How-To Library

Studies show tractors are involved in a high proportion of farm injuries and fatalities, causing productivity losses, serious injury and loss of life. Fortunately, you can prevent most accidents by staying vigilant and following a few basic tractor safety guidelines.

Longer daytime hours signal the start of the growing season and an increase in physical activity for farm workers. But overdo physical exertion and your back may suffer, leading to lost productivity.

Safely navigating large agricultural equipment over rural roads to and from the fields is a challenge for even the best drivers. Nationwide reminds farmers to consider the following rules on the safe operation of equipment to help reduce the risk of motor vehicle collisions.

There’s a proverbial snake in the grass when it comes to the security of high-value farm-level data generated by today’s precision agriculture technology. Prioritize cybersecurity to help secure your data from theft so it’s only used for intended purposes.

Because farm vehicles travel more often on public roads during the harvest season, there are serious safety concerns about farm vehicles and equipment sharing the road with other drivers.

As farm workforces and asset bases grow and change, farmers today are increasingly adapting farm management strategies to integrate things like human relations and employee management.

Mitigating storm damage to farm buildings and their valuable contents is a big part of farm risk management. If high winds are a concern on your farm, stronger grain bins can protect your stored grain and the revenue potential it represents.

As the summer days grow longer and hotter, many animal owners find themselves facing drought conditions, or at least considering the possibility of dry days ahead. The following tips and reminders can help horse and livestock owners get through the hard times until rains return.

Feed represents the single largest cost in all types of sheep and goat production. This is because nutrition exerts a very large influence on flock reproduction, milk production, and lamb and kid growth. The nutritional needs for ewes and nannies are not static. Late gestation and lactation, for example, are the most critical periods, with lactation placing the highest nutritional demands on nannies and ewes. For these reasons and more, this article will emphasize the feed and supplement requirements of ewes and nannies.

As summertime approaches, temperatures begin to rise, and the concern for heat stress in cattle grows. The U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that 2021 was among the top six warmest years on record. It is suggested that 2022 will follow this trend. If that’s the case, it is strongly recommended to study and understand the signs of heat stress in cattle, to maintain a healthy herd throughout the summer season.

Thinking of starting a small hobby farm or hobby farming? Check out these tips and ideas from Southern States on shelter, soil, management, fencing, and more.

Even if you have taken the time to store hay and silage for the coming months when grass is sparse, you still have more preparations to make. As the temperatures start to dip, it’s time to reevaluate your fall cattle mineral requirements.