They say a plan is about bringing the future into the present and doing something about it right now.

There is probably no industry that requires planning more than farming, because decisions made now can have such a huge effect on what happens for the rest of the year.

The production cycle of our farm animals depends on having a healthy winter period, particularly when housed.

Most animals be they cattle or sheep will begin their new year with a birth and then begin the next round of their yearly cycle.

Concentrate on hygiene measures to reduce disease exposure with a focus on clean cubicles and running scrapers regularly

For spring-based dairy farms, it is key to manage body condition carefully and plan drying off to control cell count for the coming lactation.

Looking at housing, ensuring enough space and clean water can make a big difference to the performance of the animals.

Concentrate on hygiene measures to reduce disease exposure with a focus on clean cubicles and running scrapers regularly.

It is also a key time to plan ahead for calving to ensure cows have good-quality colostrum and calf pens are ready and clean.

Setting up standard procedures around feeding and vaccination also helps, with many farmers getting good results with scour vaccines being given to cows before calving.

Body condition

For beef farmers, having the suckler cow in the right body condition and looking ahead to mineral supplementation is important.

Getting silage analysed for both energy and minerals is key. Farms that have had issues with pneumonia in weanlings and stores must ensure ventilation in sheds is good.

With housing being a key risk time for footrot farmers should talk to their vets about the use of footvax vaccine

Having a footbath protocol also helps where infectious lameness has been encountered during the winter months.

Sheep farmers can look ahead to housing and it is a great time to tackle lameness and particularly footrot issues.

With housing being a key risk time for footrot farmers should talk to their vets about the use of footvax vaccine. Also it is a key time to manage liver fluke in sheep and cattle.

Having a good plan can make for a better farming future.