Introduction

Extreme weather events and seasonal changes in the Spring can pose risks for farm operations. Use this checklist as a guide for immediate actions when extreme spring weather is forecast. Reference General Strategies for additional steps.  

At the Beginning of the Season

• Review the General Strategies checklist; 

• Review and update all written contingency plans with staff/family, including a plan for evacuating and shelter-in-place for staff and livestock; 

• Make a plan to keep extra feed on hand in case you are unable to reach your hay supplier or the feed store for a few days; 
• Ensure that trailer tires are inflated; 
• Ensure that chainsaws, generators, and other back-up systems are operable and serviced. Learn more about generator safety through this OSHA factsheet 
• Have your veterinarian’s number on paper and in your phone 
• Harvest and/or farm income data may be required to apply for compensation for losses from catastrophic weather events. Review your record keeping systems to ensure data is adequately recorded throughout the season 

Before Possible High-impact Weather Events

• Visit Southern Connecticut Weather for comprehensive forecasting for the entire state.
• Photo-document standing crops, pasture, poultry flocks, and other vulnerable sources of farm revenue in case of losses.
• Review response plans with family/staff.

Mud Season

• As spring progresses, snow melts, frozen winter soil begins to thaw at the surface, and a slick layer of mud can form on top of the frozen ground. Mud can become quite deep and problematic as the ground further thaws and spring rains fall. 
• Before preparing to deal with mud, consider how to avoid it or lessen impact. Considerations include housing livestock on higher ground in living barns and temporarily relocating an equipment yard to decrease traffic around barns 
• Prepare mud-prone areas while the ground is still fully frozen, except in areas where heavy rains would wash away material Lay stone, woodchips, or straw as needed. 
• Use pallets or planks as walkways in very muddy areas,paying careful attention to how livestock will navigate the area. 
• Be mindful of the freeze/thaw cycle from night to day. It may be easiest to complete chores in the morning before the ground thaws  
• Be sure to put away tools and equipment used during the day so they don’t freeze into the mud overnight. Avoid using heavy equipment in muddy and saturated areas to prevent soil compaction, rutting, and getting stuck in the mud. 
• Evaluate if a field is dry enough to bring in a tractor. If you can form a ball of soil and/or squeeze water out of the soil, the field is too wet.  
  • Learn more about assessing soil moisture  
• Extracting stuck vehicles or equipment can be complicated and dangerous. Damage, injuries, and fatalities can result when tow chains or straps break, or when equipment moves unpredictably. 
  • Learn more about safely extracting stuck equipment 
• Manage and/or remove manure on a daily or weekly basis during the spring season to avoid muddy and unhealthy conditions for livestock, especially young stock with developing immune systems. 
• Contain animals as needed to prevent excessive mud fouling. For animals fed outdoors, raise feeders off the ground to reduce contamination by animal waste. 

When Spring Temperatures are Higher than Average

Remember that warm Spring weather may not persist; average or cold temperatures may return.  

Crops 

Ensure greenhouse and high tunnel roll-up sides and fans are operable–begin venting before daytime temperatures climb. Use circulation fans in greenhouses to prevent leggy seedlings. 

Ensure adequate fertility for earlier-than-normal development of orchard and perennial crops.

Animal Care 

Ensure adequate clean drinking water for livestock. Locate water receptacles in shaded places when possible. Consider the likelihood for high Spring temperatures when scheduling shearing for fleece-bearing animals. 

Late spring frost  

Records of last Spring frost can be found through the National Weather Service. Keep in mind frost damage can occur at temperatures higher than 32 degrees, depending on site conditions. Review critical temperatures for fruit and vegetable crops. Be aware that newly emerged seedlings are more temperature sensitive than seedlings that have moved to the true leave stage. 

Learn more about soil temperatures and vegetable seed germination 

Learn more about orchard critical temperatures and frost protection  

Identify frost prone areas/frost pockets and susceptible crop varieties. Set up and/or service frost protection equipment, including sprinkler systems, pumps, and frost fans for orchards. Cover susceptible vegetable and flower seedlings with row cover as needed 

Black Bears

Black bears can be problematic, especially when they emerge from dens in the spring 

Create a plan to protect livestock from bears; 

• Learn more about livestock guardian dogs; 
• Better understand management and regulations through this in-depth look at bears and agricultural damage in Connecticut. 

Extreme Rain and Flooding

While flooding is a year-round risk, conditions in the Spring can result in harder-to-predict flooding patterns. Factors to consider when assessing the risk of flooding include ice dams on rivers and streams, snow melt, whether the ground is frozen, and rainfall amounts. 

Extreme rain considerations 

• Be mindful that distant rains can flood local rivers and streams, and that any low-lying area, including urban areas, can flood rapidly; 
• Be sure all drainage is clear, both on the land and buildings; 
• Manage manure piles to minimize run-off; 
• Monitor manure pit levels and develop a plan if there will not be enough 'freeboard' space until overflow; 
• Consider delaying direct seeding and delayed or split fertilizer or pesticide applications; 
• Move animals, equipment, & supplies out of flood zones and areas likely to become muddy or under water. 

Heavy rain on frozen ground 

• Water will pool and possibly freeze in low-lying areas. Move equipment off fields that may flood and freeze; 
• Be aware that shallow wells may be more prone to contamination by runoff when the ground is frozen; 
• Find a list of water testing labs; 
• Store manure and compost piles under cover (roofs or tarps) to prevent nutrient leaching and runoff. Consider surrounding piles with straw bales to contain runoff 

Hail 

• Move vulnerable equipment under cover; 
• Provide shelter to vulnerable animals; 
• Young poultry may not seek cover on their own–contain within coop or cover chicken tractors; 
• Move seedling trays under cover; 
• Harvest vulnerable crops as possible. 

Extreme Wind

Be prepared for power outages 

• Fill all water tanks for crops, animals, and people with clean water; 
• Ensure working generators and/or gas/diesel water pumps to provide for livestock and irrigation water during extended outages; 
• Unplug extension cords and other electrical equipment when possible to mitigate fire risk; 
• Collect/secure anything that could become airborne. 
• Secure outbuildings, closing all doors, windows, ventilation boards, or other openings; 
• Seal up greenhouses and high tunnels, as temperatures allow; 
• Add additional sandbags/weights for row cover or remove row cover; 
• Repair and/or drive additional posts for trellised crops like brambles or peas to prevent blow-down. Posts are more likely to fail when soil is saturated; 
• Move animals, equipment, and supplies away from trees; 
• Trim hanging branches and remove deceased trees; 
• If strawberries are still covered, check that straw is still in place after high winds; 
• After an extreme weather event, confirm that no trees, branches, or leaves that may be toxic to livestock have fallen in paddocks/pens; 
• Walk fence lines and inspect buildings to ensure that no damage has occurred 

Tornadoes 

While highly impactful tornadoes are uncommon in the Northeast, they do occur and their infrequency can make them more dangerous if they are not considered a possible threat 

• A Tornado Watch means there are favorable conditions for tornado formation–stay alert! 
• A Tornado Warning means a funnel cloud has been sited – time to seek shelter! 

Learn more about how to seek shelter from a tornado 

Do not risk your life trying to protect equipment, structures, livestock, or crops when a tornado is imminent. 

Drought

We associate drought with warm temperatures, but lengthy dry periods can also occur in the spring. 

• Monitor drought at the government drought site;
• Ensure irrigation systems are operable, including pumps, filters, and delivery systems as there may be the need to irrigate sooner than normal; 
• Monitor water quality of surface water used for irrigation and livestock hydration; 
• Monitor dug wells and have an alternative source for providing water to animals if the well goes dry. 

Increased Fire Risk

Review Managing Fire Risks.  

• Brush fires are becoming more common in spring with high winds, low humidity, and dry leaf litter; 
• Clear dead leaves, brush, grasses, straw, and other readily flammable materials from areas surrounding buildings and work areas where sparks, flames, or hot equipment might be present; 
• Always have a water source handy when doing work that could make sparks, such as cutting metal, or when hot equipment could come in contact with flammable materials; 
• If using heat lamps for young livestock, take steps to mitigate fire risk. Ensure that cords are free from damage; that outlets are clean and free from debris and situate them away from flammable materials and walls.  
  • Learn more at: Managing Risk: Using Heat Lamps on the Farm - Cornell Small Farms 
• Avoid burning during dry, windy days; 
• Consider composting rather than burning leaf piles. 

Monitor the forest fire danger report and sign up for alerts.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express appreciation to members of the UConn Extension Agriculture Team for their assistance in conceptualizing this project. Members include Cristina Connolly, Tessa Getchis, Shuresh Ghimire, Michael Gilman, Nick Goltz, Mayra Rodríguez González, Srikanth Kodati, Jacqueline Kowalski, Charles Krasnow, Ana Legrand, Amelia Magistrali, Jiff Martin, Rich Meinert, Haiying Tao, Indu Upadhyaya, and Vickie Wallace.  

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Connecticut Department of Agriculture. (Updated 2025, July). Black bear agricultural damage. https://portal.ct.gov/deep/wildlife/bears/black-bear-agricultural-damage 

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. (n.d.). Forest fire danger report. https://portal.ct.gov/deep/forestry/forest-fire/forest-fire-danger-report 

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