PREPARING YOUR FARM FOR THE WINTER WEATHER
FOR FARMERS, winter can be the absolute worst time of year. Temperatures drop and winds howl day and night, cutting through all they can with their icy sting. Not only that, but minor amounts of sun, possible snow and frequent frosty mornings all have a hand in the deadly game that winter plays.
All of these factors put an enormous strain on farmers, not only making their work much harder to get done, but also with the risk the weather poses to buildings, machinery, animals and crops. We have some useful tips so that you can fully prepare your farm for the creeping cold, and our advertisers are on hand to help make sure you and your farm get through the winter safely.
Check all machinery
It’s incredibly important that any and all of your essential machinery is inspected and maintained where necessary by a professional. A (literally) well- oiled machine can near enough ensure that any risk of downtime is reduced, and that your essential machinery – whether it’s feeding machinery or crop management tools – continues to operate smoothly.
Organise back-ups
The incoming cold weather, especially any storms or heavy snowfall we might encounter, can often play havoc on your power supply, which means that power cuts and complete loss of electricity are strong possibilities. To counter this, a back-up generator could be the safest option – and, while you might find them expensive, they’ll near enough pay for themselves and more when the power goes out.
Continuous water flow
The last thing you want is your water supply freezing over. You can implement electrically-powered thermal insulation jackets for your water pipes, but if you really want to prevent any problems, a continuously flowing supply of water can keep it moving to prevent freezing.
Identify problem buildings
Inspecting your buildings is an incredibly vital part of maintaining your farm, especially in winter when the cold can creep in through any cracks and crevices that might have been made. Inspect your buildings with an agricultural buildings expert, and look for any signs of damage to the roofing, guttering, entrances or any sign of structural weakness.