Land Management

Land management allows the farm owner to achieve maximum productivity while having the smallest impact on the environment and natural resources. It increases profits while at the same time lowering costs. Understanding a few basic principals will allow the farm owner to experience a number of benefits.

Developing a Land Management Plan

Any land owner needs a management plan. Before developing your plan, take time to look around. Make a sketch and take a few notes about your property. In your sketch note:

Property boundaries
Fences and corrals
Buildings
Wells (human or stock)
Septic systems
Streams, wetlands and ponds
Bare or muddy ground
Weeds
Lawn, pasture or cropland
Trees or shrubs
Soil type
Depth to groundwater
Neighboring land uses
Flat or sloped ground

Define your Property Goals

What do you want to do with your land? What can your land support? Questions to answer may include:

Will you graze livestock? How many?
What about wildlife habitat?
How can you maintain good water quality?
Healthy fish?
Healthy forests?
Native plants?
Crops?

You may need to modify some of your goals, since they may not be realistic for your property.

Make a plan for your land

Once you've looked at your property and identified your goals, you need to develop a management plan for reaching your goals. Remember, even if your like things just the way they are, you will need to do something to keep weeds from coming in or to keep the water clean.

A sound land management plan based on soil and water conservation techniques can:

Save money as your land becomes more productive
Conserve natural resources for you, your animals and your neighbors
Increase your property values
Enhance open space and wildlife habitat
Improve plant and animal health
Make your property more attractive and promote good neighbor relations
Promote the health and safety of your family

These pages are meant to provide useful information on developing the many different parts of your land management plan.