Hard Winter

Farm News

This week, we would like to give big hugs and support for the heartbreaking loss of an estimated 1,600 dairy cows in the Yakima Valley region here in the Northwest. “I hope everyone is a little extra appreciative for the breakfast on their table because it was a little harder than usual this time,” as reported in the Tri City Herald newspaper by Annette Cary.

Heavy amounts (two to four feet) of snow combined with winds blowing at 44 mph and sub- zero temperatures as the wind chill recorded around minus 18 degrees F hit over the weekend and Monday. “Dairy farmers who had been in the business their entire lives said they had never seen anything like the weather that hit areas near Grandview and Sunnyside between the Tri-Cities and Yakima,” wrote Cary.

Many farmers were out plowing rural county roads so that feed and shelter could be managed. On our farm in Carnation, we were very lucky to have only sustained damage to infrastructure—our processing tarp wooden frame and barn roof over our beet washer snapped under pressure from the weight of the snow.

We did not lose power, nor did we have any large trees down, however all the roads around the farm were hit hard. On Tuesday, Ziggy, Emily and I all attempted to get to the farm from three different geographic locations and failed miserably. My kids were so car sick from all the sliding, stop/start, white-knuckle driving that they wished they were back in school.

The delivery crew for the boxes to your houses have made huge efforts to deliver in the slippery conditions, but as always safety comes first. We hope that everyone has remained safe and warm. As we look at this February, the coldest on record thus far, we may have a few more storms to endure. We are humbled by the incredible power to help each other out as a community and pitch in wherever possible; on the farm and in the city, we can all benefit each other in these difficult times.

Don’t forget to find us on Instagram @fullcirclefarms.

-Wendy