Farmers are incredibly unappreciated in our society, which has lost its connection to the earth through relentless urbanization and commercialization. Nevertheless, a farmer’s work is never done, and they continue to provide delicious and healthy food for a growing market.

With the increasing demands on farmers to grow large amounts of product in a way that is both environmentally-friendly and efficient, it’s never been more important to select tools that increase productivity without sacrificing quality or safety. At the same time, many small farms are operating on a razor-thin budget, and they simply don’t have the resources to purchase many different types of equipment to handle all the various tasks around a farm.

That’s why a skid steer fork is an absolutely essential part of any farmer’s shed: this versatile tool can tackle a variety of projects quickly and safely. Its durability makes it highly cost-effective, while its ease of use means it’s simple to teach any worker to use correctly.

Let’s explore four of the many reasons why skid steer forks should be next on your purchase list for your farm, no matter what type of agricultural labor you perform.

Reason #1: Skid steer pallet forks improve safety by reducing manual labor

Farming is highly dangerous work even with the best safety protocols and greatest attention to worker care. There are many hazards present on farms, from incredibly large equipment that can be difficult to repair, to smaller issues such as burns, scrapes, and sprains. Regardless of the severity of any injury, it can harm productivity as workers will need to recuperate.

Each year, up to 42% of workers experience a strain or sprain, which can sideline them for weeks or months depending on the type of injury and its severity. Back injuries can occur from lifting heavy objects, and these can even be life-threatening, so it’s essential that farmers take every precaution possible to reduce this risk.

Skid steer pallets greatly reduce the need for manual labor to lift and move heavy materials, allowing these workers to be reassigned to safer tasks that require more ingenuity. With their hydraulic lifts, they can safely handle much larger loads than a human, and they can be adjusted to perfectly suit a given object: something humans just can’t do!

Reason #2: Skid steer pallets boost productivity

There’s no industry that demands high productivity quite like farming: you’re responsible for putting food on the plates of millions of people, and shortages can even make national headlines, endangering your farm’s viability. One of the most time-consuming processes in farming is moving materials about, which is why this is the best place to maximize your efficiency. Skid steer pallets allow a farmer to lift, move, and stack pallets quickly, easily, and with far less manpower.

We all know that time is money, but energy is also money: the more effort you spend on a given project, the less energy you have for your next task. With so much to do around a farm, it’s essential that you eliminate time-consuming processes, especially those that can be performed faster with equipment.

Reason #3: These versatile tools can be used for numerous tasks

Skid steer pallets aren’t a one-trick pony: they can be used for a variety of projects around the farm. Toting hay bales? Done. Shifting crates from one end of the farm to the other? No problem. Any material that can be safely placed on their durable steel tines will be transported with the greatest ease imaginable, allowing you to quickly load, unload, and handle nearly anything on your farm. They’re easily attached to most skid steer loaders, so you can get to work right away, with no time wasted finagling with tricky attachments or hunting down where you left the forklift. You can pop the skid steer forks on, do your work, and then remove it, leaving your skid steer loader available for anything else you need.

Reason #4: As durable and long-lasting tools, they pay for themselves in no time.

Farm equipment is incredibly expensive, so it’s imperative that farmers find solutions that reduce the number of tools they must purchase but don’t skimp on quality. A farm needs durable, long-lasting equipment that’s easy to maintain but performs a variety of tasks, and that’s exactly what you get with a skid steer fork. This tool will withstand heavy workloads day in and day out for years on end without ever breaking, as they’re made of steel and use strong hydraulics. Knowing that you can get years or even decades out of this tool, you’ll understand that they’re an economical solution to many of the issues that farmers face, especially material handling.

Final thoughts

Farmers are the backbone of our society, and it’s important to empower them to perform their work efficiently and safely. That’s why skid steer forks are such an incredible solution for farms of any size, from large industrial operations to the average hobby farmer with only a few chickens and cows. Every farm, no matter what it produces, has large material shipments which must be transported from one place to another, and skid steer forks make it easier than ever to get the job done. You won’t be disappointed with this purchase, which will last you for years to come.