Using a pig spleen to predict the weather

Apr 20, 2018

The fat on a pig’s spleen can identify if cold weather may be in the forecast

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

Between countless apps and the Old Farmer’s Almanac, producers have no shortage of tools for weather prediction.

But one man’s family taught him to use a pig’s spleen for this task.

Jeff Woodward, an engineer with Environment and Climate Change Canada, learned the craft from Gus Wickstrom, Woodward’s late uncle who farmed in Tompkins, Sask.

Woodward’s European ancestors butchered a pig in the fall and used clues on the spleen to determine the kind of weather Mother Nature had in store.

Jeff Woodward predicts a forecast in 2016

Farmers looked at both the spleen’s thickness and the ridge of fat that runs down the centre of the spleen.

“If you look at that (ridge), how big it is and different sort of deposits on it, you can actually create a graph,” Woodward told Calgary Eyeopener yesterday. “You divide the spleen up into six parts (which represent six months) from January to June.”

The top of the spleen shows the current month and the bottom indicates the end of the six-month period. A thickening of the spleen could indicate the pig ate more to prepare for colder temperatures.

The spleen could be used to predict weather for about a 200-km radius from the pig’s home farm, Woodward said.

While he’s had some success predicting weather with this tool, his uncle became a celebrity for the art, Woodward added.

“When (Wickstrom) retired from farming, he took it up with great vigour,” Woodward told Calgary Eyeopener. “He started doing predictions for people in the U.S. They would actually send him spleens from different spots in the U.S.”

Woodward posts his forecasts on the Facebook page Pig Spleen Weather Prognostication.

He predicts the end of April will see above average precipitation, and May to start out colder than normal.

Farms.com has reached out to Woodward for more insight into his prediction methods.

Video: How a Desire to Lead Brought This Wheat Breeder to Canada

Gurcharn Singh Brar is a wheat breeder whose path meandered from the breadbaskets of Punjab, India, to the sprawling fields of the Prairies. In a candid conversation, Brar shared insights into his journey, the challenges faced, and the undying passion that fuels his quest for better crops.

It all began with a childhood rooted in the wheat fields of Punjab, where agriculture isn’t just a livelihood but a way of life. His fascination with wheat and its potential led him to pursue a bachelor’s degree in agricultural sciences at Punjab Agricultural University. It was during this time that he encountered the spectre of rust diseases, particularly stripe rust, which plagued the region’s wheat crops. Determined to combat this menace, he set his sights on a journey that would take him across continents.

Venturing abroad for his graduate studies, he found himself in Saskatchewan at the Crop Development Centre (CDC), working under the mentorship of renowned researchers like Randy Kutcher and Pierre Hucl. Here, he delved deep into the world of wheat genetics, focusing on stripe rust resistance — a quest that would shape his academic pursuits for years to come.

After completing his master’s and Ph.D. in six and a half years, he embarked on a professional journey that would see him traverse academia and research. From brief stints as a research officer to landing his dream faculty position at the University of British Columbia’s Plant Science program, his career trajectory was marked by a strong drive to make a difference in the world of wheat.

Despite the allure of British Columbia’s unique agricultural landscape, he found himself wanting to return to the vast expanses of the Prairies, where wheat reigns supreme. He recently returned to the Prairies and is the new wheat breeder at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.

“The opportunity to lead an established wheat breeding program at the University of Alberta was a dream come true. With the necessary resources and infrastructure in place, I’m excited to drive innovation and develop high-yielding wheat varieties tailored to the unique conditions of northern Canada,” he says.

Brar, one of Seed World Canada‘s 2024 Next-Gen Leaders, has become known for identifying novel sources of resistance to priority diseases and his efforts in developing wheat germplasm with multiple disease-resistant traits.

In addition to his groundbreaking research, Brar is committed to mentoring the next generation of agricultural scientists.

“I believe in nurturing talent and empowering students to pursue their passions,” he says. “Watching my students grow and thrive in their research endeavours is hugely rewarding.”

As he looks ahead, Brar’s vision for the future of wheat breeding is clear: “My number one target is to develop high-yielding wheat varieties adapted to the northern climates of Canada. By focusing on early maturity and strong straw traits, we can maximize yield potential while ensuring resilience to environmental challenges.”

His decision to also join the Prairie Recommending Committee for Wheat, Rye, and Triticale (PGDC) executive as member-at-large came from a desire to play an even more important role in the world of Canadian cereals.