The Sentinel: Inclement Weather

Small farms disproportionately impacted by extreme heat according to recent study

Researchers say there's no silver bullet for mitigating the effects of heat stress on herds.

by Judith Ruiz-Branch
Illinois News Connection

CHICAGO - A new study shows how extreme weather conditions negatively affect production yields on Midwest dairy farms, with a disproportionate impact on smaller farms.

Researchers at the University of Illinois studied milk production records from nine Midwest dairy farmers. Considering both temperature and humidity when measuring extreme heat, they found farms lose about 1% of milk yield annually because of heat stress, while smaller farms lose closer to 2%.

Marin Skidmore, study co-author, said when cows are in extreme heat, it can cause increased restlessness and risk of infection, and decreased appetite, which reduces milk yield and impacts bottom lines.

"To some extent, it's only 1.6%. But if you're really making every dollar from your paycheck count, because you're living in a time with high costs, then 1.6% of your paycheck being gone in a given year is meaningful," she said.

The study predicts extreme heat days to be much more frequent in years to come and milk yield losses to increase about 30% in the next 25 years.

The Midwest tends to have smaller dairy farms compared with other states, with herds ranging from 100 to 200 cows. Researchers say being able to track and compare daily milk yields across a large region with similar climates has never been done before. Skidmore said their findings suggest that larger herds seem to have some level of protection to extreme heat compared with smaller farms, which start to see impacts of heat stress at lower thresholds.

"And this is additionally concerning in the context that we're studying because we've seen a lot of dairy farm exits over the last decade or two, and many of those are small farms," she added.

While researchers say there's no silver bullet for mitigating the effects of heat stress on herds, recommendations include adjusting feeding and calving timing, and using sprinklers and improved ventilation systems.

Skidmore emphasized the need for additional support for small farms since capital costs can be particularly constraining.

"Having the access to enough capital to make these really big investments is difficult, and grants or loans to help small farms adopt some of these management technologies could be one avenue to help small farms cope with heat stress and keep them competitive," she continued.

Skidmore said more research is also needed to explore other options to best manage extreme heat on dairy farms.

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Commentary |
I stopped sleeping because of climate change

I used to love rain and snowfall as a child, but now, whenever it rains, I fear landslides and unexpected destruction.

by Naman Joshi

India boasts a diverse and picturesque landscape. Uttarakhand, a state nestled within the Himalayan mountain range, is renowned for its rugged terrain and scenic beauty. The World Bank’s report, titled “Assessing Biophysical and Social Vulnerability to Natural Hazards in Uttarakhand State,” acknowledged that Uttarakhand is particularly vulnerable to floods and landslides due to its biophysical risks. These risks are exacerbated by social vulnerabilities, including poverty, inadequate access to healthcare and financial services, and marginalized populations.

I live in a small district of Uttarakhand called Champawat, known for its cultural heritage and breathtaking natural views. Many families in our area have never used fans in their entire lives because the cold climate made them unnecessary. Nainital, a district 208 kilometers away, had the highest rate of tree cover loss from 2001 to 2023, according to data from Global Forest Watch. This loss was primarily due to fires, with an average of 12 hectares lost per year.

During one incident, my parents visited our village, where more than 12 members of my family experienced a natural disaster in the form of a massive landslide. Our ancestral home was damaged in the disaster. At the time, I was in Delhi, India’s capital. My parents called me once to inform me about the heavy rain, but suddenly, their connection was lost. Due to the perilous and anxiety-inducing night and the lost connection, I was unable to get any updates about their safety or that of my other family members.

Many young people around me—both girls and boys—no longer want to marry because of climate change. They suffer from climate anxiety, a relatively new term that many still don’t understand. They fear the kind of life they could provide for their future children. Meanwhile, those with resources are buying air conditioners, worsening the situation in these hilly areas.

People in my district are surprised by the recent heatwaves. They aren’t geography experts, and there are no heavy industries nearby. They see greenery all around but don’t realize that climate connects everything—villages to districts, districts to states, states to nations, and nations to the global level.

I used to love rain and snowfall as a child, but now, whenever it rains, I fear landslides and unexpected destruction. These days, rainfall can occur in any month and in unpredictable quantities. Climate anxiety is a serious issue that must be addressed.

Recently, former President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement, but climate issues can only be tackled through cooperation and collaborative action. I lived in Delhi for almost eight years—one of India’s most polluted cities. While the government has introduced policies to reduce pollution, I’ve seen little real impact. Many still dismiss climate anxiety as a joke and believe climate change is a temporary phenomenon. Some remain unaware of heatwaves, mistakenly blaming the sun alone for rising temperatures.

If we truly want to sleep peacefully, we must act at the grassroots level. Today, I am a victim of this crisis, and unfortunately, no one can predict who will be next.

The fashion industry must adopt recycling in garment production, and social media influencers should raise awareness about climate change and climate anxiety. We must change our daily habits—ditching plastic straws and disposable cups in favor of sustainable alternatives without ignoring their environmental cost.

I dream of a future where everyone can sleep peacefully, without needing air conditioners or living in fear. I long for the days when I could enjoy rain and snow with my family, free from the dread of sudden climate-induced changes. I wish my financially struggling villagers could ease their anxiety about not being able to afford fans for their children, who now suffer from sleep disturbances due to rising temperatures. Their well-being weighs heavily on my mind.

About the author ~

Naman Joshi hails from Uttarakhand, India, and is a Doctor of Philosophy at Kumaun Univeristy Nainital.

Snow humor on Facebook community page frost some, delight others

TOLONO - On Friday, one individual or an ad-hoc group of anonymous posters authored a series of over 70 amusing weather/school-related posts in the Tolono Wire, a private Facebook group with over six thousand members for residents to share community information. The series started at 10:48 AM, and Facebook shows the last one posted at 7:39 PM.

What started as a dig at the school district for not canceling school due to a light snow event drew the ire of some and laughs from other members of the page.

A couple of post attracted the attention of WCIA meterologist joined the fun with a few humorous posts of his own.

A post tagging #wica at 1:22 asked, "Where is Jacob Dickey when you need him!?" Barely an hour later, Dickey was in front of the high school taking a selfie he posted to his Facebook page.

Here's a peek at the top 35 posts, in chronological order, with the most interactions (likes/love).

What some people thought

While the majority of posters were entertained, a handful Tolono residents did not appreciate the humor. Here are 20 comments out of hundreds users posted the anonyomous messages on Friday.

T.P. wrote: "THANK YOU! All these people on here saying we’re soft and this is why we don’t learn anything…while not knowing the difference between there and their. 😭Some people are so stiff. Please take it down a notch. You forget that you were us once!"

M.G. wrote: "I don't know which I find more hilarious; all these posts, or all the adults with no sense of humor, getting their panties in a bunch lol!! Come on folks you only live once! Laugh a little geez!! 🤣 🤣 🤣"

J.S. wrote: "If I could possibly help to lower anyone’s blood pressure over the “anonymous get out early posts”. The majority of them are coming from students who are disappointed after they were notified that they are not letting school out early. The posts are making me chuckle a little. Specifically the one “these sweet children shouldn’t be in school , the roads are dangerous”😂😂 I have also noticed quite a few more students asking to join, I would anticipate more anonymous posts coming soon 😂"

T.G. wrote: "How do we know that the kids just asked to go outside and do it? Like everyone is jumping to conclusions"

C.L. wrote: "Sounds like someone is posting just to create drama."

B.R. wrote: "We couldn't do this back in my generation because anonymous posts weren't a thing! Gatley would have had us in his office in 2 seconds 😂"

J.S. wrote: "It's school kids. They are just having a bit of fun"

M.B. wrote: "I am having a stressful day and this is making my day better 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣"

J.D. wrote: "Aren't the students supposed to have their phones put away during the day (with lots of sarcasm)"

A.A. wrote: "Have you seen the grammar?!? It’s definitely not the teachers 🤣🤣"

S.S. wrote: "Whose dad is this? This movie came out 21 years ago! Also I love this movie!"

J.S. wrote: "I loved all these post !! Clean fun shenanigans hurt NOONE !!"

S.B. wrote: "Not funny at all" and on another post, "I totally agree STOP"

K.E. wrote: "And best post of the day award goes to.... 🤣🏆"

T.H. wrote: "I’m from Teutopolis. In my town, school was never cancelled if there was a basketball game to be played that night. (That’s how winners win…if you want to beat T-Town, you have to stay in school.)"

F.L. wrote: "I’m not even from yall area but these threads are absolutely entertaining 🤣🤣"

T.H. wrote: "I think they need to remove everyone that’s not from Tolono !"

T.C. wrote: "I'ma just say it... These posts have made me laugh all day today!! Thanks for the laughs and smiles!! Now enjoy the weekend peeps and know we raised some humorous children in this town IDC who says different"

A.M. wrote: "Harmless fun and we have all played a prank or two on our lives. It was cleaver and funny. Knowbody got hurt."

C.H. wrote: "Boomers be boomering"

L.M. wrote: "The kids were having a bit of fun. Yes during school hours but oh well. It is much better then them being bad and fighting. It was hilarious!!!!!"

Guest Commentary |
January: Be prepared, drink hot chocolate and rest

by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator

January always brings snow and ice unless you live in the most southern part of the United States. Even then, you aren’t guaranteed to escape January without some harsh weather.

Glenn Mollette

This current mess that came from the west has piled about eight inches of snow and ice on us. Keeping us inside for a couple of days. So far, we’ve only been without power for one hour, but many others have not been as fortunate.

The best we can do is prepare and hunker down. We need alternative lighting and heat sources. You can almost count on the power to go out sometime in January. Especially if you aren’t prepared. It’s better to be over prepared and not need it than to be underprepared and in danger of freezing to death.

Accidents and hard times can come suddenly and painfully. These are the things in life that come at us suddenly and out of nowhere.

This seems to be one of the golden rules of life. Be prepared. We spend our lives studying and thinking about being prepared. School and education are about learning, developing and training. We study for knowledge but also to be prepared. We try to save money so that we might be prepared for the time when we aren’t able to make any more. The team than wins the game is the team who works hard to prepare mentally and physically.

Every aspect of life is about preparing. The musician, athlete, actor, politician, butcher, baker, candlestick maker, homemaker, and so forth must have a rigid daily routine to experience success.

One reality of life is that there is much for which we can’t prepare.

We hear about cancer but we are never prepared for such a diagnosis. We aren’t prepared for breaking a bone but then we are suddenly faced with months of recuperation. Accidents and hard times can come suddenly and painfully. These are the things in life that come at us suddenly and out of nowhere. Although they are painful, we have no choice but to face the agony of whatever it is and try to work through it one day at a time.

We prepare for life and we should prepare for death. As long as we live, we have all that comes with life. What about death? We must be prepared for that as well. There are funeral plans we need to make, but most importantly, our eternal plans must be made. Where do you want to spend eternity? Consider, when it comes to the end of our lives and meeting God face to face. Look to him today and prepare your heart and mind. Embrace His gift to us in His son Jesus.

January won’t last forever and there is much excitement in January such as college basketball, NFL playoffs, my birthday if I live, the swearing in of our new President, a raise in Social Security, and many occasions to drink hot chocolate. Don’t miss the hot chocolate and don’t miss the opportunity to take some time for a few naps on these snowy days. God surely gave us January to hibernate a little and rest after the hectic holidays.

About the author ~

Glen Mollett is the author of 13 books including Uncommom Sense, the Spiritual Chocolate series, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states.

The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.

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