What Do Farmers Do in Their Downtime?

Miranda Neville, Ag Resource Specialist, BCCD
“What’s down time?” said every farmer, ever. Well, that was the world’s shortest article!
Let’s focus on the ‘off season’. When the hay is all cut and baled, and the corn is chopped and all that’s left is caring for their livestock and routine daily chores. If they’re not spending all day in the field, what are they doing?  

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Trick question. Most are still in the fields doing fall tillage and preparing the ground for spring. After the rush of fall field work, it’s also a common time to see farmers land applying manure, prior to winter. Though it is not illegal to spread manure in the winter in Pennsylvania, it is discouraged. The caveat being, if the farm is a CAO or CAFO, or unless otherwise stated in their Nutrient Management Plan. (Per the PA Manure Management Manual: Winter is defined as; a. December 15 through February 28; b. Anytime the ground is frozen at least four inches; or c. Anytime that the ground is snow stabilize the ground for early spring plantings. It may also be a good time to update those Nutrient and/ or Manure Management Plans (sorry, I had to– it’s literally my job)

Farming isn’t something that stops when the crops stop growing and the weather gets colder. So much of the preparation for the next growing season takes place in the dormancy of the fall. It’s also a good time for farmers to maintain or repair equipment that they’ve ‘been meaning to get to’ throughout the year. If the maintenance is in a heated shop, it’s also a great time to catch up with other farmers and swap stories and strategies. Many agencies try to plan meetings in the winter as well for farmers to obtain new ideas that may benefit their operations. The planning never stops, and the wheels are always turning.

If it’s a livestock farm, winter is a good time to go to cattle sales and network. It’s a good time to build up the herd genetics and another opportunity to catch up with fellow farmers. In addition to having more time to spend on household projects (hint hint: farmer men), it also may be a good time to sneak in a nap or two. The harsh winter weather can delay some projects and make daily barn chores take longer, but there still is so much value to farmer-down-time. The dormant seasons are often the most crucial in preparing for the upcoming year. So, farmers, enjoy a few days of rest this winter and best of luck in planning for next crop season! 

The Bradford County Conservation District is committed to helping people manage resources wisely.  You can visit the Bradford County Conservation District at 200 Lake Rd in Wysox across from the Wysox Fire Hall. Contact us at (570) 485-3144 or visit our web page at www.bccdpa.com.