Canada is renowned for its changeable weather events, swinging from epic highs to extreme lows between seasons.
This is especially true in the province of Manitoba, which sees long and hot summers and intensely cold, snowy and windy winters. The temperature in Manitoba sits at around 24 Celsius in the summer and plunges to overnight lows as low as minus 40 during the winter.
Such extreme changeability means that when farmers here are looking for farm equipment for sale, they must look for tools to help them adapt their practices to meet such volatility.
Here’s how some farm equipment can help farmers adapt to extreme climates like those experienced in Manitoba.
Systems to Keep Grain Safe
When grain becomes too dry, it can shrink. And when it becomes too wet, it’s prone to mould. Both extremes can directly impact selling profits.
By using grain monitoring systems, storing the product securely in grain bins and using aeration fans — which blow air into the bins to prevent a build-up of moisture — farmers can keep a handle on grain quality and protect their crop from the external elements, however extreme they might be.
Tools to Negate the Impact of Extreme Weather
In Manitoba, there’s snow on the ground for approximately 128 days every year; that’s over one-third of the calendar cycle! And the moisture and weight that snow brings directly contribute to soil compaction.
Soil compaction is detrimental to soil health. When the soil is compacted, the air circulation is poor, essential nutrients can’t reach the crop root, and water may either be held in place, causing water logging and root rot, or the water might be unable to reach the crops’ root balls completely.
For these reasons, the soil needs to be worked at a lower depth than in other regions that might have sandy or loamy soil.
Chisel plows, for example, are ideal for farmers in Manitoba. They can operate at different levels, allowing a deep turnover of the soil in the winter following months of compaction to prepare the land for planting, and a lighter turnover in the summer months when the ground is lighter and drier following periods of extreme heat with little rain.
Machinery Is Equipped for Safety and Comfort
It’s not just the land that needs to be taken care of as the climate shifts throughout the year. Farmers need to be considered, too, both for their safety and for comfort.
Modern equipment is devised to be both efficient and comfortable. Today, tractors are equipped with new projection heads and working lamps that allow the driver to work longer hours into the early evening once the sun has gone down, empowering them to take advantage of the small windows of time before the seasons shift.
Quality tractor cabs are also equipped with improved heating and cooling systems, guaranteeing a comfortable working environment for the driver, whatever the outside temperature.
Farm Equipment Can Adapt
For those looking for farm equipment that evolves and adapts as the seasons change, connect with a farm equipment store staffed with farming experts. They will help you choose the right equipment that meets your unique needs, making life easier while positively impacting your farm’s productivity.
