Sparkling ice, reflecting moonlight on snow, snowflakes softly falling, branches glistening on a frosty morning…all things that make winter magical.

Winter is an amazing time, so magically beautiful, but it also poses extra challenges. Roads can be slippery, visibility can be bad, and shovelling the beautiful white stuff seems nonstop. On the farm, those things often feel multiplied by 100!

Many people think that winter is a slower time on the farm; and it can be, but for the most part, days are just as busy as the growing season.

Animals are all in the barns for the winter. That means that the systems in the barn are at full capacity. Silo unloaders, barn cleaners, feed mixers, and silo carts are all used more than any other season. On cold days, the barn cleaners can freeze, or even if they break, it’s downright cold out on the end of the ramp, trying to put a chain back on or fix a motor!

Water systems freeze and pipes split. Trying to keep the cattle well fed and comfortable includes mixing rations, scraping feed into them, scraping manure down, and bedding a couple of times per day. As well as clipping them to keep them as clean as possible.

Yards need to be maintained because the suppliers and the milk trucks have to come in and out of the yard, and for most farms, the yard is pretty big!

Keeping birds out of the barn has become nearly impossible, even though we keep trying. It is important to keep the barn cool so the animals stay healthy, but when we keep windows and doors open, the birds make it their home as well, which means feed loss and constant cleaning up the birds’ mess.

Winter is also the time that we strive to do the planning for the year ahead and tackle the bookkeeping for the year past. Even as much as we try to keep on top of things, much of this does have to happen in the winter. Although tackling the books on a blustery day seems much easier than on a sunny day in July!

Every season is different. They all have their advantages and disadvantages, but that winter chill that goes right to your soul, brings a new set of challenges to life on the farm.