Here in Western Pennsylvania, summer has made itself known. After another abnormally wet spring, we’ve suddenly hit a wall — mid-June rolls in, and the rain just… stops. The past couple years have followed this same pattern: saturated fields through May, then weeks of dry heat with barely a cloud in sight. For farmers trying to establish or maintain pasture, it’s a frustrating cycle to work around.
This year, we pushed forward with planting regardless. At Stella Manor, our regenerative plots saw oats and rye going in the ground alongside a long-term medicinal pasture mix. The oats and rye were chosen not just for soil-building but for their ability to handle stress — both in terms of moisture and heat. We’re finding, though, that even these hardy covers struggle when the rain shuts off so suddenly.
That stress doesn’t just affect the plants. The livestock feel it too. Our Angus herd at Deluisio Angus is adapted to our region, but black-hided cattle naturally absorb more heat. Shade, water access, and grazing timing all have to adjust when the temperature starts pushing into the 90s. We’ve begun experimenting with more resilient pasture species, some of which are covered in a recent post on Regenerative Seed.
The broader question is worth asking: is this the new normal? A spring season so wet it delays planting, followed by a summer where rain becomes a memory? Are we witnessing the beginning of a shift in how our microclimate behaves — or just a temporary weather fluke?
One thing that stands out is the sheer intensity of this heatwave. With forecasts pushing well into the 90s and no rain in sight, we’ve had to adjust our grazing patterns, check mineral and salt intake more closely, and keep a sharp eye on signs of heat stress — particularly in the darker-coated cattle. We’ve seen behavior changes too: shorter grazing windows, more shade-seeking, and reduced activity mid-day. The weather station’s log looks more like Arizona than Pennsylvania lately, and it’s got us rethinking everything from forage timing to fencing strategy.
And while we’re talking about how Western Pennsylvania is handling this summer’s extremes, we’re also keeping a close watch on local patterns and trends. Even official resources like Westmoreland County provide insights into how the community, landowners, and officials are dealing with unpredictable weather and planning for resilience.
We’ll be watching the sky, checking the forecasts, and fine-tuning our rotations in the meantime. And if the rain decides to return — maybe it’ll give us just enough time to reseed one more paddock before the ground dries out completely.
– Cody Deluisio
