Storage Unit For Farm Tools

We typically think of storage units as being for ecommerce businesses and people moving home. But it turns out they’re just as useful for agricultural firms to store farm tools. Units provide extra space and flexibility for those with a lot of equipment. 

How A Storage Unit Can Help With Your Farm Tools

Storage units for farm tools help you in numerous ways, many of which are hard to quantify. Here are some of the benefits you could experience using one. 

Seasonal Storage

Perhaps the biggest benefit of using a storage unit for farm tools is providing a repository for seasonal tools. If you’re like most farmers, you might only use some tools for one month (or even one day) per year. The rest of the time, items sit around, taking up space. 

For this reason, keeping large equipment and machinery, chemicals, and consumables off-site for most of the year helps keep your farm efficient. This approach ensures you have more on-site storage for all your seasonal requirements. 

Bulk Purchase Storage

Storage units also enable you to make bulk purchases instead of relying on smaller, less cost-efficient deliveries. You can potentially have many tons of supplies in a readily accessible location off-site until you need them. 

Inventory Management

Having a flexible off-farm storage area also helps improve inventory management. If you require additional supplies but don’t require them immediately, you can store them off-site until you do. 

For instance, if you intend to hire seasonal workers for the autumn months, purchasing equipment in advance to avoid supply issues is helpful. Storage units enable you to keep items off-site until your team needs them.

Emergency Preparedness

You may also want to consider using off-site storage as a form of emergency preparedness. Keeping farm equipment in a safe location off-site may help you recover faster from a disaster than keeping everything locally. 

Related to this point, this approach can also help diversify risk. Keeping equipment and supplies in two places increases the likelihood of continuing operations, even if a natural disaster affects your farm.

Protection From The Weather

Off-site storage also helps to protect your equipment from damage. Keeping items outside increases the likelihood of rust and general degradation, whereas storing them indoors in a controlled climate reduces this risk. Professional units cut the chances of snow, rain, or extreme temperatures causing damage. 

Climate-controlled storage is available for the most sensitive or delicate items, letting you set the optimal humidity and temperature.

Better Security

The security offered by storage is another reason for choosing them. Facilities often have around-the-clock on-site security guards, CCTV, perimeter fencing, and advanced locking mechanisms on all units. Farmers can protect advanced and valuable equipment, including combine harvesters, bale handlers, mowers, planters, and sprayers. 

Improved Organisation

Farm storage units also facilitate better tool organisation. On-site space may simply be insufficient to enable you to access all your tools in a timely and convenient manner. Off-site storage solutions open up space and let you arrange items logically and coherently, making it easier to access them when needed.

Better Space Management

Related to this, off-site storage can also facilitate better space management on the farm. Being able to declutter your premises while maintaining access to equipment can dramatically improve vehicle access, animal movement, and delivery operations. 

Advanced Shelter For Large Equipment

Finally, off-site storage offers farmers enhanced shelter for larger equipment. Ploughs, tillers, and lawnmowers can benefit from protection from the elements, helping them last longer. 

In summary, farm tool storage helps you preserve your equipment and improve on-site organisation and efficiency. You can optimise space, reduce downtime, and better adapt to seasonal workers and harvesting schedules. It’s also excellent for preventing theft and preparing for emergencies such as flooding. 

Tips For Storing Farm Tools

Here are some tips for storing farms tools effectively:-

• Grease and oil all equipment before putting it into storage
• If you have used vehicles during the season and want to keep them in storage for several months, service them first
• Ensure you use temperature- and climate-controlled storage solutions if you intend to keep equipment in a higher-risk climate
• Create a walkway between the areas of stored equipment and label it, if necessary, for quicker access
• Store items in the correct orientation
• Ensure power tool batteries are drained and stored safely

FAQs

What types of farm storage units are available? 

Storage companies make various types of farm storage units available, depending on the customer’s needs. The most traditional solution is barns and outbuildings. These provide moderate shelter from the wind, rain, and snow, helping to protect large equipment and keep out some of the elements. 

Many also take the form of conventional self-storage units. This option is suitable for people who want to store relatively small farm tools but don’t have space for them on-site. 

Steel buildings are another option. These are ideal for keeping the largest farm equipment, such as trucks, trailers and hay balers. 

Ultimately, the type of building you choose depends on your requirements. Storage companies will direct you to the optimal solutions for the items you want to store. 

What types of farm tools can I store in a storage unit?

You can store practically all farm tools in a storage unit, including:-

• Chainsaws and power drills
• Hand tools
• Planters, harvesters, and other tools
• Lawnmowers 
• Tractors
• Other large equipment

If you’re unsure what you can store in a storage unit, ask the provider. They can give you a list of forbidden items, such as pressurised gas canisters, shotguns, and poisonous materials. 

How often can I access the farm tools in my storage unit? 

You can access the tools in your storage unit whenever you need them. Most units have long opening hours that make them convenient, no matter how busy you are. 

What size storage unit do I need?

The size of the storage unit you require depends on the size and number of tools you want to put into storage. You should be able to work this out by creating an inventory of tools and then estimating volume requirements. Or simply use our space calculator.