February To Do List

Training and Skills Development

• Plan to attend winter workshops / courses.
• What about a tour? Think about visiting another operation this summer [or attending some field day(s) or workshop(s)]
  • It doesn’t have to be a neighbour. Think outside your local area (maybe)
• Peer to Peer Networking – connect with fellow producers, get answers and ideas and share your own thoughts with others

Advance Planning

• Finalise plans and dates for advertising during season
• Check / Update signage
• Ensure memberships in organizations are up to date (inclusion in websites, guides, etc.)
• Roundtable discussion with everyone involved in your operation
  • Review errors – irrigation, fertilizer, pest management, staffing (excesses / deficiencies)
  • Collect ideas for improvement, whether it is diversification, streamlined processes, new and interesting ways to reach customers, whatever.
    • Pick a couple to try out and put whoever contributed the idea in charge of it.

Growing Season Planning and Preparation

• Plan field layout of fields to be planted
• Plan for planting equipment and labour
• Review production record notebook
  • Fertilizer response?
  • Pesticide response / efficacy?
  • Application dates
  • Pesticide applicator license update?
• Inventory
  • Pesticide / fertilizer storage – What do you have? Has anything expired? Does everything have the proper labels? Is everything stored correctly?
  • Containers – picking boxes, containers, pails, bags, etc.
• Complete order of fertilizer, pesticides, picking/packing containers, etc.