How to Prepare Your Farm for Fall

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Before the warmer days get over and the colder days set in, you’ll want to prepare your farm for fall. Preparing a little ahead of time will help you enjoy the peace of mind you deserve, knowing that you’ve taken care of your harvest and you are ready for the shorter days ahead.

Here are a few of our recommendations to help you get started.

1. Repair Fences

The first thing you’ll need to take care of is to repair any broken posts or fences around your property. You’ll want to make a list of all the supplies you’ll need, such as extra wood, barbed wire, or chain-link for fixing your boundary walls before the cold hits.

2. Prepare for Freezing Temperatures

At this time, you’ll also want to take a few measures to keep your livestock safer and more comfortable through the winter. You’ll want to:

Ensure that you have enough blankets for your horses.
Check animal stalls for drafts and fix them before the winter season starts.
Make sure that your animals have water to drink that doesn’t have ice in it.
Shut off and empty your exterior hydrants to prevent your pipes from bursting in the cold.
Stock up on rock salt that you can scatter over your walkways and porch steps to avoid slippage.

3. Winterize Farm Equipment

Another thing you’ll want to take care of when preparing your farm for fall is winterizing your implements. There are various machines that you likely won’t use during winter. So, it’ll be a good idea to repair those pieces of equipment, clean them, and winterize them for the season.

Here are a few measures that you’ll want to take:

Change oil and oil filter.
Clean and sharpen blades.
Drain your fuel systems to help prevent corrosion.
Remove batteries and keep them on tenders in a warm area to keep them charged up through winter.
If you intend to use any machines during winter, make sure you check the tire pressure often because the cold can drop your psi levels significantly.

4. Get Ready for Snow

Though snow isn’t as thick and widespread in Tennessee as in many other parts of the country, being aware of a few tips to handle it can be helpful, nevertheless.

So, before the weather becomes too cold, making it more difficult for you to move around your property, you’ll want to take a walk around your farm. Keep an eye for obstacles like rocks and other debris so you can remove them and make your paths free of any hazards. You’ll also want to keep a few sturdy snow shovels in your garage for clearing the walkways around your house and barn.

5. Preserve Your Harvest

Finally, you’ll want to preserve your harvest for winter. Thankfully, modern technology and devices have made it possible to conserve fruits and vegetables for long periods and minimize wastage, which wasn’t so easy in the past. Canning and freezing harvest and stocking up on dry goods can help you use these products all winter long. When you have all the supplies you need for the coming season, you can rest assured.

We hope these tips help you prepare your farm for fall and the upcoming winter. If you need more advice or are still in the market for new farm implements, visit West Hills Tractor. We have an excellent inventory of farm equipment for sale, and our friendly staff can give you a complete tour of the available options. To look at what we have, swing by our dealership in Jonesborough, TN, where we proudly serve those from Johnson City and Greeneville.