As a farmer, you know time is money. And there are certain times of the year when you need to focus on your farming operations.
During the offseason, why not take some time to perform regular maintenance on your farm? We have seen many claims that could have been avoided or been less severe if preventive measures had been taken ahead of time. We have put together a list to help you prepare:
- Make sure you have covers on your power takeoffs (PTOs) and augers to prevent injury.
- When burning brush or ditches, use care and caution. Keep grass and weeds trimmed away from buildings.
- Fences should be tight and secure to keep livestock from getting loose and wandering into the road, or into greener pastures to eat the neighbors’ crops.
- Repair damaged roofs and replace missing shingles on your farm buildings to help keep the structure intact and to protect the property inside.
- Repair and tighten sliding doors that become loose from the wind.
- Check grain bins for loose ladders, platforms, steps and handrails.
- Have a fire extinguisher nearby for fires caused by those pesky vermin that build nests in your equipment.
A little preventive maintenance on the farm can help you avoid dealing with problems during your busiest season.