76 BULLETIN 1271, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Table 46. — Classification of farm operations from the standpoint of fixity as to time 
Work that must be done at a 
Work that may vary within 
Work that can be done at any 
definite time 
seasonal limits 
time throughout the year 
Spring plowing. 
Fall plowing. 
General repair work on harness 
Seed-bed preparation. 
Hauling manure. 
and machinery. 
Seeding. 
Putting up wild hay 
Building repairs. 
Cultivating. 
Stack threshing. 
Marketing nonperishable prod- 
Cutting, shocking, and stacking 
Husking corn. 
ucts. 
small grain. 
Hauling feed, bedding, and sup- 
Cutting and hauling wood. 
Shock threshing. 
plies. 
Breaking colts- 
Putting up alfalfa and tame hay. 
Shelling corn. 
Cutting corn and filling silo. 
Marketing livestock. 
Regular care of livestock. 
Grinding feed. 
Attending livestock sales. 
Culling poultry. 
Repair and upkeep of equipment 
Ringing pigs. 
in so far as necessary to continue 
Trimming horses' hoofs. 
fixed-time operations. 
Shearing sheep. 
Repair of fences where stock break 
Dehorning cattle. 
out. 
Pruning trees. 
Emergency building repairs. 
Cleaning up farmstead. 
Marketing perishable or seasonal 
Ditching and tiling. 
products. 
Hauling gravel. 
Returning exchange labor. 
Road maintenance. 
Fencing. 
Putting up ice. 
Rain is one of the most serious sources of interference with any 
labor plan. A day's or even a week's labor program may be com- 
pletely upset by a sudden shower. The farmer constantly faces the 
task of adjusting his labor in response to rain interference. Table 
47 is a list of tasks at which the farmer can busy himself while it is 
raining, and another at which he can find employment after the rain 
stops but before the ground is dry enough to work. The farmer 
who keeps in mind this classification of tasks, or still better keeps a 
list of tasks which will give him employment while it is raining or 
the ground is too wet to work, will be best prepared to adjust his 
labor plans to weather conditions. 
Table 47. 
■Classification of farm operations from the standpoint of the effect of 
rain and soil conditions 
Work that can be done while it is 
raining 
Work that can not be done while 
rain is falling, but can be done 
while ground is wet 
Work requiring dry ground and 
land dry enough to work 
Repairing equipment. 
Cutting hay or grain. 
All tillage operations. 
Grinding sickles. 
Hauling manure. 
Seeding. 
Indoor repair and alterations on 
Shelling corn. 
Haying operations, except mow- 
buildings. 
Cleaning, grading, and treating 
ing. 
Shoeing horses and trimming hoofs 
seed. 
Shocking, stacking, and thresh- 
Cleaning calf pens and hog pens. 
Mowing lawn and cutting weeds. 
ing grain. 
Culling poultry. 
Hauling hay, straw, feed, and sup- 
Cleaning box stalls. 
plies. 
Grinding feed. 
Marketing crops and livestock 
products. 
Butchering. 
Dehorning cattle. 
Breaking colts. 
Sorting hogs and cattle. 
Shearing sheep. 
Fencing. 
Repairing buildings. 
Pruning trees. 
Cleaning up farmstead. 
Hauling gravel. 
Storing machinery. 
Drainage and tiling. 
Cutting and hauling wood. 
