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Blizzards Affecting Farming

In October of 2013, thousands of cattle perished in South Dakota as a blizzard named Atlas barreled through the region. This sudden storm occurred after days of high temperatures. The farming industry, like all others, is vulnerable to unexpected disasters that nature sometimes brings. Catastrophic blizzards such as Atlas don't occur often but when they do, they can cause more than cattle loss.

Definition of a Blizzard
- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) defines a regular blizzard as a snowstorm with winds that are at least 56.3 kilometers per hour (35 miles per hour). The temperature must also be low -- usually below -6.7 C (20 F). In addition, the visibility must frequently fall to 0.4 kilometers (0.25 miles) because of blowing or falling snow or that snow must continue for at least 3 hours. Severe blizzards produce even more harsh conditions for farmers where temperatures fall further and wind speed increases.
Blizzards and Warm Weather
- The Atlas blizzard of 2013 illustrates how warm temperatures can suddenly plunge as high winds and heavy snow move in to an area. When warm, moist air, often from the subtropics, meets a ridge of high-pressure cold air coming from the north, storms and tornadoes can form. If the air is cold enough, ice and snow can fall, creating a blizzard.
Temperature Effects on Farming
- Freezing Ice and blowing snow can create drifts that cover food and water that livestock need to survive. Livestock, such as cows, have winter hair coats and can tolerate temperatures that humans could not. However, hypothermia resulting from extreme temperature drops can injure or kill farm animals. Profound hypothermia occurs when body temperature drops below 10 C (50 F). Air temperature is very important in agriculture because it affects the amount of water in soil and the way plants grow. Plant nutrients, such as phosphate, may become less available at low temperatures.
Recovery from a Blizzard
- After the snow melts and a blizzard passes, problems may still exist that the agricultural community must address. The United States Department of Agriculture, for instance, provided technical assistance to farmers who suffered losses during the 2013 Atlas blizzard. This assistance included determining if farmers needed help evaluating the quality of water and providing information about fencing, soils and livestock burial.
Extreme Heat Effects
- Blizzards aren't the only weather phenomena that plague farmers. High temperatures can also adversely affect some parts of the agricultural community. For example, milk production can go down during heat waves and crops such as potatoes, soybeans and rice may not grow as plentifully.

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