Snow and ice test farmers and communities during storm Blair

Winter storm Blair has swept across much of the United States this week, leaving farmers and rural communities grappling with its icy impact. Heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures have disrupted operations from Kansas to the East Coast, providing challenges and opportunities for agriculture. The storm has been blamed as a contributing factor in at least six deaths, as winter’s grip spread across the country. 

According to the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, over 110,000 electric cooperative members lost power due to heavy snow, strong winds, and ice. Crews in Kentucky, Missouri, Virginia, Illinois, and Indiana worked to restore power, aided by mutual aid teams from neighboring states. Significant progress was made, with Kentucky outages reduced from 51,000 to 22,500 and Virginia outages dropping from 17,500 to under 8,000.

Kentucky was among the hardest-hit states, with co-ops like Kenergy Corp. and Salt River Electric facing widespread damage, including downed lines and broken poles. Missouri co-ops also battled severe ice accumulation, with Black River Electric Cooperative outages initially reaching 12,000 before crews restored power to thousands.

The storm’s impact was compounded by ice-coated power lines, which led to “galloping lines” that caused additional outages. Despite the challenges, cooperative crews worked tirelessly, often through the night, to restore power and assist affected communities.

Farmers understand that winter weather significantly impacts their operations. Snowfall and moisture levels shape the growing conditions for the rest of the year, while harsh conditions demand careful planning to protect livestock. Calves, in particular, face heightened risks during subzero temperatures, and deep snow can prevent farmers from accessing herds for feeding and watering. Preparation is critical, but the increasing unpredictability of weather patterns, driven by climate change, has added complexity to planning.

In Kansas, the recent storm delivered nearly a year’s worth of snow in one event. Farmers have turned to tools like animal comfort indices to guide decisions about moving and sheltering livestock. However, the intensity of these storms and the lack of infrastructure in some areas make coping with extreme weather particularly stressful.

As is usual during severe weather in rural America, farmers stepped up to help clear roadways. In Brown County, Kansas, Sheriff John Merchant says that a jackknifed semi on Highway 36 was removed by a tractor, helping keep the highway open. Merchant credits farmers who “pitched in with their equipment to get to stranded individuals” when the roads wouldn’t allow the official response.

Drought conditions in northwest Missouri have gradually improved thanks to rainfall throughout the year and a recent winter storm, though the region still experienced significant dryness overall.

“We finished the year with an average rainfall just a little above normal; three or four inches,” said Tim Gach, a Buchanan County farmer told News-Press NOW. “But most farmers will tell you that it’s not about the average; it’s when you get that rain, and we had a really huge harvest window this year. We had probably a month and a half, about six weeks of really dry weather, which was good for harvest, but in the meantime, it wasn’t doing things like replenishing pasture or settling ponds and giving soil moisture.”

Not all areas faced the same challenges. In regions like Iowa and Minnesota, the storm’s absence allowed farmers to focus on tasks such as moving grain and caring for livestock without additional disruptions. Some farmers noted potential benefits from reduced snow cover, such as improved soil conditions from the freeze-thaw cycle and the natural control of pests.

However, the lack of reliable snow cover in northern states raises concerns for crops like winter wheat and alfalfa, which rely on snow for insulation. Without it, plants face risks of cold damage, which could affect yields in the spring.

For some, like vineyard owner Roger Pelton in Arizona, the cold weather is a welcome development. Frost helps grapevines enter a dormant stage, which is essential for healthy growth.

“We’ve been here since 2008, and we’ve always had a frost in December,” Pelton told KOLD. “Now, we’re here into January, and we’re looking forward to our first frost.”

Farmers across the country are adapting to increasingly variable weather patterns. Many are rethinking their strategies to handle extreme events, balancing long-term sustainability with the immediate demands of harsh winters.