Preparing your farm for the fall and winter season is essential in keeping your farm running. Use these five tips to successfully prepare for fall farming.
Fall is a busy time on the farm. Not only have the days gotten begun to get shorter and the temperature begins to drop, but the work has only increased.
This is the time of year when so many interested tourists find their way onto farms, too. Yep – fall is all about the harvest.
This time of year, the most popular produce to be harvested are apples, cranberries, butternut squash, broccoli, brussel sprouts, acorn squash and more. Let’s not forget that a lot of grains are harvested in the fall, too. A lot of attention and care is taken by the farmers to ensure that they have a good harvest.
Of course, fall farming is not just all about the fall harvest. Farmers begin to plan ahead for the winter and spring, too.
1. Harvesting the Crops
Harvesting the crops is probably the most popular activity for the fall season on the farm. All sorts of fruits and grains are harvested.
Depending on the farm or the farmer, a decision is made as to what to do with the products.
For some, selling is the next step. They will turn in their harvests to see just how great of a profit they can obtain. Others, however, will choose to store their crops.
2. Storage Needs
Storing harvested crops can come in a variety of forms.
The goods can be canned, dehydrated, and frozen. Many others can be stored in their whole, unaltered form if care is taken to provide the right conditions. Commonly known as root cellaring, you don’t need a cellar at all to maintain the health of this produce.
An idea of what can be stored well into the winter months and the storage conditions they require are:
Warm conditions
- Moist: sweet potatoes
- Dry: pumpkins, winter squash, and potatoes
Cool conditions
- Moist: radishes beets, cabbage, carrots, parsnips
- Dry: garlic and onions
Farmers looking to store the loot for an extended period of time can do so with the help of a fabric tent structure. These tents can offer the perfect solution to harvest time storage.
They come with side walls that can block harsh winter weather. For those items requiring special storage conditions, these temporary tent structures come with an optional climate control system. This will keep the temperature just perfect under the tent to maintain any and all harvested items.
Add some shelving and you have the perfect place for storing items you have canned, as well.
3. Visitors to the Farm
Fall is the time of year when many families in the community like to visit the farm. The fall harvest, with pumpkins and scarecrows, gives a warm feeling of nostalgia to parents and joy to kids.
Many farms take advantage of this peeked interest. Holding a festival, with tours, games, hay rides, and animal visits for the kids can be both a bit educational and fun for the family – and monetarily beneficial to the farm itself.
For those who decide to partake in the fun, hosting an event can be a breeze if you are prepared. And, choosing to include a tent structure would be beneficial. This would mean that no matter what the weather brings, your fall farm festivities can go on.
4. Machine Protection, Maintenance and Repairs
You don’t have to be a farmer to know that farm machines and equipment can be incredibly expensive.
Various tractors, reapers, combine harvester, and so forth create a huge investment for farms. That is why taking care of them is mandatory. Keeping them in healthy working order can save farmers a ton of money in repairs or replacements.
Maintenance
After the fall harvest is a perfect time to perform maintenance and repairs on all equipment. This is a downtime for the machines and for the farmers – especially those who reside in areas with heavy winters.
However, leaving them exposed to harsh weather in the winter is asking for problems.
Having a space, such as erecting a fabric tent structure, can offer you the perfect place for storing these big machines. The tents can come in all sizes and can be customized to fit your needs specifically.
Protection
Protecting the equipment during the winter months not only will provide you with a safe place to keep the machines (away from the damaging winter weather) but also a place to perform necessary routine maintenance and repairs.
The protection from overhead and the sidewalls can keep a dry space perfect for taking care of the equipment and keeping it out of harm’s way.
5. Preparing for the First Freeze
Farmers constantly keep an eye on the weather. One wrong move and their profits for the season can dwindle down to nothing.
That is why it is incredibly important for them to monitor and make adjustments to save crops.
When the first freeze comes, some farmers prepare by covering their crops. Others may spray them down so that the water can freeze and form a protective layer of ice, protecting the crop itself. The method varies widely depending on what the farm is growing.
Preparing Animals for Winter
Then, there are those farms that have animals. And steps need to be taken to ensure their safety and health, as well.
Having a barn, fabric tent, or another type of shelter can provide a necessary reprieve from the cold. This protection can mean the difference between life and death.
The first freeze of the season can commonly occur during the fall. Thankfully, farmers know this and monitor weather conditions very carefully.
The methods they take may differ greatly, but the reason behind it is the same – saving their farm and their earnings.
Conclusion
Farming is noble, but incredibly hard work.
Changing up routines based on the weather is crucial to securing a healthy, profitable crop.
Whether it is preparing for the first freeze, performing equipment maintenance, or storing items – farmers who choose wisely and make proactive decisions based on the climate and seasonal changes have the best opportunity for success.