In nearly all cases, there is always work to do indoors. Budgeting for the coming year is also a winter chore for farmers and ranchers. There is the usual visit with the banker, too. The budget process also takes the operator outdoors, in a way. Early winter, before the weather gets too severe, many walk the farm or ranch and assess what needs to be done as well as how much it's going to cost.
Broken fences are mended, farm machinery is repaired.
But I think with the increase in technology, we've found out there are more jobs to do on the farm. Besides spending the hard weather in the shop repairing our equipment for the coming season, we're back on the ground making herbicide and fertilizer applications more often than one might guess. Fall plantings of many grass seed varieties have been completed. Fertilizer is generally applied in February or March. Weed control may take placed during the winter months as well.