Spring is one of the busiest—and muddiest—times for your farm. But with the right planning, you can work smarter, not harder. Don’t fight with the farm this year. Get ahead of the season with these time-saving strategies designed for hobby farmers who love their land but love their personal time more.
1. Inspect Early
Winter can be brutal on farm tools and machinery. Take time to inspect and maintain everything before things get into full swing. You’ll save yourself from mid-season breakdowns later.
- Gates & Latches – Check for rust, tighten loose bolts, and grease hinges. Nothing’s worse than a stuck gate when you’re chasing a wayward goat. Browse our selection of panel and gates.
- Tractors & Attachments – Change the oil, check hydraulics, and inspect belts and hoses before you’re left high and dry in the middle of a job.
- Fencing & Posts – As the snow melts, walk your perimeter to check for broken wire or sagging posts before your animals discover a new escape route.
Time-Saving Tip: Stock up on replacement parts now so you’re not making emergency supply runs mid-task.
2. Invest in Systems
Daily livestock chores can eat up a lot of time, but a few strategic upgrades can cut that way down. Consider:
- Using automatic waterers to take away the hassle from water provision—no more endless bucket or trough filling.
- Investing inbulk feeders and feed bins to cut down on daily feeding tasks. Your animals can simply have at it!
- Using movable shade structures and windbreaks to keep your livestock cozier outdoors. They’ll graze longer, which may even save you on feed costs.
Time-Saving Tip: Set up feeding stations near water sources to save yourself and your animals all that back-and-forth.
3. Plan Your Grazing
A well-managed grazing system keeps your land productive and your animals healthier. Spring is the best time to get organized:
- Divide – Use electric fencing to create grazing sections and rotate animals periodically to prevent overgrazing in any one area.
- Monitor – Let pastures rest between rotations to encourage regrowth and reduce hay reliance.
- Check for Weeds – Tackling weed issues now can save a battle—or let’s face it, a war—later in the season.
Time-Saving Tip: Walk your pastures weekly with a notebook to spot issues before they become big problems. Take pictures on your phone with Location Services turned on to help you find the location again quickly later.4. Tackle Chores Together
Farm work is never-ending, but you can make it more efficient by batching similar tasks instead of bouncing between jobs. Try this approach:
- Fence Fixes – Walk the entire property and repair all weak spots in a single day.
- Health Checks – Schedule vaccinations, deworming, and hoof trimming on their own dedicated days.
- Garden & Field Prep – Till, fertilize, and seed all at once instead of making multiple trips with equipment.
Time-Saving Tip: Keep a running task list and check the weather before scheduling big workdays—nothing derails things like unexpected rain.Spring doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By planning ahead and investing in efficient systems, you can get more done with less effort—leaving you more time to enjoy the farm.
Looking for equipment to streamline your work? Check out Lakeland Farm and Ranch’s lineup of livestock handling systems, fencing solutions, and feeding equipment.