Winter can be a harsh period for farmers. With the cold freezing over their crop fields and their animals requiring more care and maintenance, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the number of tasks you’re responsible for. So, whether you just live on a small farm or if you’ve taken up agriculture as a career opportunity, here are a couple of tips to help you survive the harsh upcoming winter.
Winter can come fast, so make sure you cover your crops
The transition between autumn and winter can be quick and ruthless. Make sure you consider covering your fall garden with the right materials. It should be designed to keep cold off the plants while still maintaining some warmth around your crops. Covers can come in a variety of thicknesses, so make sure you look around for different types of materials and buy them in advance, so you have different covers to try. This also keeps the soil from getting too wet which could mean it loses nutrition in the winter. By using a cover, you also guarantee that the soil remains healthy for when the spring planting season comes around.
Ensure your animals have enough food for the winter
Stocking up on hay bales is a good idea if you’re unsure how much your animals are going to be eating throughout the winter months. If this is your first year, make sure your animals have plenty to feed on during the colder months or in the event that you make a mistake and no longer have healthy grass for your animals to graze on. You should also try to prevent your animals from staying in one spot for too long as it could create mud spots in areas around your farm that eventually encourage weed growth when spring comes around. Give them more room to roam around and utilize all the space you have.
Backup power generation is important
Farms are typically off the grid, meaning you have to worry about your own power generation. We can’t neglect to keep ourselves healthy and safe, so make sure you have access to some kind of backup power generation at home so you don’t freeze as well. An external source of electricity is usually powered by fuel of some kind. You should only rely on this in emergency situations, such as if your main source of power is turned off for some reason.
Be mindful of frozen water
Frozen water can be a huge problem when it comes to feeding livestock. Make sure you develop measures that keep water from freezing on your farm. This can be achieved through electronic devices or even insulated tanks that keep the cold out. Make sure you check on your animals on a regular basis to ensure that they have access to clean water. Keeping your drinking supplies accessible to animals will ensure they remain healthy throughout the harsh winter, so don’t neglect to check on them throughout the day.
