It may seem like the winter months are a time of rest for farmers. Since it is not growing season, they no longer must spend many hours in the fields tending to their crops. However, there are many other things that farmers tend to during this time. Understanding what farmers do in the winter puts perspective on this crucial time of the year.
The first thing you should know is that running a farm is a year-round business. It is true that things slow down in the winter months. This means that many farmers take advantage of this time to go on vacation or pursue other interests. But the leisure time that farmers have when the weather turns cold is still quite limited.
Aftermath of the Harvest
The first step after the harvest is completed is to assess the crop value and what issues need to be addressed for next spring. These may include whether to put in a new crop, switch fields to improve growth, or if any new equipment is needed. This assessment at the end of the harvest will help the farmer better prepare for next year.
Check the Property
Before the winter snow sets in, this is a great time for farmers to check the property to see if anything needs to be repaired or replaced. This includes the following:
- Fences
- Fields
- Tree Lines
This is mostly landscaping, repairs of fences or boundaries so that the farm can run more efficiently next year. This assessment normally takes place when the weather permits. Property check is usually done in the fall as the early spring is a busy time for farmers.
Equipment Maintenance & Repair
Another part of the farmer’s job is to assess the state of his/her equipment. This may include tractors and ploughs or feeders and combine harvesters. Whatever needs to be repaired or replaced is done after the harvest season to have it ready in tiptop condition for next year. In other words, its better to address the maintenance needs of the equipment now rather than wait for it to break down when planting a new crop next season.
Farm Animals
Unlike the crops which cannot be grown during the cold winter months, the farm animals must still be fed, and their needs addressed. Depending on the severity of the winter, many farmers will ensure that all their animals have shelter if possible. If you want to know what farmers do in the winter, tending their animals is a big part of their daily routine year-round.
Shelter and providing warmth are of concern. While farms in the southern part of the country tend to have milder winters, there are times in which unexpected cold snaps can threaten the health of the animals. This means ensuring that power supplies are backed up to maintain livable temperatures inside.
Taxes
This is the time when farmers handle their taxes they must pay for the preceding year. While winter brings reduced activity on the farm, it is quite busy in terms of sorting out documentation, tax preparation and filing. Many farmers use the services of accountants to ensure that they are paying their taxes properly.
It is also to make sure they take advantage of any deductions that might be present. As many farmers are partly supported by local governments, applying for subsides (grants) falls into this category as well.
Also Read: What to Wear in Hot Tub in Winter?
Vacation
Who says that farmers work constantly during the winter months? For many of them, it is the time to take a vacation and visit other places is the winter. This is especially true if they have few or no farm animals to take care of on their property. If the farm family have done the work needed for the winter, there will be enough time in which they can take a break and see the sights.
Seed and Input Dealers
Once all the work and vacation are out of the way, the farmer will prepare for the spring by meeting with seed and input dealers to prepare for the spring crop. This often means learning about the new prices, having enough money to pay for what is needed, and seeing if this is the time for new crops to be added to the farm.
Trade Shows
You’ll notice there are plenty of trade shows for farmers during the winter months. This is the time for them to catch up on the latest advances in the industry. Understanding what farmers do in the winter means knowing that things even on a farm will change over time. This requires farmers to keep up with the latest equipment and techniques and that is where agricultural shows (aka county fair) come in.
Field Preparation
The snow is melting, the temperatures are getting warmer, and winter is giving way to spring. The time has arrived for the fields to be prepared for the spring. This is the last action of the farmers that signal the end of the winter months. The fields are inspected to see if there are any issues that need to be addressed before plowing begins. For many farmers, this is a time to switch fields to keep the soil healthy and nutrient-rich to ensure that new crops take hold.
And there is a myriad of smaller details to be addressed during the winter months as well. From the kids attending school to investigating new ways to make additional income. Furthermore, assessing where the farmer wants to be in five years, ten years, and further down the road. This is a time of planning, consideration, and weighing options that is best done before the next crop is being planted.
It helps to know what farmers do in the winter if you are considering becoming a farmer. While you do have more free time, there is also a considerable amount of work to be done. This is because the better the farmer prepares for planting season, the easier it will be next year to ensure that the crop will be healthy. While there will be the unexpected, the more things that can be taken care of during the winter months, the less on the farmer’s plate for planting season.
You May Also be Interested in Reading: Can You Pour Concrete in the Winter?