Connecting Ag to Climate: Tools and Resources Available for Producers During Extreme Cold

Across the region, many producers are preparing for calving season. Extreme weather conditions, especially prolonged cold snaps, high winds and heavy snowfall are a concern for the newest members of our operations. 

Those who calve in January and February know bitter cold temperatures stress both cows and calves. While additional forage aids in maintaining cow body heat, animals less than 24-hours old struggle to regulate their body temperature, and thus, are more susceptible to the cold.

This can make it harder for calves to stand and nurse to receive colostrum.

Hourly forecasts for wind chill

Wyoming is having its first taste of bitter cold this season, with the map at digital.weather.gov forecasting minimum temperatures in the negative teens and 20s during Jan. 18-20. 

Many producers rely on their favorite weather app for the extended forecast, but not everyone knows about a windchill forecast available through the National Weather Service (NWS). 

The NWS Hourly Weather Forecast provides an hour-by-hour forecast, up to four days in advance, for windchill, windspeed, wind direction, probability and amount of snow, among several other variables. 

These detailed forecasts give producers additional information which may help them prepare more strategically for extreme cold, paying special attention of course to the protection of newborn livestock. 

To find the NWS Hourly Forecast for a specific area, visit weather.gov, enter a zip code and then click on the “Hourly Weather Forecast” link. Once there, individuals can choose which variables they want to see for the next four days, hour-by-hour. 

Another way to view this information is at weather.gov/forecastpoints/. 

In this map, users can click on the map to pinpoint their area of interest and then, below the map, summaries appear of hourly and daily conditions including temperatures, wind chills, possibility of precipitation, relative humidity and cloud cover.

Documenting livestock losses due to adverse weather events 

Hoping for moisture in the winter and spring to support the upcoming summer’s grazing season doesn’t always mix well with calving and lambing. 

In the event of severe winter storms, including extreme cold, high winds or heavy snowfall, it is important for livestock producers to keep detailed records to document livestock losses. 

Administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA), the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) provides compensation to eligible livestock owners for excess losses caused by adverse weather events. 

If producers are impacted by an adverse weather event, they will need information such as the number, kind, type and weight range of livestock lost, supplemented with documentation such as dated photographs, video records and veterinary records. 

The LIP Decision Tool, available at farmraise.com/usda-fsa/lip-decision-tool, can help producers gather the documentation and supporting information needed to apply. 

To learn more about LIP, see the FSA factsheet at bit.ly/4h9vkHq. 

To find a local FSA office and learn more about programs available to assist producers, visit farmers.gov/service-center-locator. 

Averi Reynolds is an ORISE science communications fellow for the USDA Northern Plains Climate Hub, serving Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota. The USDA Northern Plains Climate Hub strives to provide unbiased information about adaptation and mitigation strategies for ranchers, farmers and foresters to help increase their operations’ resilience to weather variability and a changing climate. For more information on the Northern Plains Climate Hub, visit climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/northern-plains.