DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — As freezing temperatures continue to hit central Illinois, farmers have to adapt to the intense conditions. Many local farmers started their weeks by simply clearing their working areas, and ensuring equipment could get to where it needs to go. 

While Illinois farmers are well-versed in dressing for cold weather, there's only so much they can do about their machines and vehicles, which can't always operate through extended periods of cold.

"It's the mechanical things that end up having issues when the ambient temperature gets down to that ten degree level, diesel trucks get hard to start, brakes freeze up," said David Brown, a farmer in Macon County. "Everything slows down when the weather gets cold, and I think sometimes we operate at 50% of what maybe what we'd want to be doing." 

With more snow on the way, and no end in sight for freezing temperatures, Brown said farmers like him continue to adapt to whatever weather comes their way. While they can pause their work if roads are bad, or when temperatures are too low, they also have time sensitive work to do. 

"365 days a year, Decatur, Illinois is processing grain, and they need grain on a daily basis — a lot of it," said Brown. "Things that we purchased last fall to get ready for this season, they come due in January. So we haul a lot of grain." 

As temperatures drop, Brown encourages everyone to be prepared for any and all potential bad weather. 

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