SNOW Removal

Attachments can make a significant difference in how a farmer experiences winter and all that comes with it.

- BY RODNEY WILSON

Winter weather is at hand, and with it comes farm chores that require bundling: fetching firewood, tackling frozen waterers, removing snow and the like. As we enjoy the cool creeping into fall nights, it’s also time to think ahead and get ready for winter, and chief among those thoughts should be snow removal. On a farm, where driveways can wind beyond the sight line, appropriate removal of the white stuff calls for much more than a wide shovel and can sometimes keep you from getting snowed in. Also, chores are so much easier when you're not carrying heavy buckets through a foot of snow.

Tractor attachments designed for snow removal make a huge difference in how a farmer experiences winter. Whether your tool is tow-behind or front- or loader-mounted, putting some horsepower behind the task, especially with the added luxury of a heated cab, can make fun out of an otherwise backbreaking task. And when the snow falls, clearing driveways of friends and neighbors can earn some goodwill or even extra cash.

SNOW REMOVAL: LOCATION, LOCATION

The first question is where on the tractor you want to position your snow removal attachment. Front- or loader-mounted attachments offer an important benefit over the tow-behind options; the attachment gets to the snow before the heavy wheels, which can compact the snow and leave slick tracks on the ground.