Staying Busy On Your Farm During Winter
When winter arrives, many farming tasks are already completed. This is a welcome change of pace from the hustle and bustle of fall, but it can eventually begin to feel dreary. No one wants to sit idly by and twiddle their thumb for several weeks - especially not hardworking farmers!
Fortunately, there are plenty of projects that are perfect for winter time. We've gathered up the following ways to stay busy on your farm during winter. If you have any questions or want to shop farming equipment for sale, chat with the experts at Arizona Tractor Sales. We are proud to serve those throughout the Western United States.
Grow Winter-Appropriate Crops
Some crops can thrive in winter, especially when the winter is a mild Arizona one! Do some research about the best crops to grow in winter, then get them planted. Some common winter crops include winter rye, hardy grasses, buckwheat, cabbages, and carrots.
In some cases, the crops will do best in a greenhouse. This can be a simple canvas shelter, a fancy glass-windowed structure, or anything in-between. Some crops will also benefit from row covers. See what your intended crop needs to thrive during winter.
Maintain Your Farming Equipment
During the last few months, you likely used your farming equipment regularly and it was hard to find time to inspect your machines. Winter brings down time for your farming equipment, which is the perfect time to tackle maintenance tasks.
It starts with thoroughly inspecting your farming equipment. Make sure the various systems and parts are free from damage. If you uncover any problems, get them repaired as soon as possible. Letting issues sit can lead to the problems getting worse - and causing a much higher repair bill when you do visit the service department. Plus, you don't want to waste valuable work time in the spring waiting for your farming equipment to get out of the repair shop.
Go Over Your Records
Maintaining your records is important, but it's easy to forget about them during the busy weeks of harvest season. Take advantage of the winter lull and look over your bookkeeping records. Review the data you've collected, make sure there are no accounting concerns, and so on. It's a tedious task, but one that's much better suited for winter time.
Check Your Shelters
Your shelters offer valuable protection for your farming equipment and animals. They help keep out harsh sun rays, kicked-up dust, and other harmful factors. But if the shelters are damaged, they will be compromised in their ability to protect. Now is as good of time as any to inspect your shelters. See if there are any holes in the roofs, cracks in the windows, and so on. Handle any repairs as soon as possible.
Cull Your Animals
If you have livestock, winter is a good time to cull extra animals. Enjoy earning extra money from the sales as well as reduced upkeep costs. It's a win-win!
Consider your ideal number of animals. This is the amount of livestock that you can successfully maintain. If you currently exceed that number, decide which animals to cull. Then, figure out whether you want to have them sold or butchered. This will help you better care for your remaining animals, making it an important decision to consider each year.
We hope you enjoyed this guide to staying busy on your farm during winter. For more advice or to shop farming equipment for sale, reach out to the friendly staff at Arizona Tractor Sales. We are happy to answer your questions, provide advice, and assist with anything you need. Whether it's scheduling a service department visit or finding your next piece of farming equipment, we are here to help. We proudly serve those throughout the Western United States.