The Quiet Season

Snow covers the fields, the equipment sits idle in the shed, and the pace of farm life slows to something almost resembling normal. But don’t let the quiet fool you - winter is when some of our most important work happens.

This is planning season.

The Kitchen Table Becomes Mission Control

Every January, our kitchen table disappears under a pile of seed catalogs, equipment brochures, soil test results, and last year’s records. This is where we plan the coming year, dream about improvements, and make the decisions that will shape our next growing season.

Planning Mode Activated - January 2024

The fields may be sleeping under snow, but our minds are already working on spring. Time to turn dreams into plans and plans into action.

Crop Planning: The Foundation of Everything

Field Rotation: We follow a simple corn-soybean rotation, but deciding which fields get which crop requires careful thought. Soil conditions, drainage, previous yields, and equipment logistics all factor into the decision.

Variety Selection: The seed catalogs started arriving in December, each one promising better yields, disease resistance, and drought tolerance. We balance proven varieties with a few experimental plots to test new genetics.

Acreage Decisions: Do we plant the same 80 acres as last year, or expand into the 10-acre field we’ve been considering? More acres mean more potential income, but also more risk and higher input costs.

Equipment Maintenance and Upgrades

Winter is when we give our equipment the attention it deserves. Every tractor gets a complete service. Every implement gets inspected, repaired, and prepared for the coming season.

This year’s maintenance list:

• Rebuild the hydraulic pump on the 4440
• Replace the planter discs (they’re showing wear)
• Service the combine (even though harvest feels like yesterday)
• Repair the hay rake that broke during last cutting

Upgrade considerations:

• New GPS guidance system for the tractor
• Larger grain cart for more efficient harvest
• Tile drainage for the wet field
• Cover crop seeder for soil health

Financial Planning

Farming is a business, and winter is when we crunch the numbers. Last year’s books are closed, this year’s budget is being written, and we’re making the financial decisions that will determine our success.

Input costs: Seed, fertilizer, fuel, and chemical prices for the coming year. We try to lock in prices early when possible, but timing the market is always a gamble.

Marketing strategy: When do we sell this year’s grain? Do we store it and hope for higher prices, or sell at harvest to guarantee cash flow?

Capital investments: Which equipment purchases or farm improvements will give us the best return on investment?

Family Goals and Dreams

But it’s not all about crops and equipment. Winter planning includes family goals too.

This year’s family farm goals:

• Start offering farm tours for school groups
• Expand the vegetable garden for more home-grown food
• Build a farm stand for direct sales of sweet corn and eggs
• Plan a family vacation (farmers need breaks too!)

Learning and Education

Winter is also when we invest in education. Farm conferences, online courses, and reading help us stay current with new techniques and technologies.

This winter’s learning goals:

• Attend the state corn and soybean conference
• Take an online course on soil health
• Read three books on sustainable agriculture
• Visit two progressive farms to see new ideas in action

The Dreaming Part

Not everything we plan will happen this year. Some ideas are seeds we’re planting for future years. But winter is when we let ourselves dream big.

Future dreams we’re discussing:

• Agritourism: farm dinners, workshops, overnight stays
• Renewable energy: solar panels on the barn roof
• Diversification: maybe some specialty crops or livestock
• Legacy planning: how do we prepare the next generation?

Weather and Climate Considerations

Climate change is real, and we’re seeing its effects on our farm. Winter planning now includes adaptation strategies.

Climate adaptations we’re considering:

• Drought-resistant crop varieties
• Improved water storage and irrigation
• Cover crops for soil health and erosion control
• Diversified cropping systems for risk management

Community and Relationships

Farming may seem like a solitary profession, but it’s really about community. Winter is when we strengthen the relationships that make our operation possible.

Community connections:

• Neighbor cooperation for equipment sharing
• Relationships with local grain elevators
• Connections with extension agents and researchers
• Partnerships with other farm families

The Balance

The challenge of winter planning is balancing optimism with realism. We want to dream big and plan for success, but we also need to prepare for challenges.

Questions we ask ourselves:

• What if commodity prices drop?
• What if we have another drought year?
• What if equipment breaks at the worst possible time?
• What if family circumstances change?

Making It Happen

By March, the planning phase will be over and implementation will begin. The decisions we make around this kitchen table will guide us through another growing season.

Our planning process:

1. Review last year: What worked? What didn’t? What did we learn?
2. Set goals: What do we want to accomplish this year?
3. Make plans: How will we achieve those goals?
4. Prepare for challenges: What could go wrong, and how will we respond?
5. Take action: Turn plans into reality

The Excitement Builds

As winter progresses and our plans take shape, the excitement builds. Soon the seed will arrive, the equipment will be ready, and we’ll be back in the fields doing what we love.

But for now, we plan. We dream. We prepare.

Because every successful growing season starts with a winter spent planning around the kitchen table.

Next week: Seed selection decisions and why we’re trying three new varieties this year.