Farming has been an essential part to the survival of humanity since the dawn of time. Fortunately, thanks to creative engineering and innovation, the farmers of today can complete farming tasks faster and more safely than ever before. If you are thinking of opening a small farm or even scaling the farm you already own, there are some must-have items that you will need. The first item which has to be on every farmer’s list is fertilizer equipment.
Fertilizer Equipment
One of the areas where the most advancements have been made in the farming industry is in fertilizer equipment. Fertilizing even a one-acre field could take a farmer days to complete. But with fertilizer equipment, this task can take less than an hour to complete. Some of the most useful pieces of equipment include:
• Fertilizer spreaders
• Fertilizer applicators
• Commodity carts
Most of these pieces of equipment can also be outfitted with accessories or add-ons which will improve the quality of the fertilizing of soil and improve your yields, all the while saving you even more time on the task.
A Pickup Truck
The pickup truck is a staple piece of equipment on the farm. They are incredibly versatile and are a much needed long-term investment for your farm. A pickup truck will be able to handle a number of farming tasks, such as:
• Hauling building supplies
• Carrying feed
• Loading sod and firewood
If you plan on having livestock on your farm, then this piece of equipment is absolutely essential. Choose a pickup truck that will be able to haul a livestock trailer and/or a utility vehicle.
Tip: Consider investing in a basic hard top for your truck. This will allow you to haul items that will need to be kept dry or transport smaller animals such as ducks, geese or rabbits.
A Handcart
This piece of equipment is not only the least expensive for your farm, but it will very likely become the most useful. Handcarts are ideal for moving around items like:
• Plants
• Seed
• Topsoil
• Fertilizer
• Tools
• Manure
Handcarts are lightweight and sturdy, yet able to carry larger loads very easily across all types of terrain. Best of all, they are balanced and do not easily tip over.
A Composter
Small farms can turn hundreds of pounds of waste into valuable compost if they invest in a composter. Many choose to make their own composter rather than purchase one (many local recycling locations will have blueprints and plans readily available for you to use) because it is a more cost effective option. After that, pick up a container of worms from your local fishing or bait supplier and add them to the compost pile to expedite the process.