Winter is the least busy time of year for many farmers, especially those in northern areas of the country. However, it is not a time for uninterrupted leisure. As spring approaches, winter is an opportunity to make plans that you can implement when warm weather finally arrives. Plans are important so that you can make priorities and maximize efficiency once it is time to start planting again. Here are some helpful preparation tips.
1. Inspect Your Equipment
While your farm equipment stands idle, now is a good time to inspect it for any damage requiring attention. Damaged equipment can hurt your efficiency and, more importantly, pose a safety hazard. Therefore, you should inspect and assess each piece of equipment and determine whether it can be replaced or whether you need to start looking for a new flail mower for sale.
2. Care for Livestock
If you keep livestock, of course you take care of them all winter. You keep your bale spear for loader in place so you can provide them with the nourishment they need and do what you can to keep them warm. However, now is the time for you to be sure they are healthy. You should make an appointment with your vet to perform checkups and vaccinations as needed. It is best to do this in late winter or early spring before the busy lambing and calving seasons start up.
3. Get the Soil Ready for Planting
One of the most important factors that determines the success or failure of your crops is the quality of the soil. To find out how fertile your soil is, and therefore how healthy your crops are likely to be, you should have a professional assessment of the pH nutrient levels. This should occur before March 20th.
Once you’ve determined that the soil is healthy, you may have to remove debris, such as rocks, from the area you want to plant. You may be able to make this task easier on yourself by looking for grapple buckets for sale before spring arrives.
4. Select the Plants You Want To Grow
The pH levels of your soil are one factor in plant selection but are not the only factor. You need to choose plants that can thrive in your soil, and perhaps even return some nutrients to it. You also need to look at the price forecasts for each crop and balance this against the costs involved in purchasing and planting. Be sure to investigate the variable costs that can change by season as well as the fixed cost associated with planting a certain crop.
5. Prepare for the Weather
While it is impossible to know for sure ahead of time what the weather is going to do, you should find out as much information as you can so you can make appropriate preparations for what could be coming. During the summer, you may contend with possible drought, while the spring may bring flooding due to the melting snow.
The approach of spring and summer can be exciting and nerve-wracking. Online retailers of farm equipment can help you feel confident that you are ready for whatever these seasons bring.