Winter is a time when most farmers finalize their seed selections and crop management plans for the coming growing season. It’s also a good time to take stock of your farm buildings and develop some priorities for the new year, according to Dan Nyberg, training manager for Morton Buildings.

The first step, he says, is to determine if any buildings need to be remodeled – or replaced.  “It’s not uncommon for some of the older buildings to simply be too small, and therefore no longer efficient, due to the size of the building or height of the doors,” Nyberg notes. “Changing out a door with an expanded opening might be one solution. Adding height is usually very expensive, and if a structure is not tall enough, it probably has too small of a footprint to work well.”

In many cases, older buildings may well be depreciated, so Nyberg recommends that farmers talk with their tax advisor about the implications of investing in rebuilds. “Be realistic and see if there are some underserving structures that should be demolished, especially if their existing location is less than optimal.”

Nyberg says also be sure to consider newer equipment you plan to add this year or in the near future and ensure adequate under-cover protection that these assets deserve.

“To effectively invest in a new building, you need to have a pretty good sense of what changes will be coming in your equipment in the next five years,” he says. “You save in at least two ways by housing equipment well – first, fewer breakdowns in the field with equipment which has not been exposed to the impact of weather, and second, significantly better trade value in when the time comes to upgrade.”

He also recommends taking every piece of equipment out of the locations they are currently stored, and then placing each in the smallest building in which they can fit. “It may take multiple tries, but you may be surprised how much space you can create simply by taking a new look at where your equipment gets stored.”

Finally, Nyberg says to factor in possible personnel changes, such as bringing in a younger family member into the operation, and consider the plans they may have. “So many operations are looking for auxiliary income streams to enable the farm to support more personnel.  Make sure you are considering the necessary infrastructure to support that.”

Nyberg says these guidelines can help determine if existing farm structures can benefit from remodeling, or whether new buildings are needed to provide the required space.

“Carefully evaluate what has worked and what hasn’t, and then give some serious thought to future needs and how best to address them,” he advises.

Building Value Days
Morton Buildings’ annual Building Value Days runs through Feb. 28, 2019.  During this time, the company offers discounted pricing on new agricultural, equestrian, residential and commercial buildings, allowing customers to save and secure prime spring and early summer construction slots. To learn more or find a local sales office, visit www.mortonbuildings.com.