10 Follow us on Twitter @BetterFarmingON Better Farming | January 2024 The 2023 harvest has wrapped up, and as we enter the new year, many tractors, planters and combines are being put away for the winter. These months are also the ideal time for a bit of winter maintenance. It’s important to clean equipment, empty any fluids that could freeze and secure equipment against rodents that could cause trouble with wires and belts. Taking time to properly winterize equipment and check for required maintenance will have them one step closer to being field-ready in the spring. This month, Better Farming asked our readers what steps they take to winterize their equipment. Here are some of the responses. Ben, Grey County: I clean them up and drain all freezable liquid. Ernie, Wellington County: We power wash, oil and grease equipment, then list all repairs that should be done over winter. Equipment is filled with fuel and conditioner. Joan, Grey County: We blow the dust off, pressure wash and oil the equipment. Then we make a list of repairs for over winter. Steve, Oxford County: Equipment gets washed, oiled and greased. Then we check fluids and park it in the heated implement shed. Brian, Waterloo Region: We wash, oil and do maintenance in the shop sometime during the winter. Jon, Niagara Region: We do an air-blow clean and power wash on the tractors, planter and combine. For the sprayer, all the lines are blown out, filled with windshield washer fluid and then washed. Fluids and filters are changed on all equipment. Veronica, Wellington County: We pressure wash and use a diesel fuel spray to keep it from rusting. Michael, District of Parry Sound: Greasing and oiling chains. It’s stored outside, so we use tarps and put it on blocks, etc. Philip, Regional Municipality of York: We fill fuel tanks, grease equipment, put everything inside, clean everything up and put light engine oil in winter usage tractors. Tony, Lennox and Addington Counties: The summer equipment gets a once-over and is put into storage by the fall. Any major repairs required that I am aware of go on my winter to-do list. Tractors get a pretty thorough annual maintenance each October prior to hunting season. Jessica, Huron County: We make sure antifreeze is in the appropriate tractors. We add mouse or rat bait in equipment that needs it (i.e., the combine). We blow all chaff and grain off the harvesting equipment (balers, combines, elevators, etc.) before putting them in the shed. We put chains on the tires of tractors we need for the winter. Jennifer, Renfrew County: We do a full wash down, put antifreeze in anything with water and put oil spray on anything that would have had fertilizer or been exposed to salt. Moe, Essex County: Everything gets washed, greased and oiled. The radiator is checked, and RV plumbing antifreeze is run through all pumps, planter fertilizer tubes and sprayers. Small engines get treated with a fuel stabilizer. Tim, Oxford County: Anti-gel goes in the fuel. I blow out water lines in the barn and strawberry patch. I prep snow blowers and I put up snow fences. Doug, Middlesex County: On our farm we go over the tractors and pickups, checking fluid levels and tire pressures. Maintenance is done regularly year-round, so other than a check over, we are ready for winter. Larry, Brant County: I wash the equipment and grease all the grease zerks. I spray chains (if there are any) with chain oil. Some equipment I will spray with oil to preserve the finish, especially if it is left outside. I check tires for proper pressure to prevent them from sitting when flat. If there is paint missing, I will touch up with new paint. I secure hydraulic hoses, so they are not in the dirt. Patrick, Chatham-Kent: I power wash machinery down, getting all dirt, dust, corn or beans and hay hang-ons, and then grease any necessary parts and make repairs too so it’s all ready for next year’s planting. John, Prince Edward County: I check antifreeze protection in engines and try to wash down but winter usually sets in before we get that far! BF Digging Deeper HOW DO YOU WINTERIZE YOUR EQUIPMENT? Winterizing equipment can reduce field preparation in the spring. By Emily Croft Oiling equipment is a part of winter maintenance. Emily Croft photo
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc0MDI3