Step 1. Map your ‘flows’
Meat & Livestock Australia December 13, 2023
Before you decide what to plant and where, you first need to identify resources and assets on your farm, and map your ‘flows’.
This includes:
- Determine where wind, water, nutrients, fauna, farm animals, farm equipment and workers move across the farm.
- Map soils, land classes, drainage lines, farm dams, inundated areas, laneways, steep areas, unproductive or poorly-drained areas, existing native or planted vegetation, paddock trees, water points and other infrastructure, and local government and heritage planning overlays.
- Plan your desired pasture and grazing management, paddock structure (size and layout), farm access, and future fence lines.
Drawing these ‘flows’ up on a property map is a good way of visualising areas that may or may not be appropriate for plantings. Keep this map and add to it in subsequent steps.
Not sure where to start? Whole farm planning courses are available through Agriculture Victoria, NSW local land services, local organisations (Shires, Councils, CMAs), and online training.