as the Oregon Department of Transportation and local public work crews worked to remove those trees and other debris.

For many, the untypical freshly blanketed snow on the Oregon coast was pretty and allowed for an unusual snow day. However, it made a very long several days of choring for Oregon’s coastal dairy farmers.

In Beaver, Tom Seals, owner of Legendairy Farms, says they received 10 inches of snow, causing a power outage on their farm. Some of the pictures at their farm look picturesque, while others tell a different story. Winds and heavy wet snow caused the breezeway from the milking parlor to the freestall barn to collapse. Seals shares that no injuries occurred, and that insurance is handling the assessment.

“People are calling it a 50-year snow,” Seals says. “We haven’t seen snow like this since we’ve been here. We never see this accumulation at sea level. Our milk was picked up every day, but I had to help pull the milk truck into the driveway to get him through the snow and ice.”

Kate Lott, DVM, Director of Farm Engagement for Tillamook County Creamery Association, says Tillamook is no stranger to adverse weather events.

“We know how to handle floods, mudslides, trees and down powerlines and the occasional ice storm,” she says. “We are not, however, prepared for 13 inches of snow and then 20-degree weather for several days. Tillamook usually has brief snow or ice, with same-day melting, so we have very little in the way of plows or gravel trucks. This isn’t good for very hilly terrain and some of our farms are Up river valleys or have a hilly driveway. We also had dozens of trees down, across roads, but also on power lines so there were power outages in many parts of the county.”

Lott is happy to report that only 2% of Tillamook’s milk was dumped over four days. This was due to the hard work of their milk hauling partner, Zwald Transport, as well as many farmers who plowed their own driveways, in addition to roads, school parking lots and towed the milk trucks in and out of farms to keep things going.

“We had several barn roofs collapse, including one on milk cows but all cows were okay with only minor injuries,” she reports.

In Tillamook, dairy farmer Derrick Josi says he could have done without the wind.

Josi, along with his family, milks 800 Jersey cows and recently transitioned into a modern freestall barn and carrousel parlor set-up, shares thankfully no cows or people were injured when his old cow barn roof collapsed.

“The snow wasn’t horrible, it was the east wind that showed up causing snow drifts and icing. Alley scrapers don’t really like it evidently. It’s definitely not something we are used to,” he says. “We are not set up for this. Lots of things were learned in the new facility for the next time we have snow or ice. Milk pick up wasn’t an issue because of our location and our ability to clear the roads with our equipment.”

For more on weather, read:

4 Tips to Help Prepare Farm Employees for Winter Weather

Thu, 22 Dec 2022 22:43:20 GMT

Brutal winter weather has blanketed parts of the mid-west, causing temperatures to plummet and snow drifts to pile high. Dairy farmers and their employees, however, don’t have the luxury of skipping work for a snow day.

“Cold and snowy winters are a challenge for dairy workers, especially for those immigrants coming from warmer climates where the temperatures do not fall to single digits,” says Maristela Rovai, assistant professor and South Dakota State University Dairy Specialist.

To keep the bitter sting of Old Man Winter at bay, Rovai offers the following tips to help keep employees safe and warm.

Dress Warm

“When choosing what to wear, carefully select clothing that will not restrict movement,” Rovai says. “Wearing appropriate clothing, or layers of loose clothing, can provide better insulation for your body.”

Some examples of warm winter clothing include:

Lined jackets
Lined overalls
Stocking caps / hats and lined gloves
Long thermal underwear
Lined boots – waterproof and anti-slip
Wicking wool socks
Scarf

Take Breaks

Before a storm hits, farmers will often double down on their work to make sure everything gets down. While it’s important to batten down the hatches ahead of a winter storm, it’s also important to push pause and take breaks.

Listen to your body and go inside when you need to warm up. The same can be said for farm employees. When working in the cold weather, offer snacks that are high in protein which will give their body more energy to keep warm throughout the day. Be sure to also supply beverages to help them stay hydrated and avoid beverages with caffeine and alcohol.

Work in Pairs

While farmers are already hard-pressed to find labor, working in pairs allows employees to get the job done quickly and safely. Using the buddy system ensures that every employee is accounted for. This is especially important for employees working in remote areas.

Know the Signs of Cold Stress

“Hypothermia and frostbite are both cold-related emergencies and considered as dangerous conditions that can happen when we are exposed to extremely cold temperatures,” Rovai says. “It is important to be aware that these conditions may quickly become life or limb threatening. Preventing cold-related emergencies includes knowledge and action.”

Signs of Hypothermia:

Fast and shallow breathing / trouble breathing.
Going from shivering to not shivering.
Hunger, fatigue and confusion.
Lack of coordination.
Increased heart rate.
Weak pulse.
Slurred speech / mumbling.
Dizziness and nausea.

Signs of Frostbite:

Cold skin, prickling feeling and numbness.
Red, white, bluish-white or grayish-yellow skin.
Hard or waxy-looking skin.
Clumsiness due to joint and muscle stiffness.
Blistering after rewarming when severe (expect exposed skin to peel off).
If the skin turns black seek medical attention.
It can cause the tissue to die which is called gangrene.

8 Tips to Prepare Your Farm for a Harsh Winter

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 18:35:32 GMT

Like it or not, Old Man Winter will soon be knocking on our barn doors. As we transition from the crisp, cool days of fall to the harsh sting of winter, it’s not too early to start making preparations for the blustery season ahead.

According to Carly Becker, extension educator for Pennsylvania State University, a winter preparation checklist is a simple, yet necessary tool.

“Every farm is unique and may have different tasks to do to prepare for the upcoming cold weather,” Becker says. “If this coming winter is the worst we have experienced in years, is your farm ready for heaping piles of snow on top of barns? Frozen water tanks? Icy surfaces?”

Becker provides the following tips to help make the transition of the seasons a smooth one.

Make a checklist – “Writing out a list of tasks that need to be completed can be a helpful tool to get started especially if farm employees or multiple family members are helping with the winter preparations,” Becker says. “In addition, setting deadlines of when that task should be completed can be beneficial.”
Barn maintenance – Don’t put off until tomorrow what can be done today. Take time now to make necessary facility repairs instead of waiting till the last minute. Becker suggests checking the following areas:

Check side wall curtains for any holes that need repaired and make sure they are functioning properly.
Identify and repair any holes in metal siding or broken windows that could let in snow, rain, ice, or wind.
Be sure that all doors, including garage doors, are functional.
At least two times a year blades and louvres on ventilation fans should be cleaned and fans should be inspected for any loose belts that need to be tightened or replaced.
Inspecting the roof for any weak spots with holes or cracks is important in the instance of heavy snowfall or ice.
If your herd grazes, be sure there is an appropriately sized shelter those animals can retreat to for a windbreak and to get out of the harsh weather to stay clean, dry, and comfortable.
Preventative trimming of any trees that are around houses, barns, fences, or driveways may be necessary.

Water – Nobody enjoys having to break ice when the temperature drops. What’s even worse is having to deal with a frozen pipe or hose! Becker suggests:

Looking for any hoses, floats, or water lines that could cause ice build-up and may need to be repaired.
Checking heated waterers and water heating elements to ensure they still work properly. Be sure to pay attention to the electrical cords and to keep them out of reach of the animals.
If heated waterers or water heating elements are not used, then having a plan in place to ensure animals of all ages have 24/7 access to clean drinking water is necessary.

Calves and heifers – As the thermometer dips lower, calves and heifers are usually the first to experience cold stress. Consider these tips when preparing your maternity pen as well as calf and heifer areas.

Cows can begin experiencing cold stress around 32°F, like heat stress this can adversely affect performance.
Maternity pens should be well bedded to prevent cows from giving birth in a sloppy, wet, cold area and protected from any drafts.
Heifers can begin experiencing cold stress at 59°F, therefore heifers that are kept on pasture need a shelter to be provided for them to seek refuge from the wind and elements. Be sure to bed under the shelter with a thick layer of straw to allow heifers to nestle in and keep warm.
If the pasture is really wet and muddy, it may be best to keep heifers in the barn for the a few days to prevent damage to the pastures. Always have a plan in place for housing cattle in case of muddy pastures!
If housing heifers in a sloped-pad heifer barn or bedded-pack, extra bedding will be necessary during the cold months to allow heifers to stay clean and dry and to keep them warm.
Examining body condition and hair coat of cows and heifers can help identify poor doers. Animals have an increased caloric need in cold weather to maintain body temperature, therefore, the amount of feed offered may need to be increased.
Move calf hutches to an area that is protected from wind and snow to keep snow from entering the hutch.
Have enough calf jackets clean and ready to use for all calves on milk.
Calves are more sensitive to the drop in temperature and need to be provided with extra bedding to nestle in to maintain a healthy body temperature.

Prep farm equipment – Tractors and trucks need to work every single day on a dairy, but especially during the winter months. “You will thank yourself again when it is freezing on a Monday morning and the tractor starts on the first try!” Becker adds. She recommends:

Servicing all farm equipment and vehicles before winter: Check batteries, oil, anti-freeze, fuel levels, and tires.
Testing and servicing generators to have ready in case of a power outage.
Be sure all snow removal equipment is in working order and ready to be used.

Driveway and barnyard maintenance – Potholes and muddy driveways are the worst part of the end of winter. To help prevent less-than-ideal road conditions, Becker suggests:

Pick up and move all supplies and equipment out of the way for snow removal.
Filling areas with gravel on driveways and walkways that are known to turn into potholes can be helpful when snow melts.
Filling areas in pastures that typically turn into mud holes in spring can be helpful in the instance of a wet spring.

Stock up on supplies – Have you ever gone to the grocery store the day before a big winter storm? Yikes! There’s practically nothing left on the shelves. Consider stocking up on farm supplies now to prevent headaches in the future. Becker recommends the following:

Plenty of bedding should be available on the farm. More bedding is needed for cows, heifers, and calves to stay warm and dry.
As the temperature goes down, the energy requirements of animals increase. For calves on milk, increasing milk or milk replacer may be necessary to maintain a healthy average daily gain. For older heifers and cows, increasing grain, forages, and hay fed can help to meet the increased energy requirements. Keep a 2-week stock of all feeds and forages in case feed trucks don’t have access to the farm due to road conditions.
Having a stock of frozen colostrum or colostrum replacer can be valuable.
Keeping a few warm blankets and heat lamps in the barn to quickly warm up a newborn calf.
At least a 2-week supply of fuel for equipment is important in case of bad road conditions and the inability to go to a service station.
Don’t forget about keeping the people warm! Make sure to have plenty of warm winter boots, socks, gloves, hats, winter jackets, and hand and feet warmers.

Have an emergency plan – Nobody wants to plan for a disaster, but when an emergency comes up, you’ll thank yourself later for having a plan set in place. Things to include are:

Do you have coverage in case of a building collapse due to snow load? Check with your insurance provider.
Do you have a plan with the milk hauler if milk is unable to be picked up for a longer period than usual due to road conditions?
Think about some possible incidents that could occur due to extremely cold weather/snow and have a plan to avoid added stress.

Unfortunately, there’s no way to avoid the bitter sting winter weather brings. However, taking time now to prepare your operation for less-than-desirable weather will pay in dividends going into the next season.

For more on winter farm preparation, read:

Minnesota Legislature Backs Disaster Aid for Barn Collapses

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 02:06:19 GMT

The Minnesota Legislature has approved expanding a zero-interest disaster loan program for farmers, just in time for producers with buildings damaged by heavy snow this winter.

The bill unanimously passed the Senate Thursday, and then passed House without opposition. It now goes to Gov. Tim Walz for his signature.

The bill broadens eligibility for the Disaster Loan Recovery Program run by the state’s Rural Finance Authority. It adds uninsured losses from the weight of snow, sleet or ice to the list of damages covered by the program. It would be retroactive to Jan. 1.

The proposal was one of many that were included in a massive budget bill vetoed by Gov. Mark Dayton last year.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture says around 75 barns statewide have collapsed this winter.

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For more on facilities, read:

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Untypical Snow on Oregon’s Coast Makes Dairy Farmers Days Grow Longer

For more on weather, read:

4 Tips to Help Prepare Farm Employees for Winter Weather

Dress Warm

Take Breaks

Work in Pairs

Know the Signs of Cold Stress

8 Tips to Prepare Your Farm for a Harsh Winter

Barn maintenance – Don’t put off until tomorrow what can be done today. Take time now to make necessary facility repairs instead of waiting till the last minute. Becker suggests checking the following areas:

Water – Nobody enjoys having to break ice when the temperature drops. What’s even worse is having to deal with a frozen pipe or hose! Becker suggests:

Calves and heifers – As the thermometer dips lower, calves and heifers are usually the first to experience cold stress. Consider these tips when preparing your maternity pen as well as calf and heifer areas.

Prep farm equipment – Tractors and trucks need to work every single day on a dairy, but especially during the winter months. “You will thank yourself again when it is freezing on a Monday morning and the tractor starts on the first try!” Becker adds. She recommends:

Driveway and barnyard maintenance – Potholes and muddy driveways are the worst part of the end of winter. To help prevent less-than-ideal road conditions, Becker suggests:

Stock up on supplies – Have you ever gone to the grocery store the day before a big winter storm? Yikes! There’s practically nothing left on the shelves. Consider stocking up on farm supplies now to prevent headaches in the future. Becker recommends the following:

Have an emergency plan – Nobody wants to plan for a disaster, but when an emergency comes up, you’ll thank yourself later for having a plan set in place. Things to include are:

For more on winter farm preparation, read:

Minnesota Legislature Backs Disaster Aid for Barn Collapses