NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD NEWS) — Continuing coverage of the winter storm gripping farm country and taking its toll on livestock and crops. While the full extent of the damage remains unclear, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Meteorologist Brad Rippey says a USDA resource is helping gain insight into current conditions across the country.
“USDA’s NASS produces a weekly report, crop progress, from April through November that gives state and national information on crop conditions, topsoil moisture, subsoil moisture, and rangeland and pasture conditions, among other factoids and tidbits,” Rippey explains. “But during the winter, those weekly reports turnoff, and we are kind of left a little bit blind. Not a whole lot is going on in most of the country in terms of agriculture through the winter, but it is nice to get an occasional update, and that is the role of state stories.”
There are four additions of state stories from the first week of December to the last week of March each year, each covering a month of reports from contributing states.
“With that, we don’t really get a national look at everything, but there are certainly a number of states that provide useful information,” Rippey says. “It gives us a little clue of how some of the crops are overwintering, how rangeland and pastures are looking, and for the areas of the country where there is still some field work or growing going on, a little look at what’s happening there.”
Cattle are another big part of the equation right now, with prolonged cold temperatures elevating their risk of respiratory diseases. North Dakota Extension Agent Karl Hoppe told RFD NEWS that feed ingredients can make all the difference right now.
“Giving cattle enough feed that ferments, which most of the feed does ferment for cattle, creates a lot of heat,” Hoppe said. “And actually, as one person commented to me many years ago, it’s like having a space heater inside a cow, keeping her warm. The rumen environment really does create a lot of heat for the cow, so they’re kind of unique for having that ability to gather some extra energy out of the feeds they consume to heat their bodies when we have cold weather. This isn’t just adequate feed the date of the event. This is adequate feed months before the event. We’d like to have some body conditions, some fat on the cow, so they can draw on that.”
Hoppe adds that a fat cow is a happy cow right now, noting extra fat can help insulate their vital organs. Officials warn that you must monitor all livestock as temperatures rebound, since infections like pneumonia can take a while after the storm to show up.
RFD NEWS will continue to assess the impact of the winter storm on agriculture and resources available for any damage your operation may have endured.
Winter Storm 2026: Ag Impacts — Transportation Networks & Supply Chain
As sub-zero temperatures linger across much of the country, farmers and ranchers are starting another day facing dangerous cold — but producers aren’t the only ones feeling the strain.
The agricultural transportation network is also under pressure as crews work to keep grain, fuel, and other essential goods moving despite prolonged freezing conditions. Mike Steenhoek with the Soy Transportation Coalition joined us on Wednesday’s Market Day Report to provide an update on how the system is holding up.
In his interview with RFD NEWS, Steenhoek explained that extended periods of extreme cold can slow or disrupt multiple parts of the transportation network, from rail and river systems to trucking, especially when ice buildup and equipment issues come into play.
Steenhoek noted that while agriculture is no stranger to winter challenges, prolonged freezing temperatures increase stress on infrastructure and make recovery more difficult as delays accumulate. He also emphasized that communication and coordination between farmers, elevators, and transportation providers becomes especially important during weather events like this.
Finally, he discussed the planning and preparation that railroads and transportation companies undertake for winter weather, while acknowledging that storms of this magnitude can still overwhelm even the most well-laid plans.
In regions hit hardest by ice, Steenhoek says, fallen trees and blocked rail lines have added another layer of complexity.
After the Storm: Winter Fun in Arkansas
This most recent winter storm was big — and not without its share of dangers — but it has not been all doom and gloom. The Arkansas Farm Bureau shows us how farmers and ranchers there are making the most of a tough situation.
