Preparing Your Land & Equipment for Spring
Even though there’s still a bit of time before the last frost, you want to start thinking about your plan to prepare your land and equipment for spring. There’s going to be a lot to do and if you’re not careful, warmer days will sneak up on you and you’ll be completely unprepared. That’s why we here at West Hills Tractor encourage you to start thinking about your plan now. In fact, we’ve gathered some basic tips to help you get started. You can also stop by our location in Jonesborough, Tennessee, for a chat with one of our experienced staff or to find a fellow farmer and get some first-hand advice. We welcome all those from Johnson City and Greenville, so visit us today!
Test & Prep Soil
Testing your soil can help you figure out the condition it’s in, the nutrients it holds, and, ultimately, what crops will grow best in any given area. This is going to be true for large and small operations alike. Testing your soil will likely require taking samples and running a pH test, either using your own kit or sending it off to a lab to be analyzed. Keep in mind, not every section of your property will provide the same result, so take numerous samples all across your fields, making sure to keep track of where you got which sample.
Once the ground is workable, you’ll need to prepare for whatever tilling practice you use. This could mean using a plow and cultivator to break up the soil, or simply removing the weeds and residue. Walk through all your normal land-prep steps, or spend some time planning and choosing a strategy now so you’re ready for spring.
Inspect & Test Equipment
You’ll also want to make sure your equipment is going to be ready for spring. We recommend doing this early enough so that if one of your machines needs servicing from a professional, you’ll have plenty of time to take care of it. Before you get started, give each piece of equipment a good washing, so it’s easier to spot the difference between a smudge and a broken part.
The inspection needs to include testing all the moving parts to ensure they’re running properly. Some of the more common points you should be checking include the battery, brakes, tires, lights, mirrors, and hitches. Give yourself plenty of time to do this so you can do it right the first time and prevent missing an obvious problem.
Perform Maintenance
Preparing your equipment is going to be about more than just an inspection and a little testing. You’ll probably need to perform maintenance, even outside of the fixes you need to make if your inspection turns up any problem areas. This could mean lubricating all moving parts, changing the oil and topping off or changing other engine fluids, and possibly charging the battery. If you’re working with a mower or other bladed piece of equipment, you’ll want to sharpen the blades for the best results.
Choose Crops & Fertilizer
If you haven’t already thought about, chosen, and ordered your seeds, you might want to get on that. This will help you avoid getting caught in a backlog and falling behind. But what kinds of crops and fertilizer should you choose? That is entirely dependent on your farm and its soil. The kinds of nutrients in your soil can change which crops will grow best in certain areas. You might also want to check in with some of the more common crop options in the region, and what you can afford to purchase and maintain. It’s always fun to consider growing a niche crop, but this can be more work than it’s worth for some farmers.
No matter how healthy your soil is, you’ll also want to order some fertilizer to help with growth and yield. It might be a matter of personal preference whether you opt for something organic or chemical, but the priority is to choose something that’ll help your fields be as fruitful as possible.
With the right strategy, you’ll be ready to start working the fields the moment the last frost date passes. Take advantage of the downtime you have now to get ready. Stop by West Hills Tractor in Jonesborough, TN, and we’ll help you find the right equipment and provide any maintenance or repair services you might need. We proudly serve Johnson City and Greenville.