Three Uses for a Forklift on a Farm
Have you considered the use of a forklift on a farm-perhaps your farm? There are a number of uses for a forklift on a farm, and here are three of them:
1. Hay Barrels
The most common use for a forklift on a farm is for lifting, carrying, and transporting hay, both hay bales and hay barrels, the latter of which can sometimes weigh up to 2,000 pounds. For these large, heavy hay barrels, lifting is next to impossible without the use of a heavy-duty piece of machinery that can carry the brunt of the load. Forklifts work very well for this purpose, allowing farmers to lift, carry, and transport hay bales and hay barrels from one location to another. Forklifts not only help farmers move hay bales and barrels easily, but also quickly.
There are different ways to move hay using a forklift. Some farmers “ram” the forks right into the hay bale or barrel, but this method generally causes damage to the hay and is not recommended. Other farmers use the forklift to lift the hay up with rope after tying the hay to the forks. Another method is to construct an add-on for the forklift, mounting a metal plate onto the forks to create a sturdy platform for the hay, making the lifting, carrying, and transporting process that much simpler.
2. Lifting and Moving Heavy Items
Forklifts can also be used on a farm to lift, carry, and transport a wide variety of common large and heavy items, in addition to hay bales and barrels. Such items can include:
· farm equipment
· large or heavy farming tools and supplies
· smaller pieces of machinery
· produce
· animal feed
· bulk bags
· fencing
· dead animals






