Farmers Advised to Leverage No-Till Residue to Manage Weather Extremes

Climate change brings increased weather variability, requiring new farming strategies to buffer against extreme conditions.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 8:26am

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A vast, atmospheric landscape painting in muted tones of gray, blue, and gold, depicting a small farm nestled beneath a dramatic, stormy sky. The scene conveys the overwhelming power of nature and the need for farmers to adopt resilient strategies to withstand weather extremes.As climate change brings more unpredictable and extreme weather, farmers must adapt their practices to buffer against the stresses of volatile conditions.Ames Today

According to plant physiologist Jerry Hatfield from the National Soil Tilth Research Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, climate change is leading to more extreme and unpredictable weather patterns that pose new challenges for farmers. Hatfield says the eastern U.S. is already seeing greater weather variability, with changes in the frequency and intensity of precipitation, and warns that these trends are moving westward. He advises farmers to leverage no-till residue management to help their crops better withstand the impacts of these weather extremes.

Why it matters

As climate change accelerates, farmers will need to adapt their practices to become more resilient to volatile weather patterns, including dramatic swings in precipitation. Hatfield's insights highlight the importance of adopting regenerative techniques like no-till farming to help buffer crops against the stresses of extreme heat, drought, and flooding.

The details

Hatfield points to examples of the weather variability already being seen, such as central Iowa receiving just an inch of rain in June and July last year, before getting 18 inches in August over the course of three 6-inch storms. This uneven distribution of rainfall during the growing season presents new challenges for managing agricultural systems. Additionally, Hatfield warns that the current warming cycle will place more stress on plants, especially during critical reproductive stages, if sufficient water is not available.

  • In 2025, central Iowa experienced an inch of rain in June and July, followed by 18 inches in August over three 6-inch storms.
  • Hatfield says the eastern U.S. is already seeing increased weather variability, with these trends now moving westward.

The players

Jerry Hatfield

A plant physiologist at the National Soil Tilth Research Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, who specializes in the impacts of climate change on agriculture.

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What they’re saying

“We are already seeing extreme weather variability in the eastern United States and it's beginning to move west. We are seeing a change in the frequency and the intensity of precipitation, but little change in the overall amount.”

— Jerry Hatfield, Plant Physiologist

“If we don't have the water available to that plant, these warming cycles will cause even more stress on plants, and if it occurs during the reproductive stage, it will cause a real impact on yield.”

— Jerry Hatfield, Plant Physiologist

What’s next

Hatfield advises farmers to leverage no-till residue management techniques to help their crops better withstand the impacts of increasingly extreme and unpredictable weather patterns driven by climate change.

The takeaway

As climate change accelerates, farmers will need to adopt more resilient practices like no-till farming to help their crops better buffer against the stresses of weather extremes, including dramatic swings in precipitation and rising temperatures.