Long Winter on the Farm

By Master Gardener Marianne McNeil 

 This winter has been unusually cold with major snow storms causing difficulties for all of us. I am tired of hearing about the polar vortex and will rejoice this year when spring finally arrives. This cold and snowy winter was predicted in the Old Farmers Almanac! How has this unusually cold and snowy weather affected our local farmers? 

 In the winter, most farmers try to accomplish the tasks that they have little time for during the growing season. They inspect and repair their farm equipment and tractors. They check their inventory and determine what needs to be ordered for the next season. This is the time when they do soil tests to determine if they need any additional fertilizers and nutrients applied. They also complete much of their paperwork during the winter months and plan on what crops to grow next year based on pricing. The difficult winter weather has certainly slowed our local farmers' progress on some of these tasks. Our local farmers have added snow removal to their list of chores. On some farms, drifting snow can make snow removal a daily chore! 

 Local dairy farmers have no rest during the winter months. They still have to feed and care for their cows and milk them twice a day. This is an especially hard winter for dairy farmers since roads must be cleared to get feed and to transport their milk to market. Any farmer that cares for cattle and livestock has also been experiencing difficulties with all this snow. 

 In the winter, farmers will also have to contend with some damage from ice storms to fruit trees and berry bushes. Also, some crops are planted in the fall as a cover crop or some are perennial like alfalfa. These plants may heave out of the ground when there are numerous freeze and thaw cycles in the winter. The plants may be damaged or die completely. This means less natural fertilizer or produce and added cost to the farmer. 

 This winter, trucks have deposited tons of rock salt on our roads and our soil. Salt damage to plants can be a problem to both farmers and homeowners. Salt adsorbs water and causes dehydration at the roots of plants. Salt ions also combine with important nutrients in the soil that plants need, making them unavailable. Salt ions can also build up in the plant to toxic levels causing damage to buds, leaf tips and young twigs. Near roads, you might observe corn or soybean plants that are stunted with brown leaves. This is probably caused by salt damage. This damage may be present for several growing seasons after a snowy winter like this one. Penn State Extension recommends calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) as an alternative to rock salt to avoid plant damage. 

 It may seem that farmers have it easy in the long winter months, but they are still working hard to bring us the fresh food we love. They have to contend with snow removal, feeding livestock and possible plant damage. This snowy winter, their work has been more difficult just like ours, so let's hope that soon the snow shoveling will be over! 

 Sources: 
Old Farmers Almanac: http://m.almanac.com/weather/longrange Winter Alfalfa Survival http://extension.psu.edu/plants/crops/forages/management/winter-alfalfa-survival 

 Salt damage to plants: http://extension.psu.edu/plants/green-industry/news/2013/damage-from-de-icers 

 Alternatives to salt for de-icing: http://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/water/discovery-watersheds/news/2014/sidewalk-salt-and-st...