One of the most important elements of successful farming is having the right land for what the farmer wants to do. What are the soils like? Where are the watering systems? What shape is the barn in? What was on the property before now, and what’s still there?
Because getting the right information is important for the sustainability of any operation, we are delighted that Land Access and New Farmer Coordinator Ben Waterman is once again able to conduct Farmland Assessments to help farmers understand the capacity of land under consideration. Doing this means that…
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Aspiring, relocating and established farmers and landowners can identify important issues concerning the potential productivity of their farms.
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Farmers and landowners can save time and money by avoiding common pitfalls in establishing new enterprises on new parcels.
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Farmers, landowners and service providers are empowered with various assessment methods so they can continue to refine their understanding of land, water and infrastructure potential well into the future.
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Farmers have the significant leverage of more knowledge at one of the most critical points in their enterprise - when they’re first setting up.
Ben says, “I think farmers get a lot out of walking the land with another set of eyes and mind towards interpreting the natural resource base. They find if they take just a couple of hours to do an assessment, they can potentially save countless hours down the road by avoiding common pitfalls and making the most of what’s available from a soils, water and infrastructure perspective."
To help new enterprises get started on the right foot, Ben offers:
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Guidance with online mapping and other online assessment tools and resources.
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Help with soil testing protocols and interpreting test results.
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A site visit including in-depth land, water and/or infrastructure analysis from the farm assessment specialist.
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Appropriate referrals to other agricultural service providers.
- When possible: a written summary of findings for future reference.
Do you need help with your land or with your new enterprise? Let us know!