As machinery grows, so do storage sheds

May 26, 2016

Farmers may need more space to accommodate storage facilities

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

Nobody would leave their 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 uncovered and exposed to the elements, so why would farmers to the same with any of their machinery?

As equipment has grown in size and sophistication, so have the storage facilities farmers’ use to house tractors and combines.

“Within the last five years, you’ve really seen a trend of these things going to 70, 80 or 90 feet (wide), clear span, with no support,” Justin Sobaski, vice president of Eastern Iowa Building told Missouri Farmer Today.

“Lately we’ve noticed customers requesting wider and higher buildings to fit all sizes of machinery, large doors that are easy to operate, plus a building that also looks nice and adds to the aesthetic value of their property,” said Menards Spokesperson Jeff Abbott.

Storage shed

Another trend being noticed is including a heated workshop; Josh Nowlin, a general sales manager for Quality Structures, said it’s cost effective to put everything under one roof.

The larger the building, the stronger it needs to be to withstand snow and other elements.

Upgraded paint, spray insulation, house wrap and post protectors are all available options to keep buildings safe and durable.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.