Local farmers benefit from recent snowfall

By Jenna Wilson

January brought heavy snow to the area, and while it may have been an inconvenience for many, farmers are thrilled to see moisture for their crops.

The state of Missouri has been in a moderate drought for a few years, which has made harvest season tough for farmers.

Buchanan County farmer Tim Gach said the amount of rainfall Northwest Missouri received last year only helped slightly.

“Last year, according to local data, we were somewhere between 5 and 7 inches short on rainfall,” he said. “In this immediate area right here, farmers know two things. It’s not necessarily about the amount of rainfall you get, it’s when you get it. We had a couple of weeks where we didn’t get any rain and it got kind of hot and dry, corn started to stress. Eventually we got some rain and we had pretty decent yields on our crops.”

Area farmers were able to get through last harvest season without issues, but the moisture didn’t last long, which is why farmers are hoping this month’s snowfall and moisture will put them on track during the spring.

When the moisture is in the form of snow, Gach said it’s an even better benefit.

“Fast forward to where we’re at now, and a lot of guys will tell you that their ponds dried up and their creeks dried up,” he said. “When that happens, that means water table is really low but now we’ve got the snow on the ground. Most people will tell you that it takes about 10 to 12 inches of snow to equate to about an inch of water. So, while this looks like a lot of snow, it may not be a lot of water, but it will sit there and be absorbed into the ground as opposed to it all running off, which is definitely going to help soil moisture content going into the spring.”

January’s snow has positively impacted many aspects of agriculture from soil fertility to global trade, though farmers still face a few hurdles when it comes to protecting their livestock.

“Snow does sit there making a little rougher condition in feedlots, things like that,” Gach said. “You have to be cognizant, be aware of your livestock and make sure that they’re being tended to properly and getting a high energy feed. Cattle this time of year require a lot of energy to stay warm, but they do even in the outdoor elements like this.”

Even with the snow falling, Gach said hard times could be ahead for farmers in 2024 if we don’t see much moisture in the months ahead.

“We’re in an El Nino situation right now, which I always kind of thought meant that we would probably see a little bit more moisture than in a La Nina year,” Gach said. “Either way, we were still partially in a drought monitor as of about two months ago, just in this area. So, hopefully the moisture continues to come and we can alleviate that because while it can be wet on top, if it’s still dry underneath, that can be problematic later on in a season where you don’t get much rain.”