Farm equipment can be a significant investment, with farmers spending tens of thousands of dollars of their hard-earned money to ensure their agricultural businesses continue operating successfully. 

When you’re spending a considerable amount of money, it makes sense that you’ll want to keep your equipment in excellent condition for as long as possible. To achieve this goal, add the following steps to your machinery maintenance strategy:

Be Proactive

Many agriculture business owners wait until their equipment experiences a problem before they perform repairs and maintenance. However, if you stock up on everything you need for upkeep, whether that be oil, lubricants, or Pellenc parts, you’ll be ready to take a more proactive approach. 

Rather than waiting for catastrophic failures to occur, leading to costly downtime, focus on regular maintenance. If you can pick up potential issues, such as worn bearings, cracked bolts, and weak welds, you can fix them before they become a catastrophe. 

Store Equipment Properly

Leaving your harvester between two rows of grape vines can be tempting when you know you’ll be back to finish the job tomorrow. However, improper storage can take its toll. As time-consuming as it can be to transport equipment to and from worksites each day, doing so might prevent costly problems down the line. 

Whether it’s plastic perishing from UV exposure, rust developing from too much exposure to water, or electrical issues related to bird nests and rodents, these issues are all easily avoidable if you store your machinery well. Focus on keeping equipment out of direct sunlight in a dry and well-ventilated area. Open and multi-bay farm sheds are often a preferred option. 

Lubricate Often

Most farm equipment needs lubricants and grease to work at its best. These products keep all parts moving freely and prevent rust and general wear that might otherwise lead to costly part failures. If any equipment you own has hoses, O-rings, seals, grommets, gaskets, and bushings, there’s a high chance it’ll need a continuous lubricant supply. 

Inspect Electrical Wiring

Most farm equipment manufactured today is highly advanced as far as electronics go. This technology makes the average equipment operator’s job much more manageable and is often necessary for performing tasks like harvesting. 

Because electrical wiring can be crucial for daily tasks, it makes sense to inspect it frequently. Look for signs of wear and damage, and keep a supply of wiring to carry out repairs. By being proactive, you can minimize the risk of downtime. 

Upgrade Regularly

Knowing when it’s the right time to upgrade farm equipment is never easy. It can depreciate in the early years of ownership, and maintenance and repair requirements are often much lower. 

However, research has revealed many benefits associated with regular farm machinery upgrades. For example, you can usually look forward to increased reliability, new technology, improved capacity, and pride of ownership. It’s also satisfying to know that your maintenance and repair tasks will generally be far less intensive, allowing you to keep your equipment in top condition with minimal effort. 

Train Your Workers

If you run a large agricultural operation, it might not only be you using your farm equipment. You may share it with workers. Consider creating use guidelines for all equipment to ensure your workers treat it with respect. The more policies you have in place for maintenance and repairs, the longer your machinery should remain in excellent condition. 

Keeping your farm equipment in top condition can save you money, boost productivity, and improve its resale value. If you don’t typically prioritize repairs and maintenance above other farm tasks, now is the time to start.