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Plan to consistently adapt to new weather extremes

A field crops educator says regularly scouting is the best way for farmers to manage through weather extremes.

Michigan State University Extension’s Nicolle Ritche tells Brownfield it’s hard to tell what should be normal for crops as climatic conditions become more variable.

“As we say, ‘Oh, this year is wetter than normal, this year is warmer than normal, last year was drier than normal.’ I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a normal year,” she shares. “It’s really all about not depending on the calendar so much as it is depending on what you’re physically seeing physically feeling being in the fields and interacting with your crops.”

She says it’s more challenging to make management decisions when the timing of pests, diseases, or crop development is off.

“As far as corn and soybeans, they’re moving really quickly through their reproductive stages and western bean cutworm came up a lot earlier than it normally does, tar spot pressure again starting much earlier,” she says.

Ritche also recommends supporting soil health through conservation practices like no-till to better manage harsh weather conditions.

AUDIO: Nicolle Ritche, Michigan State University Extension