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Temperatures are set to drop next week and overnight frost will be common, particularly on upland and hill farms.
As such, it is worth taking steps to avoid the daily routine being affected by colder weather.
Outlined are some tips to avoid problems with freezing conditions.
1. Keeping machinery operational
Tractors can be harder to start on mornings with a heavy frost. Therefore, make sure the battery on the loader tractor and telehandler is fully charged.
But as a back-up, keep jump leads, charger, booster pack and a working extension lead in a handy location so they are easy to find if required.
Always park the tractor so the battery is easy to access for jump starting, especially if the machine has a history of being hard to start in winter.
Check anti-freeze and top up if low. Once started, allow tractors to run for a short period so oil comes up to temperature before engaging hydraulics.
Leave the greasing of moving parts until afternoon, as it will be harder to pump grease on cold mornings.
Another tip is to park the loader tractor in the cattle shed overnight, as animals will raise the internal air temperature, reducing the effects of frost.
Alternatively, park tractors in an area of the yard that sun hits first thing in the morning. Again, this will thaw any frost and make machines easier to start.
2. Silage feeding
Feed cattle late in the afternoon or the evening, so there is still silage in the feed passage during the next morning.
This avoids the need to start tractors first thing in the morning following frost. Hopefully, temperatures will increase by mid-morning, making tractors that bit easier to start.
Another advantage to feeding later in the day is that with less risk of frost, it is safer to operate tractors pulling a full diet feeder in yards with a slope.
If cattle are wintered on outfarms, can extra silage bales be left in these yards this weekend so there is less need to travel on roads in case there is heavy frost?
3. Remove the silage pit cover in advance
Frost will make the plastic cover on top of the silage pit dangerous to walk on. Therefore, only remove the cover when the frost has lifted and do so in daylight to improve visibility.
Also, pull back enough cover to last for a week, reducing the need to climb on to the pit to carry out this task over the coming days.
4. Water provision
If water troughs have a tendency to freeze, lagging pipes before temperatures drop is a good move. Fill a couple of IBC containers as a back-up water source in case pipes freeze or burst.
Keep a few spare parts in case of repairs to a burst water pipe or trough fittings. Locate the blow torch for thawing water and make sure there is a full gas canister.
5. Suitable work clothes
Having suitable work clothes makes it easier to complete the daily routine when temperatures drop to freezing levels. This includes footwear with plenty of grip and gloves.
Pull out the winter work clothes this weekend, rather than searching for them in the back of a cupboard on the morning they are needed.
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