Tips For Extreme Weather Farming

If you work and live off the land, you’ve probably been affected by the several challenging weather patterns we’ve experienced these past few years. The signs all point to things not settling down any time soon. When you farm in extreme weather, you know it wreaks havoc on land and crops. Some estimates have calculated the monetary loss taken in by the agricultural community over the past 40 years at $1.1 trillion. Some of this is going to be out of your control, no matter how hard you try. But if you try to adapt, you may be able to roll with the punches.

At High Plains Equipment, we like to help our farmer friends out with helpful tips whenever possible. In that spirit, we’ve compiled this short guide that’ll prepare you for future challenges as a result of extreme weather. For additional information, or if you’re looking for quality farm equipment (like tractors) for sale in Devils Lake or Harvey, ND, visit our dealerships! We welcome all our patrons from Minot and Grand Forks.

Understand Where you Work

The first thing you have to do is understand the weather patterns in your region. Extreme weather patterns and changing atmospheric trends affect different areas of the country in different ways. Pull up the national news reports and you’ll see the West Coast has seen an uptick in extreme forest fires, while states along the Gulf Coast have been hit with intense and more frequent hurricanes.

One set of suggestions is likely to work only for one part of the country. The good news is that you’ll find a lot of specific information on general weather patterns for your region, as well as future projections for the next year. With this information, you will understand which weather patterns will hit your farm the hardest and can prepare for them.

Extreme Cold

With winter here, the temperatures are going to continue to drop. You can choose to farm through the winter but that’s quite tricky here in North Dakota. Healthy soil needs the cold weather, though too much cold can go from healthy to damaging real quick. Some snow can be good for your land as it acts as an insulating layer that protects the soil when cold snaps roll through. Without it, the frost would pierce deeper into the ground, seriously damaging the growth and nutrition of any crop you have growing.

The cold weather also affects your livestock and your farm equipment, such as tractors and balers. Make special arrangements for both depending on how cold it gets in your part of the world. You should do this before the weather reaches freezing temperatures. Make sure you double-check the insulation in your barn, stable or other holding pens as temperatures dip into the teens. Also, ensure that you’ve winterized all the equipment you won’t be using.

Extreme Heat

When summer rolls around, your farm finally gets the warmth that’s essential for farming. Here, too, the heat can turn from helpful to harmful. Too much sun can exacerbate other extreme climate conditions like droughts and floods. Warm weather also creates an environment that allows weeds and pests to thrive. 

To understand how the heat will affect your crop, you need to know how healthy your soil is and what crop you’re growing. The best thing you can do is to diligently follow the best practices for your crop. Know which fields will need more weed killer and which ones will need more━or less━water. Farm equipment like tractors are usually rugged enough to handle the heat. However, look at your owner’s manual to see if any tractor parts need special care during a particularly intense heatwave. 

Things to Keep in Mind

It isn’t just extreme heat or cold that can harm your fields. Hail storms have become more intense over the years and a bad one can damage entire sections of fields. The frequency of droughts has grown, which leads to dry soil, which then puts you at risk for flooding. And we haven’t even touched on some of the more sensational forms of extreme weather like tornadoes and hurricanes, which can damage both fields and farm equipment, like your tractor. 

There are some things you can do in general to make things better. You can try 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. You’ll just need the right information and the right plan to keep your fields bountiful. 

One of the ways to handle extreme weather farming is to have reliable and tough machines working for you. To check out some rugged tractors for sale, visit High Plains Equipment at our locations near Minot and Grand Forks, ND. If you need service and maintenance for your farm equipment, get in touch with us today!