FarmToFork Newsletter

The Farmers Digest

Fresh Food, Better Community

Greetings from Miles and Chris,

Week of September 7th • Presented by FarmToFork

From Floods to Drought: Farming in the Age of Weather Extremes

“When water comes, keep it, and when water’s gone, hold onto it.”

If this season felt unusual, you’re not imagining it. The 2025 growing season gave us one of the sharpest weather turnarounds in years. Early summer brought too much rain in many areas, flooded fields, saturated soils, and late planting dates. Then by August, the tap shut off. Places like southern Illinois barely saw a drop all month, and what started as a wet year quickly turned into a flash drought. Crops rushed to maturity under stress, and pastures dried up just when livestock needed them most.

This kind of whiplash isn’t new, but it’s happening more often. One year it’s too wet, the next it’s too dry, and sometimes both hit in the same season. Farmers have always worked with the weather, but today the swings are sharper and harder to predict. The real question becomes: how do you set your operation up so you can ride out both the flood and the drought?

The farms that managed best this year tended to have one thing in common: they didn’t depend on the sky alone. Water storage played a huge role. Ponds that filled during the rainy months turned into a lifeline in August when rainfall disappeared. Farmers using tailwater recovery ditches to capture irrigation runoff were able to put that water back to use instead of watching it wash downstream.

But ponds aren’t the only tool. Soil health practices also made a difference. Fields with cover crops, reduced tillage, or roller-crimped residue held more moisture than bare ground. Instead of water running off or evaporating as quickly, healthier soils soaked it in and kept it longer. That extra cushion helped crops finish stronger when the rain stopped.

It’s worth noting that many farmers are still skeptical of practices like no-till, cover crops, or roller crimping. They can feel like another input, another cost added to an already tight budget. And that’s true, planting cover crops is another pass across the field. But farmers who stick with these practices often see the return in other ways: less soil loss after a big rain, fewer washouts, better moisture when drought sets in, and even lower fertilizer needs as organic matter builds. Over time, those benefits protect the bottom line and can reduce future inputs.

Taken together, practices like pond building, cover cropping, no-till, roller crimping, are about the same principle: when water comes, keep it, and when water’s gone, hold onto it. In a year like this one, with wild swings from flood to drought, that principle proved its value.

The season of 2025 will be remembered for its extremes. It’s just one example of a larger trend farmers across the country are seeing: more unpredictable rainfall, heavier downpours, and faster dry-downs. No one knows exactly what next year will bring, but the direction is clear. The more a farm can catch and conserve water in the good times, the better it can withstand the bad.

Read more on thefarmersdigest.com

Angus: The Gold Standard

Discover why Angus cattle have become synonymous with premium beef quality in American agriculture. Comprehensive guide covering marbling ability, feed efficiency, market recognition, and management strategies.

Article • Published: Aug 22, 2025 • Read time: 12 min

Angus Cattle Beef Production Livestock Management Feed Efficiency

Read more on thefarmersdigest.com

Growing Watermelons: A Practical Guide for Gardeners and Market Growers

Learn how to successfully grow watermelons from planting to harvest. Comprehensive guide covering variety selection, planting techniques, water management, pest control, and harvesting tips for both home gardeners and market growers.

Article • Published: Aug 22, 2025 • Read time: 14 min

Watermelons Gardening Market Growing Crop Production Summer Crops Irrigation Pest Management Harvest Timing Pollination

Read more on thefarmersdigest.com

Small-Scale Pastured Broiler Production: Building a Profitable Poultry Enterprise

Discover how pastured broiler production offers an accessible entry point into profitable livestock farming. Learn mobile coop systems, feed management, processing options, and direct marketing strategies for small-scale success.

Article • Published: Aug 22, 2025 • Read time: 18 min

Pastured Broilers Poultry Production Mobile Coops Direct Marketing Cornish Cross Broiler Chickens Small Farm Livestock

Read more on thefarmersdigest.com

What is Mob Grazing

Discover mob grazing fundamentals and how high-density rotational systems can transform pasture health while addressing management challenges. Expert insights on stocking density, movement frequency, and practical implementation.

Article • Published: Aug 22, 2025 • Read time: 11 min

Mob Grazing Rotational Grazing High Density Grazing Stocking Density Pasture Management Livestock Regenerative Agriculture

Until next week,
The Farmers Digest Team

For any criticism, questions or comments feel free to reach out to us at:
chris@farmtofork.life

Iowa City, Iowa

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