Reasons Why Steel Barns Are Ideal For Farming Storage Needs

Farmers and ranchers across states have to face extreme weather events like droughts, floods, hurricanes, and heat waves, disrupting plantations and harvesting schedules, damaging crops, and damaging water resources. Not only that, rising temperatures and shifts in weather patterns have increased the frequency of natural disasters, reduced crop yields, and made farming conditions harder as the day passes by. In these situations, metal farm buildings come in handy as a reliable storage solution for farm and ranch needs.

What Are Metal Farm Buildings?

These are barns made using steel frames (12 or 14-gauge thickness), metal panels (26 or 29-gauge thickness), and usually a concrete slab foundation for farm and ranch purposes. You can get it in many designs and layouts, such as the Carolina barn (wide and raised central aisle), the Seneca barn (single-slope roof), and the clear span (without any internal columns or walls).

For example, this 42x36 step down barn has a height of 15 ft. and comes with a vertical roof, vertical side and end wall panels, a walk-in door, four roll-up doors, and four windows. You can use it to store farm equipment, tools, and hay bales, or to keep a small herd of horses/ cattle.

1. Steel Is Super Strong And Built To Last

Steel barns can stand up to the harshest weather conditions, whether it is heavy rain, strong winds, or thick snow. But, unlike traditional wooden barns, steel does not rot, decay, warp, or crack with time, making repairs and replacements less frequent and the structure more durable.

A steel prefab farm building is coated with molten zinc to form a layer that protects it against rusting and corrosion. The process is called galvanizing, and once the coating is finished, you don't need to recoat it every year.

Some old barns might suffer from termite infestations, fire hazards, and weak panels due to sagging over time, but not steel. Once installed correctly, a steel farm barn can last for decades with minimal maintenance and occasional cleaning.

Farmers living in extreme weather-prone areas can choose certified steel buildings that can withstand strong winds of up to 180 mph or heavy snow loads of up to 80PSF to keep belongings safe.

2. Helps Weathering The Storms To Keep Things Safe And Dry

Metal farm barns provide a secure space that keeps everything safe, from valuable tools and machinery to crops and livestock. They are fire-resistant and don’t burn readily when coming in contact with fire, which gives them an edge over wooden structures.

Tight sealed roofs and walls prevent leaks, and proper insulation reduces the chances of moisture and humidity build-up. This makes steel hay barns ideal for storing tractors and their attachments, feeds, hay bales, haylage, etc. An insulation with the correct R-value will help control indoor temperature during heatwaves in summer and cold in winter, keeping livestock comfortable & healthy. 

3. Prefab Farm Building: Provide Room To Grow

Steel farm barns can be installed with a clear span design with large open spaces, which makes it easy to navigate and organize large farm vehicles and machinery. These clear span steel buildings can be as wide as up to 300 ft., giving enough room to install an on-farm food processing unit.

You can choose a steel structure to be up to 80 ft. tall or even more (depending on local building codes, guidelines, and land availability). This space can be easily converted into a storage facility for farm products like fruits, veggies, and crops. Install a mezzanine for extra storage within the square footage. 

Moreover, farmers can opt for modular metal farm buildings that come with removable end walls. So, once they need extra space, they can remove this wall, add more side wall panels to increase length, and close it back. This will give more space without the need to install a new barn.

A simpler way to increase the space of a barn will be to install lean-tos on either side, front, or back for open, shaded space that can hold frequently used tools and equipment, such as a spade, cleaning rack, wheelbarrow, etc. 

4. Saving Your Money In The Long Run

The initial cost of an agricultural steel building might be slightly higher than that of a conventional one, but it pays off in the long run due to its robust structure, higher built quality, and low upkeep needs. Farmers will face fewer issues like rotting wood and decaying panels, which saves thousands of dollars in savings.

Bugs and rodents are another problem a rancher has to face when sheltering their livestock. Mold spores and insects wander around manure and waste, feeding areas, waterers, and bedding. These can lead to severe health issues. Therefore, they need constant cleaning.

With metal Carolina barns, ranchers can improve ventilation and natural lighting, which help animals maintain their circadian rhythm, and need less cleaning as mold spores can’t penetrate deep into panels or frames. This reduces effort and saves time. 

5. Steel Buildings Are Easy And Fast To Build

Agricultural metal barns are known for their fast installation and efficient construction. The prefab parts are made in factories and assembled with precision on your farm, leading to minimal mess and a faster construction process.

Farmers can start using their barn early and tailor it to their specific needs, such as adding insulation to keep animals warm, ventilation for better air circulation, and other add-ons to accommodate growing needs. 

6. Environmentally Friendly Farming

Steel is one of the top recycled materials on this planet, making farming sustainable in many ways. An old structure can be melted down and repurposed for a new project, which reduces waste, supports environmentally friendly construction and reduces carbon footprint.

Due to precise measurement and manufacturing, there is often less leftover material compared to wood, which results in cutting and wastage. Farmers can opt for 12-gauge steel frames with 26-gauge roofing panels to support solar panels for generating electricity and reducing reliance on the grid.

Make Steel Barns The Backbone Of Your Farm's Success

An agricultural steel building is a smart investment for any farmer, rancher, or agribusiness owner, as it’s highly durable, versatile, and affordable. They can store and protect farm vehicles, equipment, crops, and livestock while adapting to the changing needs of modern farming. With these barns, you can secure essentials and choose to build a lasting solution that thrives in all conditions.