Staying Busy on Your Farm in Winter

Even though the Deep South isn’t known for cold snaps and blizzards, winter still impacts our farming to some degree. Cooler temperatures following the fall harvest can mean that some crops won’t flourish, so it’s time to turn one’s attention to other activities. You’re sure to have some tasks around the farm that need to be completed, and winter is the perfect time to do them!

But what is it you should be doing on your farm during this time? Johnson Fleet and Farm, with locations in Yulee and Fernandina Beach, Florida, and Homerville, Georgia, is your Southern farm equipment dealer. We’ve provided this guide to staying busy on your farm in winter to help you maintain productivity and get work done during the slow season.

Repair & Maintain Your Equipment

Your equipment has likely taken a beating during the planting and harvest seasons, which is why you’ll want to give those tractors, harvesters, plows and other machines some tender loving care during the off-season. Inspect engines, change oil, clean undercarriages, air up tires and replace any broken or worn-down parts. Your owner’s manuals will be a great resource in terms of helping you keep your farming equipment in peak condition.

Remember, if you need some professional assistance, you can contact the service department here at Johnson Fleet and Farm to schedule an appointment with our team of mechanics. We’ll help you to get your farm equipment back up to snuff for spring planting!

Grow Crops in a Greenhouse

While it might be a bit cold to grow things outside, especially in more northern areas, you can certainly grow plants in a greenhouse! This might be a simple canvas- or plastic-walled shelter, or it could be a more elaborate glass-walled structure. You should have ample sunlight during the winter here in Florida, so you’ll just need to make sure that whatever you grow is warm and sufficiently watered as it grows. You may even be able to start seedlings and transplant them outside when the weather warms up.

Update Your Farming Records

You’ve probably got several record books or spreadsheets on your computer of various farming information, and winter is the perfect time to make sure those records are all up-to-date and accurate. Take the time to go over all your numbers for the season and determine what your yields were like and whether you had any issue with inclement weather, pests, weeds or other nuisances. You can help to boost next year’s productivity by knowing how to optimize your farming operations, and your records will help with that.

Inspect All Buildings

Regardless of whether your barns and sheds are designed to shelter your livestock or your farming equipment, you’ll want to ensure that they’re in good condition for the spring. High winds and rains during hurricane season may have caused some damage, so it’s good to inspect those buildings and make sure there aren’t any leaks in the roof or gaps in the walls.

Tend To Livestock

If you keep animals on your farm, you’ll want to make sure they’re well cared for over the winter. They shouldn’t suffer from cold here in Florida, but you can use this time to clean out their pens and put in fresh hay. You can also check over your numbers and cull or sell any extra animals so that you aren’t spending money on animals you can’t afford to maintain. See if a neighbor wants some of your chickens or pigs if you need to reduce your numbers.

We hope this list has provided you with some good suggestions for how you can make the best use of your downtime. Come see us at one of our locations in Florida or Georgia today to check out our available selection of new and used farming equipment for sale. Johnson Fleet and Farm proudly serves the cities of Jacksonville and St. Augustine, Florida.