Winter storms bring beauty to the farm, but this week’s snowfall has been more than picturesque—it’s a heavy load on our already drought-stressed trees. Some of our 30-foot trees are bent so low their tops nearly touch the ground, and others carry six inches of snow on their branches.

Drought-weakened trees are more brittle and prone to breaking under snow’s weight. A snapped branch can damage fences, farm buildings, or even injure livestock. For farms with orchards, windbreaks, or shade trees, this can mean serious losses if the snow is left unchecked.

Farmers can take a few careful steps: gently brushing snow off branches, checking for broken limbs, and keeping a safe distance from trees near structures or livestock. Professional help may be needed for larger trees or dangerous situations.

Winter storms are part of farm life, but this combination of drought and heavy snow reminds us that our trees—and our farms—need extra care during extreme weather.