I think most of us would agree it has been a long, cold winter, and if you are like me, you can't wait for spring to arrive.

With the coming of spring, farmers will be heading to the fields to begin the work of a new growing season. Is your equipment ready for the task?

Wintertime is a good time to get equipment ready for the coming planting and harvest seasons. If you have not already done so, why not take advantage of the remaining days of winter to get everything in good working order. Planned maintenance is a first step toward minimizing downtime and reducing the potential for injury or equipment failure.

The following are some suggestions from Penn State's College of Agricultural Science's Department of Agricultural Engineering to safely get your equipment up and running:

• Perform all routine maintenance on schedule. Carefully lubricate equipment and take steps to prevent condensation and corrosion.

• Check to see if you need to purchase any replacement parts and order as needed.

• Never clean, oil or adjust equipment while it's running. Always make sure the machine has stopped operating before removing guards and shields. Some machines might have freewheeling parts that continue to rotate even after power has been disconnected.

• Securely block or lock out hydraulically raised equipment before anyone starts working around or under the machine. Don't operate the hydraulic controls from beside or behind the tractor, or from the steps of a cab. Operate them only from the operator's station so you will have full control over the entire machine.

• Don't stand under the discharge spouts when servicing operating combines or forage harvesters. A piece of metal that might have fallen into the head can come out of the spout like a dangerous projectile.

• Fire can be a hazard during field work. Every piece of powered equipment should have at least one fire extinguisher onboard within easy reach of the operator. Be sure any existing extinguishers are charged and operational, and purchase new extinguishers as needed.

• Remember a key factor in many machinery injury incidents is the failure of the operator to stop the power before servicing the equipment. This can happen even in the shed during winter maintenance. Anytime you need to leave the operator's station to service your equipment, turn it off.

The winter months can be challenging in their own right, but it pays to take advantage of the time to prepare for the warm, sunny days of spring and summer.

This material is submitted by Donna Zang, Extension director, and the staff of the Penn State Extension office at the Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center complex.