USA - Heavy snow, strong winds make calving, cattle feeding difficult in Dakotas

19.03.2019 111 views
Mark Wagner has memories of the April 1997 storm that hit North Dakota, and he's heard all about the 1966 storm before he was born that took lives, both human and livestock. He thinks the blizzard of March 2019 might go down in history with those past events.
The storm began moving through the region on Wednesday, March 13. Wagner's area, located south of Jamestown, was among the hardest hit. Nearby Ellendale, N.D., had reports of 12 inches of snow, Edgeley, N.D., to the north had 14, and Ashley, N.D., had 16, according to the National Weather Service late Thursday morning. The snow, though, was only part of the problem. Winds, described by some places as "hurricane force," were moving not just the new-fallen snow but also the snow accumulated on the ground from a particularly snowy winter. Winds measured in excess of 50 mph or even 60 mph were not uncommon across the Dakotas. Wagner is about two-thirds done calving, and while he doesn't wish for the inclement weather, he also isn't surprised by it. "It's not fun, but I'd like to think that I'm prepared so that I hopefully am not doing an injustice to my cows by having them have calves now," he said. Preparedness was the key for many. Ranchers across the region reported locking cows in barns ahead of the storm or making sure their livestock could reach some wind protection. Sara VandeHoven Hinrichs, northwest of Carrington, N.D., said cows that were close to calving were in the barns, and the rest were protected by shelterbelt. A video system in one barn helped them keep an eye on the cows there, but there was no camera in the other barn or on the cows outside. "You just have to trust that you did the best you could to protect them," she said. Snow drifting over fences was a big concern of the March 13-14, 2019, storm. Snow drifting over fences was a big concern of the March 13-14, 2019, storm. Troy Hadrick, in Faulkton, S.D., said he was thankful that it hadn't rained before the snow started. As of Thursday morning, he was evaluating what to do. He couldn't make it through the snow drifts to the feedlot to check on calves there. His heifers are calving, but other family members are caring for them. His cows are about 10 days away from calving, and his biggest concern for them was that the drifts would get high enough that the cows would walk over fences. "Every once in awhile, I can kind of see my cows," he said. "We've had a really snowy winter, and this is just added to it." Wagner said trying to decide what to do was probably the hardest part. Moving snow was impractical as the wind continued to blow, making feeding difficult. "You know they're hungry, and you know you have to feed them," he said. For many in the Dakotas, the winter started with heavy, wet snow that fell in October. While that snow melted, more followed in the winter months. Jamestown, N.D., for example, experienced its second snowiest February. Cows huddle near windbreaks as the wind continues to blow snow on March 14, 2019. Cows huddle near windbreaks as the wind continues to blow snow on March 14, 2019. But there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel. The National Weather Service forecast for the coming week appears to improve once the blizzard moves out, with above-freezing temperatures and sun expected. When conditions improve, there'll be snow to be moved, and better weather will mean melting and mud. But Wagner said that's all to be expected. "There is no free ride. This is a lifestyle. There are bumps in the road," he said. "I'm going to be as optimistic about this storm as I can." For Wagner, the situation is particularly bittersweet. His two older sons are on the Ellendale High School team that made the boys Class B state tournament in Minot. "If we'd have had nice, normal weather, I probably would have slid away," he said, noting that he has help from neighbors and others. "But obviously, when this storm is coming, that pretty much canceled any thoughts of going anywhere." The storms of the past often came up with little warning, leading to losses of lives, both livestock and human, and Wagner thinks the technology available today likely gave most people a chance to get where they needed to be and get their cattle ready. Forecasters had been tracking the storm for more than a week. "If we hadn't had forecasters telling us you're in for the mother of all storms, we'd have never known," Wagner said. Wagner's wife and kids left early to make it to Minot. Since he knew the storm was coming, he was able to be prepared. Calves were bedded down, and cows near calving are close at hand. "I've got them locked up in a little pen behind my barn with windbreak on three sides of it," he said. "I'm prepared." Source - https://www.agweek.com
27.03.2024

Turkey - Climate change may affect grape cultivation

A recent study has highlighted the impact of the climate crisis on viticulture in Turkey, predicting that the expected rise in temperatures and reduced rainfall could shift the suitability of vineyard regions for grape production over the next three decades.

27.03.2024

Crop crisis reveals El Niño’s toll on Southern Africa

New findings from the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (Enso) reference group highlight the significant impact of the 2023/24 El Niño event on various aspects of climate and agriculture in Southern Africa.

27.03.2024

Philippines - Crop losses reach P80M as drought hits Negros Oriental

As the El Niño phenomenon worsens in Negros Oriental, damage to rice, corn, and other high-value crops has reached more than PHP80.4 million, the Department of Agriculture-Provincial Agriculture Technology Coordinating Office (DA-PATCO) said Tuesday.

27.03.2024

USA - Farmers say coverage has become unavailable or unaffordable as drought and floods increasingly threaten their crops

Farmers who grow fresh fruits and vegetables are often finding crop insurance prohibitively expensive — or even unavailable — as climate change escalates the likelihood of drought and floods capable of decimating harvests.

27.03.2024

India - Telangana Minister assures financial support for rain-affected farmers

Telangana Excise and Prohibition Minister Jupally Krishna Rao has assured the farmers that the government is committed to providing financial help to the cultivators whose crops were damaged due to unseasonal rains.

27.03.2024

Australia - Managing canola pests using beneficial insects, spiders and mites

Australian grain growers will benefit from improved pest management strategies with the commencement of two new research projects focusing on beneficial insects (beneficials) in canola.

27.03.2024

USA - Early blooms indicate strong fruit year if frost, freeze can be avoided

Warm temperatures in late February and early March have led fruit trees across Virginia to blossom early. Based on what growers are seeing, the number of blooms indicate at banner crop. However, there is a risk a portion of that crop could be wiped out by a freeze or frost.

27.03.2024

USA - As winters warm, Wisconsin fruit growers brace for the worst

On a cool, early spring morning in March, Liz Griffith stands among her apple trees, reaching to the very highest branches with a pole saw. Birds that have already returned north call to each other over the “snip snip” of shears, as Griffith and her staff prune through eight acres of apple trees on her orchard in Cottage Grove.

istanbul escort şişli escort tbilisi escort şişli escort şişli escort maslak escort istanbul escort beşiktaş escort taksim escort izmir escort ümraniye escort mecidiyeköy escort şişli escort taksim escort ümraniye escort kartal escort şirinevler escort maltepe escort istanbul escort ümraniye escort kadıköy escort vip escort mersin escort istanbul escorts ataköy escort avcılar escort beylikdüzü escort okmeydanı escort şişli escort tuzla escort işitme cihazı sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop