Wrapping Up Summer: A Practical Checklist for Small Farm Owners (Part 1)

Alright, small farm fam—Labor Day’s not just some excuse for one last BBQ. Think of it as your farm’s halftime. If you want to glide into fall minus the drama, you gotta get your ducks (or sheep, or tractors) in a row now.

Tomorrow we'll finish this up with part two. Now let’s get into today's post.

Crop Checks: Get Your Hands Dirty

Scouting for Pests & Diseases

• Don’t Just Stare—Get Moving

  • You can’t spot trouble from the truck. Walk the fields. Get up close, crouch down, and get some mud on your boots.

  • Check under leaves, poke around stems, dig into the canopy. Half the problems hide where it’s inconvenient.

• Spot the Weird Stuff

  • Look for spots, holes, chewed edges, unusual colors, or growth that doesn't look right.

  • Sometimes you’ll see webs, sticky residue, or actual bugs on your crops.

• Figure Out the Villain

  • Try to ID what’s causing the damage. Could be aphids, maybe it’s mildew, or some mystery bug you’ll have to Google later.

  • If you can’t identify it, snap a picture and ask a neighbor or contact your local agricultural extension. There's no shame in crowd-sourcing.

• Take Notes, Not Just Mental Ones

  • Write down exactly what you found and where—field, row, which crop. You won’t remember everything next week, trust me.

  • The more details you capture, the easier it’ll be to fix the problem.

Checking Crop Maturity & Harvest Readiness

• See, Touch, Taste (Maybe)

  • Feel the fruit, snap pods, whatever your crop demands.

  • If it’s something edible, taste test a few (but wipe off the bugs first).

• Don’t Play Favorites

  • Sample from different parts of the field, not just the perfect-looking plants.

  • Trouble spots can hide in corners or on edges where you don’t usually look.

• Know the Rules

  • Every crop has its own definition of “ready.” Some need a certain color, others a perfect moisture level.

  • Dig up the official guidelines or ask an old-timer—don’t just guess.

• Call the Harvest When It’s Time

  • Base your decision on what you actually see and feel, not just what the calendar says.

  • Remember: Early harvest might mean lower yield, late harvest could mean quality goes down the drain.

Estimating Yield

• Do the Math

  • Count pods, weigh samples, whatever works for your crop. Don’t just make up numbers.

  • Figure out the average for a few spots and scale up for the whole field.

• Compare to Last Year

  • Pull up last season’s numbers. Are you ahead, behind, or about the same?

  • If you’re way off, try to figure out why—it could be weather, pests, or maybe something you did differently.

• Factor in Everything

  • Weather weirdness, new pests, soil changes, even your neighbor’s goats getting loose—anything can impact yield.

  • Adjust your estimate if you know part of the field won’t make the cut.

Removing Dead or Diseased Plants

• Don’t Wait—Act Fast

  • If you see a bad plant, pull it before it can infect the rest.

  • Sometimes one sick plant can take down a whole row if you’re not careful.

• Stay Clean

  • Use clean tools between plants or fields. The last thing you want is to play taxi for a disease.

  • Wipe down shears, wash your hands, and maybe even change boots if things look especially gnarly.

• Dispose Properly

  • Don’t just throw diseased plants on the compost. Bag them up and pitch them far from your healthy crops.

  • Burning’s an option if your area allows it. Otherwise, landfill it.

• Stay On Patrol

  • Once you’ve found a problem, keep checking. Diseases and pests can pop up fast, especially after rain.

Equipment Care & Off-Season Prep

Clean & Maintain Equipment

• Kick off the Grime

  • Before anything else, knock off that dried mud, leftover stalks, and any other stuff stuck to your gear. Don’t just half-heartedly wipe it down—get in there with a brush or hose.

• Lube & Fluid Check

  • Grease every joint and hinge. Don’t get lazy—just because it moved last year doesn’t mean it still moves now.

  • Check oil, coolant, and all those other fluids you never think about until smoke starts pouring out.

• Filters & Spark Plugs Swap

  • Dirty filters choke your engine and make it run like it’s got a cold. Swap them out.

  • Same for spark plugs—if they’re old, toss ‘em.

• Dry Storage Is a Must

  • Find a dry corner in the shed, barn, or even toss a tarp over it if that’s all you’ve got. Moisture is the enemy.

Check for Repairs

• Inspect Tires & Wheels

  • Give each tire a solid check—flats, slow leaks, or bald patches? Fix ‘em now instead of waiting for the dreaded off-season surprise.

• Belts, Chains, & Moving Parts

  • Scan every belt and chain for cracks, frays, or weird gunk buildup. If it looks sketchy, it probably is. Replacing a belt is way easier than fixing a snapped one mid-job.

• Test Brakes & Safety Gear

  • Don’t just assume brakes work—test them.

  • The same goes for anything with a safety switch or latch.

• Spot Rust & Cracks

  • Hunt for rust, even if it’s just a little.

  • Cracks in metal? Bad news.

• Make a Repair List & Budget

  • Write down every issue. Grab your phone, jot notes, whatever works.

  • Guesstimate what repairs will cost so you don’t get blindsided at the parts counter.

Irrigation System Check

• Leak & Clog Patrol

  • Walk the lines—hoses, pipes, fittings. Look for drips or spots where water’s squirting out.

• Pump & Motor Test

  • Fire up every pump and motor. If it coughs or dies, deal with it now.

• Timers & Controller Settings

  • Double-check your timers and controllers. Reset as needed.

• Clean Filters & Emitters

  • Filters and emitters are tiny, but when they’re clogged, everything suffers. Clean them out, and tweak sprinklers so water actually lands where you want it.

Organize Tools & Supplies

• Sort by Type

  • Group hand tools, power tools, and specialty stuff so you can actually find things.

• Keep Essentials Accessible

  • Stash your everyday gear in arm’s reach. Don’t bury your favorite wrench at the bottom of a pile. Time wasted searching is time you never get back.

• Stock Check & Restock

  • Take a quick count—what’s running low? Order replacements now.

• Tool Maintenance Checklist

  • Make a cheat sheet: oil handles, tighten bolts, check for rust. Tick things off as you go.

Prep for Off-Season Storage

• Deep Clean Before Storing

  • Don’t just park it dirty. Clean off every tool and machine so grime doesn’t harden.

• Drain Fuel from Engines

  • Unless you’re a fan of sticky, gunked-up carburetors, drain the gas tanks. Leftover fuel turns nasty and clogs everything up.

• Cover & Protect

  • Tarps, sheds, whatever—just don’t leave your stuff open to the elements. Mice and weather will destroy it faster than you think.

• Ventilation Matters

  • Let air move around your stored gear. Trapped moisture leads to rust and mold.

  
  

Soil Prep

Testing Your Soil

• Grab Samples Like You Mean It

  • Don’t dig one little hole and call it a day. Walk around, grab small scoops from different spots. Your soil isn’t the same everywhere.

• Kits vs. Labs

  • Store-bought kits are fine if you’re on a budget or impatient. But if you want the full rundown, send your sample to a proper lab.

• What to Look For

  • Check for pH levels—too acidic or too alkaline, and your plants will throw a fit. Look for nutrients, too: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, the usual suspects.

Cover Crops: Nature’s Freebie Fertilizer

• Choose Wisely

  • Not all cover crops are created equal. Rye, clover, vetch—pick what works for your climate and what you’ll actually bother to plant.

• How to Plant

  • Prep the ground, spread ‘em out, and give ‘em a little water. Let the cover crop grow wild for a bit.

• When to Cut Them Down

  • Before they go to seed, mow or till them under.

Crop Rotation

• Make a List:

  • Write down what you’re planting and what each crop takes from the soil.

• Pair ‘Em Up

  • Some plants are besties (think tomatoes and basil); some are frenemies. Do a little research.

• Rotation Plan

  • Draw a map, scribble it in a notebook, or make a spreadsheet if you’re Type A. Just make sure you’re not growing the same thing in the same spot year after year.

Fertilizers & Amendments: Feed That Dirt

• What Does Your Soil Want?

  • This is where your test results earn their keep. Missing nitrogen? Add some. Too much phosphorus? Chill on that.

• Pick the Right Stuff

  • There’s a dizzying array of fertilizers—granular, liquid, organic, and synthetic. Don’t just grab the prettiest bag. Match it to what your soil actually needs.

• How to Apply

  • Mix it in before you plant, not after. Read the instructions (I know, boring, but you’ll thank me when your plants don’t fry).

Tillage: Don’t Wreck Your Dirt

• Timing is Everything

  • If the soil’s soggy, wait. If it’s dry as a bone, wait. You want that Goldilocks “just right” moisture—not mud, not dust.

• Break It Up, Mix It In

  • Bust up clumps, work in those cover crops or amendments, and try to level things out. No need to make it look like a golf course, but don’t half-ass it either.

Pro Tips

• If you’re feeling extra, start a soil journal. Nerdy? Maybe. But future you will be grateful.

• Don’t forget mulch once you’re planted—big help for moisture and weed control.

Weather Watch Game Plan

Stay on Forecast Patrol

• Check the Weather

  • Don’t just glance at the sky. Open up that weather app (yes, the one you ignore most days), scroll through your favorite news site, or ask your group chat if any of them have heard about a storm.

• Spot the Weird Stuff Early

  • Keep an eye out for those wildcards: surprise storms, sudden cold snaps, hail that sounds like someone’s throwing gravel at your window. If you see any red flags, make sure you note it somewhere everyone can see—whiteboards, group texts, shouting across the field, whatever gets the message out.

Get Your Defense Gear Ready

• Know Who’s Vulnerable

  • Every crop has its Achilles’ heel. Peppers hate the cold, tomatoes freak out in hail, and lettuce…well, lettuce just wilts at the first sign of drama.

• Gather Your Weather Armor

  • Stockpile row covers, tarps, frost blankets, old bedsheets, and plastic sheeting. Don’t wait for the storm to hit before you find that tarp you tossed in the garage three months ago.

• Have a Real Plan (Not Just a “We’ll Wing It”)

  • Map out who’s grabbing what, which crops get covered first, and which areas need the most protection.

• Keep Everyone in the Loop:

  • Communication is everything. If you’re the only one who knows what to do, you’re gonna have a bad time. Group texts, walkie-talkies (I'm looking at Farmer Hubby for this one), yelling—whatever works. Just make sure everyone’s ready to jump in.

Tomorrow will bring part two of this post. Stay tuned for this continuation.