Wisconsin farmers more concerned about big temperature swings than the lack of snow so far

WEST BEND, Wis. — Farmers in Southeast Wisconsin prefer to have snow on the bottom for moisture heading into spring however they haven’t seen an entire lot of it this season.

Snow helps with moisture within the floor since there may be not a number of irrigation within the space.

Rick Roden, co-owner of his household’s dairy farm Roden Echo Valley LLC. in West Bend, was not too involved in regards to the lack of snowfall simply but since there are a few months of winter left. The third-generation farmer defined that the larger concern at present is massive temperature swings. They will take a toll on cattle and crops.

Roden stated when the bottom bounces between freezing and thawing as a result of it will possibly push roots out of the soil, expose it to air, and in the end kill the plant.

“If it freezes and thaws…we get an enormous rainfall and you bought ponding on the sector and it freezes actually quick, that is the place we’re gonna see extra of a priority with the crops as in the event that they’re gonna make it to spring,” Roden defined.

This West Bend farm is primarily dairy however contains some money crops and crops for feed together with alfalfa, winter wheat, corn, and soybeans.

If the alfalfa crop doesn’t survive winter, it is going to imply massive bills come spring.

Nevertheless, there may be nonetheless time. Roden can have a greater thought of this winter’s affect by March.

“It was actually chilly throughout Christmas and it warmed up afterward. If that continues to occur much more, we’re gonna simply need to see what occurs,” Roden stated.

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