Farming in Extreme Weather

Year after year, farmers across the country battle bouts of extreme weather that have gotten increasingly worse over the past few decades. There’s no sign that it’s going to slow down, and each new year will bring new challenges. Instead of crossing your fingers and hoping for the best, you’ll want to try and get ahead of the disaster and prepare your farm for extreme weather.

To help you out, FMI Equipment has provided some tips to navigate these conditions. If you need advice from some fellow farmers near you, consider stopping by our location in Spokane Valley, Washington, for a chat with some of our experienced staff or other customers. We welcome all those from Spokane, as well as Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Understanding Where You Work

Most areas of the country and beyond have their own unique climate challenges. Farmers in Florida prepare for problems unique from those that farmers in Maine prepare for. Here, near Spokane Valley, we’re lucky that our bouts of severe weather are not nearly as deadly or as frequent as other parts of the country. However, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. 

There are bouts of extreme cold, occasional fires, and even some thunderstorms. Because of this, it’s better to be safe than sorry. 

Extreme Cold

Things like frost and snow are an essential part of healthy soil, but there’s a limit to this. The further the frost can pierce the soil, the more damaging it can be. Consider the fact that snow can actually provide an insulating layer, but at the end of the day, you’ll need to know when the cold is going to be good for your soil, and when it could damage it or any crops you’re still trying to grow.

Cold weather can also negatively affect the livestock. Make special arrangements as needed and ensure that all shelters can properly protect your animals from wind and biting temperatures. 

Extreme Heat

This will be more prevalent during the growing season. This area has its fair share of heatwaves, though generally nothing that’ll hurt your crops directly. Instead, heat can exacerbate other problems, like droughts, floods, and can make for an easier environment for pests and weeds to grow. Try to be diligent in managing these issues, and you should be able to weather the summer. This includes keeping track of which plants will need more or less water.

Other Extreme Weather Patterns

Again, this will largely depend on where you live and what’s on the horizon. It’s hard to cover every possible problem that could come up, which is why diligence is key. Keep an eye on the weather and make preparations the moment a problem arises. 

How to Prepare

This is where the bulk of research is going to happen. Once you understand the threats, you’ll need to spend some time looking into how farmers across America deal with these common issues. Make sure the crops you’re growing influence your research. Things like carrots are a little heartier than other plants and may be able to tough out some of these rough conditions.

The best overall tip we can give you is to simply be flexible. Keep an eye on changing farming practices and what experts recommend in terms of when to plant and when to harvest. You might find yourself joining the no-till movement to reduce erosion or investing in technology to track pests and weeds. Staying flexible and adjusting as Mother Nature demands it is the best way to navigate the future of our climate. 

Sometimes, your best resource is going to be a fellow farmer who’s lived in the area for quite some time. They’ll have a good idea of what to expect and how to react to surprise weather conditions. Because of this, you’ll want to stop by FMI Equipment to chat with our experienced staff or some of the other farmers that are at the dealership. This can help grow your agricultural network, so visit us today! We proudly serve those from Spokane Valley and Spokane, Washington, and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.