Farming In Extreme Weather

Those who work on their farms and make their living off the land have had to deal with challenging weather years, many of them recently. This shows no sign of slowing down as extreme weather patterns are becoming the norm now. Regardless of why it’s happening, this type of weather can wreak havoc on land and crops. Some estimates have put the total financial loss for the farming community over the last 40 years at $1.1 trillion. Most of what’s happening is out of your control, so it’s best to learn to adapt to it. Planning ahead can help you and your farm equipment roll with the punches.

At Rivera’s Machinery, Inc. we’ve compiled this guide of ways you can prepare for future challenges as a result of extreme weather. For more information, drop by our dealership in Donna, Texas, and have a chat with our trained staff. You can also check out some reliable farm equipment while you’re there.

How Does It Affect Your Area?

Firstly, remember that extreme weather patterns and changing atmospheric trends affect different parts of the country in different ways. If you pull up the national news reports, you’ll see the West Coast has seen an uptick in extreme forest fires, while states along the Gulf Coast have been getting more intense and more frequent hurricanes. This is why there’s no one-solution-fits-all approach for all the farms across the United States.

Fortunately, there’s a lot of information on general weather patterns for each region as well as future projections for the coming year. This will allow you to know what sort of weather you can expect during a given season, and you can prepare for the ones that will hit your farm the hardest. You can also take care of your farm equipment accordingly.

Extreme Cold

Winter means dropping temperatures, and if you continue to use your farm equipment through the winter season, you know that it’s a tricky game to play. While the cold is necessary for healthy soil, you should know the difference between healthy and damaging. Remember that snow can actually be good for your fields because it provides an insulating layer that can be protective when the cold snaps roll through. Without that layer, the frost can pierce deeper and more severely, seriously damaging the growth and nutritional value of any seeds or crops.

During cold weather, you’ll need to make special arrangements for your livestock, depending on how cold it gets. Even before the temperatures hit freezing, give them a warm place to come to. Double-check the insulation on your barn, stable or holding pens. Make sure to winterize your farm equipment so it can last longer and be ready for action when the snow thaws. 

Extreme Heat

Warm summer temperatures are essential for good farming, but there comes a point when the heat goes from helpful to harmful. It can also exacerbate other extreme weather conditions like droughts and floods. This humid heat also creates an environment where weeds and pests thrive. To what degree your farm will be affected by the heat depends on the type of soil you have and what you’re growing. So be very diligent about what the best practices are for your crops. Know which fields need more or less water and which ones need weed killer. 

Other Extreme Weather Conditions

The list of intensifying weather is getting extensive. Hail storms are becoming more severe and one of these bad ones can destroy entire sections of your crops. There has also been a rise in droughts, which leads to dry soil and then puts you at the risk of flooding. There are more severe and unmanageable forms of weather like tornadoes and hurricanes. 

Preparation

Being prepared for extreme weather means doing research and understanding the weather patterns of your region and fields. Some weather conditions can actually help your yield. For example, you may have crops that thrive in increased levels of carbon dioxide. Some bigger crops don’t fare well in similar conditions, like corn and wheat. Stay tuned to weather forecasts and pay attention to changing weather patterns so you have time to prepare.

Another way to be ahead of the curve is by keeping up-to-date with the latest farming practices. As the weather grows extreme, the time for planting and harvesting might change. Also, other regions of the world may have faced similar problems and have come up with solutions that suit you and your crops. This may mean you have to update you farm equipment or your methods to get better results. There’s always some research going on to improve agricultural practices and you should learn to stay on top of it. 

To get the best results and to avoid exerting yourself, get worthy farm equipment to take a load off. Come on down to Rivera’s Machinery, Inc. in Donna, Texas, to see our inventory of farm equipment and talk to our trained professionals who’ll help you choose the right machines for your needs. If you’re looking for farm equipment for sale near Harlingen and San Benito, call or come over today.