Random Winter Preparation Tips

Before the big and windy winter storms hit Montana is the time to prepare for them, not afterward. Just a few random tips condensed from multiple articles on the subject.

Livestock

Wind chill can stress livestock. It’s a good idea to plan and erect windbreaks. But in the short-term porous snow fence and a shallow open-front shed can help protect livestock. However don’t securely close up a shed too tightly because stock can suffocate when they use up available oxygen.

Test and/or replace camp stoves and heaters and water heaters for animals. Place heaters in water tanks if the temperatures fall sharply to allow animals plenty of water.

Try not to graze pastures too closely before winter sets in. That can result in damage to the pasture and slow re-growth in the spring.

Bring in footing material for paddocks, confinement areas and other high traffic sections on your farm or ranch. Lay down sand, crushed rock or some type of wood product to help eliminate mud and reduce erosion. Be sure to use the material in front of gates and on livestock walkways. Footing materials may become hard to find it you wait too long and it is easier for delivery trucks to drive through pastures and paddocks before they get muddy and slick.

Barns and Outbuildings

Wrap above-ground water pipes with insulation or heat tape and check barn gutters to make sure they drain properly. Lubricate the barn door hinges to keep them from getting stiff and sluggish during the cold weather. Inspect any frayed wiring in the barn that might be a target for rodents and can result in a fire.

Check your roof run-off system. Keep rainwater clean by diverting the water away from your paddock areas. Divert rain water to a grassy ditch, a dry well, a rain barrel, stock watering tanks or unused parts of a pasture.

To prevent mold, store feed and hay where it will stay dry and cool.

In General

Fall is the time to spread compost to improve the health of the soil and plants. Prune, trim and remove dead branches and trees from wind breaks. Store a supply of clay-based cat litter, course salt or fireplace ashes to scatter on the surface of ice that may form on top of puddles from melted snow. Secure anything capable of being carried in the wind.

Tarp manure piles to keep the nutrients you are trying to save in the compost and prevent them from being washed out. Store manure as far away from streams, ditches and wetlands as possible to avoid environmental problems. Also be a good neighbor and store manure away from fence-lines.

Last Modified: 10/08/2009