Farming never stops. Every season brings new challenges and opportunities. From frozen mornings in winter to long harvest days in fall, each part of the year plays its role in the life of a farm.
Staying prepared means thinking ahead, keeping the right tools on hand, and adjusting to what the weather and the land need next. Here’s a helpful guide that shows what we have in store and how to use it throughout the year.
Winter: Stay Ready for the Cold
When temperatures drop, preparation and planning make all the difference. From fueling equipment to keeping walkways clear, a few smart habits make cold-weather chores a lot easier.
Minnesota-Tested Tips:
- Keep diesel fuel treatment on hand: Preventive diesel fuel treatments (available here at Farm City Supply) will ensure that your diesel fuel doesn’t gel when the temperatures drop. If you’re too late and it’s already gelled, use Power Service Diesel 911 and Howes Lifeline emergency treatments to re-open the lines.
- Salt sidewalks and driveways early: Often, we don’t think about salting sidewalks and driveways until after they’re already iced. However, many of the ice melt salts work very well at preventing ice from ever forming if they’re applied before it rains, sleets, or snows. If you’re not sure which ice melt works best, our team can help.
- Protect exposed water lines: If you have water lines that are exposed or poorly insulated, shut them off and drain them or install a heat cable. Heat cables (available here at Farm City Supply) are inexpensive to run and give you peace of mind by helping prevent frozen or burst lines.
- Stay stocked before the next storm: Winter weather can slow deliveries and make supply runs tricky. Keeping extra hardware, feed, and repair essentials on hand helps you stay ready when you need something fast. Learn more about why staying stocked matters in our blog, Avoid Downtime: Stay Stocked with the Right Hardware
A little preparation early in the season goes a long way. Simple habits like treating fuel, planning ahead, and staying warm can make winter smoother and set you up for success when spring arrives.
Spring: Refresh and Restock
The frost is fading, the ground is thawing, and it is time to shift gears. That 10mm socket you can never find? Grab another. Want to make sure your equipment performs well when the busy season hits? Give it a quick check-up now. Spring is the perfect time to put in a little prep work and use these helpful tips to get ready for the season.
Minnesota-Tested Tips:
- Reorganize and restock your tool bench: Those last days of winter and first days of spring are a great time to go through your tools and make sure everything is where it should be. There is probably a couple of wrenches that got “planted” in the field last fall, and unfortunately, the germination rate on wrenches is not great. Use this time to check your set and make sure you are ready to go. We stock replacement sockets, wrench sets, and other essentials right here at Farm City Supply.
- Stock up on essential fluids early: Spring is also a good time to restock the basics like hydraulic fluid, motor oil, and coolant. Take a quick inventory of what each piece of equipment uses so you have what you need on hand. Planning ahead means you will not be making extra trips to town in the middle of planting season. All of these fluids are available at Farm City Supply if you need to restock.
- Check and clean your equipment: Give your tools, tractors, and sprayers a once-over before they head back into the field. Simple maintenance and fresh fluids can save you from downtime when things start getting busy. If you’re unsure what your equipment needs are, feel free to ask.
A little effort now makes a big difference once the work picks up. With a clean workspace, stocked shelves, and tuned-up equipment, you will be ready to take on another productive season.
Summer & Fall: Harvest, Maintenance, and Planning Ahead
Summer brings long days and short nights, and the season can feel nonstop from start to finish. Taking care of yourself, your crew, and your equipment helps keep everything running smoothly when time is tight.
Minnesota-Tested Tips:
- Wear weather-appropriate clothing. Comfortable gear makes long days in the sun much easier. Lightweight, sun-blocking shirts, durable work boots, and wide-brimmed hats help keep you cool, healthy, and protected during busy stretches. We carry workwear like Wrangler, Red Wing, and Polar King to help you stay comfortable all season long.
- Stock up on helpful supplies. Keep fuel cans, tarps, safety gear, storage containers, tractor parts, and pest control products close by. Having these essentials ready helps you stay focused on getting the job done. All of these supplies are available at Farm City Supply.
- Inspect hydraulic hoses. Look for signs of wear, cracking, or leaks before heavy use. A quick inspection can keep your equipment running safely. If you are not sure what to look for, bring in your hose and we can help.
- Get repairs done close to home. When you need more than a simple fix, Farm City Supply’s shop can help with in-house repairs like small engine work (Briggs & Stratton, Honda, and Kohler), pump seal replacements for ag pumps, and parts for home repairs including bearings, chains, gears, and sprockets. Having a local shop you can count on makes seasonal prep and equipment upkeep a whole lot easier.
Although it is impossible to be perfectly prepared, these tips can help make the busy season flow like a pro and set you up to head into winter on solid ground.
Your Partner for Every Season
Farming success depends on preparation, consistency, and a little flexibility when things do not go as planned. Each season brings its own kind of work, and being ready for what is next keeps everything running smoothly.
In Breckenridge, the seasons shape how we work and what we focus on. From staying stocked through the cold to organizing in spring and keeping equipment ready through harvest, preparation is what keeps farms strong year after year.
Stop by Farm City Supply today! Our team can help you stock up on the essentials that keep your operation running strong through every season, and don’t forget to download your free Hardware Inventory Checklist to stay organized year-round.
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