Preparing for Weather during Spring Planting Season
After unusual weather this past winter, with all 50 U.S. states experiencing cold snaps and some form of snowfall, spring is now finally upon us. With warmer temperatures, the snow and ice are finally melted, revealing a ground ready for planting. As many farm families anxiously prepare for the spring planting season, we are reminded of the upcoming busy days ahead.
In addition to racing against the clock to accomplish many tasks during daylight hours, Mother Nature can disrupt your plans, as the weather often has a mind of its own. Farmers often try to find a balancing act between the need for rain and the flooding that too much rain can cause. As we learned from history, extreme weather can occur at a moment’s notice, so it is important to prepare.
It’s Tornado Season
While tornadoes can occur in the United States at any time throughout the year, the seasonal peak is in the month of April. Tornado season continues into May and June, as typically more than 50% of tornadoes take place during the three months. Both climate change and the different weather patterns that set up each spring determine the number of tornadoes. Tornadoes can have a devastating impact on farming communities by damaging crops, livestock, and infrastructure, like barns, grain elevators, and irrigation systems. They can also contaminate water supplies, increase the risk of disease, and lead to soil erosion.
Preparedness Counts – Be the calm before the storm.
While we cannot control or always predict the weather, we can manage the way we prepare for it. According to Nationwide Agribusiness, an important measure that farmers can take is to create a farm emergency action plan. The plan should include what to do in the event of droughts, flooding, blizzards, high winds, and severe thunderstorms. This also includes the utilization of weather monitor tools, such as Smartphone apps, that can help access live radar and warnings and select crop seed varieties that can withstand severe weather conditions. Additional considerations include:
Having the right insurance policies in place.
Building stronger bins, barns, and other infrastructure to withstand higher wind speeds.
Prepare the farm before a tornado to minimize damage and speed recovery.
Communication is also key to preparing an emergency action plan for your farm. Therefore, don’t just make plans, but share them with your family and workers. In addition to severe weather, they are also important in the event of a fire and other natural disasters. This includes:
Create maps and lists of access routes, buildings, inventories, and important locations. Include all fences and gates and locations of all livestock, hazardous substances, and the shut-offs for electricity, water, and other utilities.
Make a comprehensive emergency contact list available to everyone on the farm.
Having a safe space for your family and workers to go, along with having an evaluation plan for livestock.
Build an emergency supply kit that includes items such as bottled water, non-perishable food, flashlights, extra batteries, first aid supplies, tools, and blankets.
Locate Safe Spaces
Seeking adequate shelter can make all the difference in your safety in the event of severe weather. Unfortunately, there is not a “one shelter fits all,” and the shelter needed depends on the hazards at hand. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), here is a list of the types of shelter to seek specific to the spring weather conditions:
Flooding – If indoors, move to a higher level of the home and avoid basements and lower levels. If outdoors, seek higher ground. Avoid roadways.
Lightning – Seek shelter in an enclosed building away from plumbing or plugged-in electronics. If you cannot locate a building, seek a hard-topped vehicle.
Severe Wind – Locate a sturdy building away from trees. Stay away from windows.
Tornado – Seek a basement or sturdy interior room without windows. Some workplaces or public locations outside the home or farm may have a tornado-safe shelter or a FEMA-approved safe room.
Finally, know the difference between a weather advisory, watch, or warning and adhere to the safety recommendations.
Protecting our Future Generation
The Progressive Agriculture Safety Day® (PAF Safety Days) program feels it’s never too early to begin preparing children for severe weather conditions most common to their geographical region. One example is using a toy air cannon known as an Airzooka, to teach participants about tornadic winds in an engaging, hands-on way and have them identify safe places to seek shelter. They also learn about preparing for other disasters, like what to include in an emergency supply kit. Participants return home from PAF Safety Day programs eager to share the knowledge gained with their family and friends.
Now in its 30th year, PAF Safety Days continues to be recognized as the largest rural safety and health education program for children in North America. Since its inception in 1995, the program has reached millions of participants and volunteers. You, too, can join the mission and provide education, training, and resources to make farm, ranch, and rural life safer and healthier for all children, their families, and their communities. Visit www.progressiveag.org for more information and click on Get Involved to learn about volunteer opportunities, donating to the cause, or how to bring a PAF Safety Day to your local community.