10 Better Farming | December 2024 Follow us on @BetterFarmingON Throughout the colder months, many farmers find themselves focusing on different activities than they would during the busy planting or harvest seasons. Better Farming recently connected with producers to ask what keeps them busy during the long Ontario winter. Many farmers said they spend time relaxing with family or participating in leisure activities. Of course, many also pointed out that the winter months could mean more time spent on farm maintenance, snow removal, and livestock care. Indeed, there is always work to be done and plans to be made for the upcoming season. Katie, Wellington County: “Planning for the next season, organizing for the next year, financial planning and forecasts, budgets, re-examining where we are and where we want to be, marketing and innovation, resting, and having fun in the snow with friends and family.” Tyler, Brant County: “Machinery maintenance, pre-season planning, budgeting, analyzing yield maps, and most importantly, spending time with family. There is always something to do on the farm when you love what you do. It’s not considered work; it’s a passion, hobby, and a way of life.” Steven, Elgin County: “Cutting firewood, trimming headlands, and equipment repairs. Planning next year’s finances. With the low commodity prices, it’s becoming more difficult for us smaller farmers to survive. Input costs have doubled or tripled on some items, especially replacement parts for equipment. This is very stressful! We need help from the government; their policies have brought us to this point!” Ken, Niagara Region: “Repairs, wildlife management, and planning next year’s crop.” Jessica, Elgin County: “In addition to cash cropping, we also have a small herd of sheep, which keeps us busy. Maintenance of equipment and farm projects also contribute to us staying busy. My husband plows snow for Hwy. 401 as well.” Ken, Simcoe County: “Feeding cattle, repair and maintenance of equipment, chopping firewood, moving snow. Snowshoeing … relaxing a bit more.” Geoff, Bruce County: “We have dairy as well as crops; we use the winter to analyze farm yield maps, make plans, do machinery maintenance, and maybe get away for a bit of sun.” Michel, Russell County: “Check what we did right or wrong, plan for next year, and machinery repair.” Lyle, Middlesex County: “Working with livestock and making repairs.” Digging Deeper WHAT KEEPS YOU BUSY IN THE WINTER? ‘There’s always something to do on the farm.’ By Mary Loggan Ontario producers tell us what’s on their to-do lists in the winter months ahead. Emily McKinlay photo
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