Farmers’ Almanac Predicts Harsh Winter

Aug 25, 2014

With memories of last year’s winter still frozen in people’s minds, the folks over at Farmers’ Almanac are predicting that the upcoming winter of 2014 / 2015 will be one to remember as well. The latest issue of the nearly 200-year-old publication, which goes on sale this week, is forecasting colder and wetter-than-usual weather conditions for the two-thirds of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains.

While the North Eastern parts of the country, including the Midwest and Great Lakes region are expected to get blasted with snow and frigid temperatures, California and other areas of the Pacific Northwest will receive normal levels of precipitation and cool temperatures this winter. Last year, the historic publication was highly accurate with their forecast of an extreme winter, while national forecasters made a mess with their often inaccurate predictions.

The Farmers’ Almanac uses a unique and mostly-secret formula to create its weather predictions, which include factors such as moon cycles, sun spots and other celestial observations. While their methods are not generally supported by the modern-day scientific community, farmers have long-used this information for planning plantings and harvests.

After failing to predict the weather with any great accuracy last winter, forecasts using modern scientific methods are suggesting that we could be seeing a return of the dreaded “Polar Vortex” as early as September this year – which would cause havoc for farmers in the North East and Great Lakes regions. With a late start to planting in the spring of 2014, farmers need the extra time this fall to get their crops to full maturity, and a drastic drop in temperature could result in severe frost damage to crops over a large area.

Video: Winter Service Inspections for John Deere Equipment - The FarmCast Ep64

The FarmCast, host Troy Randall speaks with Doug Luedke, Vice President of Service, and Davin Peterson, Executive Vice President of Aftermarket at 21st Century Equipment, to discuss the importance of proactive service and how it helps farmers reduce downtime during their busiest seasons. The conversation focuses on the Winter Service Inspection Program, a comprehensive approach designed to keep equipment running at peak performance and limit costly in-season breakdowns through preventative maintenance and expert technician support.

Doug and Devin explain how 21st Century Equipment’s service teams have evolved to meet the needs of today’s connected machines. With more technology and data integrated into modern equipment, technicians now play a vital role in both mechanical repairs and precision ag support. Through advanced diagnostics, machine monitoring, and John Deere’s Expert Alerts, they can identify and address potential issues before they become major problems—saving customers valuable time, money, and frustration.

Throughout the discussion, the team shares real-world success stories demonstrating how proactive inspections and customer-focused service help maximize uptime and efficiency for every operation. Whether it’s a large tractor, combine, or small mower, the goal remains the same: to provide trusted, reliable support that helps farmers and landowners stay productive and confident in their equipment year-round.