Some portions of ag country are experiencing an arctic blast right now, which they have not seen in decades.
The Northern Plains are seeing temps as low as -30º and snow is on the beaches of Florida. That causes concern for Florida’s citrus and strawberry crops and sugarcane in Louisiana.
On the other hand, over-wintering crops like wheat stand to benefit from the snow cover which acts like insulation from the bitter cold.
USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey addressed the cold’s impact on livestock:
“All of this cold comes with some risk for livestock. We do have the bitter cold, in some cases high winds accompanying that. The one piece of good news is that we don’t have a lot of wetness or wind or snow as just flat-out cold. We are watching some increased stress on the animals. A little tougher to keep the weight on the animals this time of year, as a lot of the energy goes into staying warm.”
Now that cold has also reached Texas where the state’s port activity was impacted by the rare winter storm.
The Port of Houston closed its public facilities while Freeport had very limited vessel activity. Both areas experienced heavy snow, ice, and high wind gusts.
Marilyn Schlake with the UNL Department of Agricultural Economics joined us for a closer look at the evolving role of livestock sale barns.
January 27, 2026 12:19 PM
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Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening joined us with the latest update on storm conditions and impacts across the state.
January 26, 2026 04:30 PM
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Mike Knotts with the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association joined us with the latest on storm impacts, power restoration, and safety considerations following the ice storm.
January 26, 2026 04:00 PM
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Brooks York with AgriSompo joined us with his outlook on crop insurance and risk management following the recent winter storm that tore through most of the United States, including the Midwest.
January 26, 2026 03:30 PM
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A mid-January winter storm delivered snow, ice, and extreme cold to a broad swath of the U.S., disrupting transportation, stressing livestock systems, and adding cost and complexity to winter farm operations as producers look toward spring.
January 26, 2026 01:10 PM
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Mike Steenhoek with the Soy Transportation Coalition discusses supply chain challenges facing agriculture as snow, sleet and ice threaten most of the Eastern U.S.
January 23, 2026 01:36 PM
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