Farming Tips For Extreme Weather

If you make your living off the land, you know that the last several years have brought some very challenging weather situations. Extreme weather can wreak havoc on farms and their crops. In fact, some estimates put the total monetary loss for the agricultural community over the last forty years at $1.1 trillion. The best way to combat extreme weather is to adapt. Roll with the punches by planning ahead.

Extreme Cold

With the arrival of winter temperatures start to drop. Those of you who continue to farm during the winter, know that it can be a very tricky task to accomplish. The cold is necessary for healthy soil, but it’s important to know the right balance between healthy and damaging. 

Remember that snow can actually be good for your fields because it provides an insulating layer, which is essential when cold snaps roll through. Without it, the frost can pierce deeper and more severely. If you have seeds or crops trying to grow, it can seriously damage their growth and nutritional value. 

Extreme Heat

When summer finally rolls around, the warmer temperatures help a lot of crops to grow and thrive, but there’s a point at which the heat goes from helpful to hurtful. It can exacerbate other extreme climate conditions like droughts and floods. Plus, it creates an environment where weeds and pests are more likely to become more abundant.

How much the heat will help or harm your crops is largely dependent on what you’re growing and how healthy your soil is, so the best way to combat this is to simply be diligent in best practices for your crops. Know which fields will need more weed killer and which ones will need more━or less━water.

Be Prepared

Facing extreme weather doesn’t have to mean abandoning your crops altogether. Instead, remain diligent and flexible. Weather forecasting has immensely improved with recent technology, so pay attention to changing weather patterns and give yourself time to prepare. Also, stay up-to-date on best farming practices, because as the weather grows more extreme, you might find that the best times to plant seeds and harvest crops will change.

Some common farming changes over the years include no-till farming to fight erosion and create a better crop. There’s also improved technology for tracking weeds and pests so you minimize the problems aggravated by extreme heat and increased carbon levels. The adjustments won’t be easy and there will probably be some slip-ups along the way, but it’s not as hopeless as it may seem.

One very important way of reducing losses and making your fields bountiful is by following efficient farming practices. To do that you need rugged and dependable machines, like the ones we carry at Magnum Power. If you’re located nearby in Clay County or Kansas City, MO feel free to visit our location here in Lawson, MO to find your latest piece of farming equipment!