More Snow, Please!

I’ll admit it; I am not a fan of the snow. But this year, I’m praying for more of it. Snow is crucial to preserve the moisture in the ground, and once it starts to melt, it adds supplementary moisture to the ground. In addition, snowflakes can help fertilize the next year’s crop due to the traces of nitrogen found in them from the atmosphere. 

The problem is, we’re not getting nearly as much snow as we used to. With the little snow and rain we accumulated last year, combined with the lack of precipitation so far this year, most of the U.S. is in some stage of a drought; in Wisconsin, the majority of the state is in a moderate-severe drought stage. Other parts of the U.S., specifically out West and down South, are in stages of severe drought, extreme drought, and in some places, even as bad as exceptional drought, which is considered the highest and worst stage. Check out https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/ for a current look at the drought map.

What does this mean for farmers? The main problem faced is crop failure, but there’s other issues that arise with a lack of precipitation. Many farmers turn their animals out to pasture, where their main source of food is grass. With a lack of precipitation, the grass dies, meaning farmers need to find another food source for their animals. Pests and diseases that affect livestock, forage, and crops can also spread at a fast rate during droughts and summer temperatures. 

What does this mean as a consumer? Potential food price increases. With farmers needing to purchase feed as opposed to feeding grass, the price goes up. Crop failure can lead to a shortage in certain produce, causing prices to rise as well. So as a consumer, and for the farmer, let’s hope for some more snow!