Winter brings somewhat of a slower pace to our farm, but that doesn’t mean we’re not busy.
If you’ve ever wondered how a farm like ours functions during the winter, here’s a peek behind the scenes of winter on our farm.
Fewer Enterprises, More Focus
During the winter, our farm goes from juggling five enterprises to just one or two. Gone are the turkeys, meat birds, and pigs. What remains are our cattle and occasionally laying chickens.
This year, we sold off our flock of egg layers. They were almost two years old, still laying but not at their peak. Why did we sell them? The math didn’t add up.
Feed consumption stays constant, but egg production drops as hens age. Feeding birds through winter for fewer eggs just didn’t make sense for us. Not to mention the extra labor of keep waterers unfrozen and keeping birds warm.
We never keep laying hens past 2 years. We’ll replace them in the Spring with pullets. That is when productivity aligns with costs.
The End of Farmers Market Season
December marks the end of our farmers market season. That means a major drop in direct sales between now and April.
While wholesale is an option, selling at a reduced rate doesn’t make sense for our farm’s goals. We sell year round to a couple local stores, but wholesale as a business is a volume game, and not one we want to play.
Instead, we focus on shifting those sales to on-farm pickups and local deliveries.
It’s a challenge to replace the farmers market income, but it’s also an opportunity to ramp up marketing efforts. Writing emails, making videos, and running sales are all part of the winter strategy to keep things moving.
Life With Cattle in Winter
Cattle are one of the simpler enterprises year round, but even during winter. Without the need to rotate them, daily chores shift to feeding hay.
It’s actually a chore I don’t mind, as the cattle are always eager to eat and it’s a chance to get up close with them.
Frost-free waterers also make a huge difference in easing winter cattle care. These are fed by a well and underground lines. They drink frequently enough for our Virginia temperatures to not cause freezing issues.
Check with your local county extension as sometimes there are grants and low interest loans for these.
Why No Pigs in Winter?
We’ve thought about keeping pigs year-round, but without a barn or solid shelter, it’s just not feasible. Anything we build either turns into a wallow, or it get’s destroyed.
Instead, we buy piglets in the spring and process them in late fall. This works better for our setup and keeps things manageable.
That’s not to say you can’t do pigs over winter, it’s just not something we choose to do based on past experience.
A Time for Projects and Planning
Winter offers a break from the hustle of spring through fall, but it’s also when we tackle big projects. Whether it’s improving infrastructure, mending fences (new fencing projects), or trying to make current enterprises better for next year, this is our chance to think ahead and get things done.
Why Having a Website Matters
With no farmers market for four to five months, the importance of our website is more so this time of year. It keeps us connected to customers year-round, allows us to generate revenue, and lets us sell 24/7.
Our long-term goal is to eventually move entirely online—focusing on farm pickups, local deliveries, and maybe even drop points. It’s a vision we’re working towards, but not quite there yet.
You might think Winter is a slower time on the farm, but trust me, there is still lots to do. From daily cattle chores to tackling the to-do list, this time of year is about taking advantage of the cooler temperatures for outside projects and getting ready for the next season.
If you’re farming and things have slowed down, now’s the perfect time to tackle a project or plan for what’s ahead. Share your thoughts—what are your plans for this winter?
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Thanks for following along. We’re grateful for you and hope you’re getting value from these newsletters!
Jason
The Part-Time Farmer
PS: Here is a video we did last winter if you’d like a glimpse of winter on our farm.
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