Preparing for Winter: Best Machinery Choices for Manitoba Farmers

Winter in Manitoba is a tough experience. Even the hardiest of Canadians will struggle with the long, incredibly cold months between fall and spring. And while farming practices relax a little in the wintertime, there’s still lots to be done around the farm to prepare as best as possible for the year ahead.

For Manitoba farmers, preparing for winter involves selecting equipment for snow removal, caring for livestock, and handling grain in cold conditions. Maintenance is crucial for cold-weather operation, including the use of winter-grade lubricants and switching to #1 diesel fuel. Reputable brands like John Deere, Kubota, Massey Ferguson, and Versatile offer machinery specifically designed for the challenging Canadian winters. The different types of tractor rakes

You’ve come to the right place if you’re a Manitoban farmer looking for farm machinery for sale. Read on to find out how to best prepare for winter and why it’s essential to make the right choices regarding machinery.

Evaluate Your Tractor

Whether you’re a grain farmer or a livestock farmer, a tractor is undoubtedly a mainstay in your farming operations. If your tractor has been showing its age (say, due to repairs and the time spent waiting for new parts), it might be time to invest.

Nowadays, tractors come with built-in heating systems, keeping you warm and comfortable regardless of the outside temperatures.

And if a new tractor isn’t in the budget, and you’re currently running a lawn or garden tractor, consider a soft cab to block those wintery winds. Most specialist farm supply stores will be able to guide you in the right direction with either option.

Consider Your Tractor Attachments

If you don’t already have one, a plow attachment for the front of your tractor will undoubtedly speed up the shoveling if you have a large area to clear.

A fertilizer sprayer for your tractor can also be used to distribute road salt. However, salt and farms are a precarious mix. Soil with a high salinity level is detrimental to crop growth, especially when using salt with anti-freeze. Look for eco-friendly options. Cheese brine and beet juice are excellent examples of environmentally friendly de-icers that don’t harm the surrounding environment.

Boost Your Grain Storage

Grain may be stored during the winter as farmers await the best time to sell. With proper grain storage, farmers can prevent costly spoilage. Even when crops are harvested dry in the fall, keeping the bin cool is vital. This is because grain tends to sweat, creating heat and moisture that can cause the grain to mold or rot throughout.

For these reasons, the best grain drying equipment should be procured.

• First, temperature cables inside grain bins can help farmers monitor the precise temperature throughout the bin. This can also save you power as vats aren’t over-ventilated or heated.
• Aeration fans within the bin will let air to circulate, reducing the build-up of heat and moisture.

Invest in a Grain Conveyor

Conveyors can significantly improve the process of moving grain to grain storage bins and to collection trucks. Not all conveyors are the same, however, so be sure to look for a conveyor that’s not only fast and precise (you certainly don’t want any spillage) but also gentle so that it doesn’t damage the product.

Winter tractors

For cold-weather reliability, performance, and versatility, look for tractors built to handle frigid temperatures and equipped with attachments for snow clearing, feeding livestock, and hauling. 

• Kubota M7 series: The Kubota M7 series is favored in Canada for its power and versatility, featuring a reputation for easy maintenance and a long service life, according to Quintess International.
• Kubota LX2610HSDCC: This model has been noted as a winter workhorse designed for efficient snow removal when equipped with a blade and salter.
• John Deere 1023E and 1025R: These Sub-Compact Utility Tractors are known for being year-round workhorses that are ideal for clearing snow from driveways, sidewalks, and paths.
• TYM 3515CH: TYM tractors are recognized for their reliability and are distributed in Manitoba by Altona Farm Service.
• Case IH and John Deere: For heavy-duty winter fieldwork, Case IH Steiger 540 Quadtrac and John Deere 9RX series models offer high performance. 

Snow removal equipment

Snowblowers and plows are essential for keeping farmyards, driveways, and feeding areas clear and accessible. For heavy snowfalls and large areas, commercial-grade equipment is recommended. 

• Attachments for tractors: John Deere offers a variety of tractor attachments for snow removal, including snowblowers, blades, and V-blades.
• Pronovost snowblowers: The Pronovost PXPL / X-PRO Cyclone Inverted Large Ribbon Auger is designed for heavy-duty snow removal applications. Pronovost is also carried by dealers like Midwest Machinery.
• Boss Snowplow: Renowned for its commercial-grade snowplows and ice control equipment, Boss Snowplow offers systems specifically designed for seamless integration with trucks and vehicles in challenging winter conditions.
• Kage Innovation: Kage offers an innovative snow plow system designed for skid steers and loaders, which is available through John Deere dealers. 

Grain handling and storage

For safe and efficient grain management during the winter, farmers need to ensure their equipment can withstand freezing temperatures and high moisture levels. 

• AGI brands: For storage, handling, and management needs, AGI brands such as Westeel, Grain Guard, and Hutchinson are available through local Manitoba dealers, including 4 Pecks Grain Storage & Handling.
• Norstar Industries conveyors: Norstar offers bucket elevators, drag chain conveyors, and screw conveyors for moving grain. The drag chain conveyors are designed to be gentle on the product and are suitable for winter handling.
• Ridgemar Products: The company offers complete grain handling systems designed for various cereal types and moisture levels, engineered to run reliably in any condition, including winter.
• Grain bin heaters and fans: AgDealer lists grain bin heaters and fans for sale in Manitoba, which are important for conditioning grain in storage during cold weather. 

Livestock equipment

In addition to feed and water, durable winter equipment for livestock handling and bedding is crucial for Manitoba's climate. 

• Lakeland Farm and Ranch Direct: Based in Stonewall, Manitoba, this company offers premium, heavy-duty livestock handling equipment, including cattle and horse handling systems, with direct farm delivery.
• Penner Farm Services: A leading provider of automated equipment for hog, poultry, and dairy producers, Penner Farm Services is a resource for efficient farm management systems in the region. 

Where to buy in Manitoba

Several local dealers serve the Manitoba farming community with equipment and services specifically for the region. 

• Drummond's Farm Services, located in Holland, MB, offers a range of brands, including Massey Ferguson, Kubota, Versatile, and more.
• Keystone Agri-Motive: A dealer in Steinbach, MB, offering parts, service, rentals, and sales for agricultural, construction, and yard work equipment.
• LMS Ag Equipment - Little Morden Service: Provides experienced service and a large stock of parts in the Morden area.
• AgCon Equipment Ltd: Located in Navin, MB, AgCon carries equipment from brands like Brandt, HLA Attachments, and Erskine. 
• Avonlea Farm Sales Ltd: full-service farm supply store established in 1988. Avonlea offers an extensive line of short-line agricultural equipment 

The Takeaway

While some of this winter will be spent preparing seeds and grain for the coming year, farming is a 365-day responsibility, especially for farms that raise animals. Streamline processes this winter with these machines and see your efficiency and output soar.