How Extreme Weather Can Damage Agricultural Business

We seem to get it every year. In summer, it is the scorching sun. In winter it is the coldest snap since records began. Hurricanes, typhoons, twisters, wildfires, flooding, snow storms; on Earth today, we seem to be experiencing more and more extreme weather with each passing year. Whilst the immediate effects of this weather can be seen on the news and in various media coverage, the long term impact of this extreme weather may be even more serious than we realize.

Whilst increased levels of carbon monoxide in the air might aid some plants in the speed of their growth, if the gradual warming gets too much, together with floods when it does rain, and then further droughts, the quality of the product produced diminishes, as does the yield. With this, livestock is also at risk from the hotter atmosphere, in addition to lower quality feed they would receive. Despite vast improvements in technology, extreme weather can lead to a smaller crop yield, year on year.

Heatwaves, which are expected to increase in frequency due to climate change, could threaten livestock even more in years to come. Heat stress can leave animals vulnerable to diseases, less able to reproduce and with a poorer quality milk. With hotter days and less rain, the land on which livestock graze would be impacted. With milder winters, the cold weather that one time killed off the bothersome parasites would survive, potentially increasing the prevalence of disease.

In the age of extreme weather, it is a good idea to be prepared for what the seasons might throw at you. One of the companies pushing the boundaries of farm building protection is New Zealand based company Smart Shelters. Founded in 1915, the company has built their reputation on providing innovative fabric weather protection. Smart Shelters’ farm buildings are the most ideal option for a vast array of animal housing needs, to protect against the worst nature can throw your way.

Brightly lit and very spacious, the structures increase milk production, even through the winter, and reduce feed costs. They also help to avoid off-farm grazing costs and really do care for cow wellbeing throughout extreme weather conditions. They have even been found to reduce respiratory problems because of the great ventilation as well. The Smart Shelters farm buildings are up to 10 degrees cooler in the hottest weather and 5-10 degrees warmer in the winter, to help combat stress relief in your livestock. Providing both woodchip and composting barn systems, the constant airflow keeps the bedding clean, thanks to the arched roof of the structure.

With the threat of extreme weather not disappearing anytime soon, agricultural businesses need to prioritise plans for water scarcity and look towards making themselves resilient to drought. To do this, it is important to develop long term plans to manage water and promote the best management of resources as possible. This also means farmers working collaboratively to help each other out in times of crisis.