Prepare for winter weather on the farm

January 15, 2025

The cold spell in the past weeks has acted as a reminder that now is a good time to plan for all eventualities in weather conditions. This week, the weather is mild but for most years, January marks the beginning of our winter. Kieran McCartan, an Agri-environment Adviser at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), offers a reminder. He states, “Freezing conditions may result in frozen and burst pipes. Snow and ice can cause issues with deliveries and collections. This can also affect the feeding of stock outdoors. Additionally, high wind has the potential for causing damage to farm buildings”. For each of these risks you should think about how you would deal with severe weather and your ability to provide water, food and shelter for livestock.

Kieran advises that “It is good practice to ensure all water pipes within and outside buildings are well insulated. Turn off water to fields that have no livestock and keep a supply of relevant water fittings to repair any leakages that appear after the thaw. Check antifreeze is in all vehicles. You should also keep a supply of grit /salt”.

Kieran continues that “If wind is forecast, secure all loose objects that may be blown around the farmyard, close and secure all doors and windows.  Keep away from the sheltered side of walls, buildings and trees in case they collapse. Do not go and repair damage while the storm is in progress. You should not drive unless your journey is necessary and if you must drive, be aware of side winds. Do not touch any electrical telephone cables that have blown down”.

If snow and frost are forecast, plan how you would get food and water to your livestock. In the event that milk collections are suspended, have you extra storage capacity in place? If feed deliveries can’t get through, have you sufficient feed stored to cover your requirements? Minimise air flow by sealing doors and preventing drafts, drain out the milking machine and protect pipes/pumps from freezing.  Keep tractors, handlers and quads in a shed when not in use. Check and test backup generators and equipment, never use stand by generators indoors, as the fumes from the engine can be lethal. Before going out onto the land always tell someone where you are going, how long you will be and wear suitable layers of cloths and high visibility clothing when searching for animals.

Kieran advises to “Keep a close eye on the weather forecast so that you can take appropriate action. Check websites to see if there is interruption to water and electricity supplies in your area. Some time spent now, preparing your farm for the unexpected, could save you a lot of problems in the future”.

Have a list and/or store the numbers on the phone of those you may need to contact. These could include the electricity company, electrician, NI water, plumber, milk collection and meal supplier and keep your phone and a torch fully charged. The main priority is that you stay safe.