By the end of this chapter, you will be able to: - accurately analyse farm conditions to meet the needs of the job - determine the space requirements and relationships between farm components to suit the job - draw a farm plan layout that considers efficiency, future expansion, the farmer’s preferences, and environmental impacts
Mastering these skills will help you create practical and sustainable farm plans that make a real difference in agricultural success.
Compiled by: James Ogutu
Developing a farm plan is a critical step in ensuring the efficient and sustainable use of land resources. It involves careful consideration of various factors including land characteristics, resource availability, and intended agricultural activities. In Kenya, where agriculture supports a significant portion of the population, farm planning helps optimize productivity and manage risks associated with climate variability and market changes. This chapter provides a detailed exploration of farm plan development applicable across different sectors and professional fields.
A farm plan is the starting point for every farm structure. Before a cattle shed, goat house, feed store or manure pit is built, the farmer or technician decides what the farm will produce, which structures are needed, where they will stand and how the land, water and access routes will be shared among them. A plan made on paper costs little to correct, while a structure built in the wrong place is costly to move and may cause drainage, disease or safety problems for years. This topic covers the terms used in farm planning, the types of farm plans and the analysis of farm conditions that guides the siting of structures. The sizes of the structures themselves and the drawing of the final layout are covered in Determination of space requirements of farm components and Farm plan layout.
Clear terms let the farmer, the technician and the builder talk about the same thing. These are the terms used throughout farm planning.
Farm plans differ in how far ahead they look and in what they show. A farm usually needs more than one type.
A strategic farm plan states the long-term aims of the farm, such as expanding a dairy herd, adding a goat enterprise or planting fodder on unused land. It looks several years ahead and shows which structures will be added and in what order. Example: a farmer with a small dairy unit plans over five years to add a calf pen, a hay store and a biogas digester.
A tactical farm plan covers the medium term, usually a season or a year. It breaks the strategic aims into activities, resources and budgets, such as the structures to be built this year and the labour and materials they need.
An operational farm plan sets out the work of each day or week: feeding, milking, cleaning, repairs and the use of each structure. Example: a weekly plan that shows when each goat pen is cleaned and when the manure is moved to the pit.
A contingency farm plan prepares the farm for events that may disrupt production, such as drought, flooding, a disease outbreak or fire. It states what the farm will do, for example where animals will be moved if a river floods the lower paddock.
A physical farm plan, or farm map, is a drawing of the farm as it is or as it will be, showing boundaries, structures, roads, water and fields to scale. It is the plan from which structures are positioned and is developed further when the farm plan layout is prepared.
Analysing farm conditions means studying the physical and practical features of the farm before deciding where each structure will stand. The analysis is done by walking the farm, taking measurements and looking at maps, then recording the findings. Each condition below affects either the cost of building, the health of the animals or the ease of daily work.
Rainfall, temperature and the direction of the rains decide how much roof, drainage and shade the structures need. A farm with heavy rains needs large roof overhangs and drains, while a hot, dry farm needs shaded resting areas and good ventilation.
The reliability and distance of the water supply from a river, borehole, spring or rainwater tank decide where livestock units and troughs can be placed. A pig unit uses a large amount of water for drinking and for washing the pens, so it is sited close to a dependable source.
The labour available on the farm and the distance to markets affect which enterprises and structures the farm can run. A unit that sells eggs or live animals needs a route along which the produce can be delivered quickly, and a unit with few workers needs structures that are easy to clean and manage.
Topography is the shape of the land: its slope, height and drainage. Structures are placed on ground that is gently sloping or level but well drained, so that rainwater flows away from the buildings and does not form mud around the entrances. Steep slopes cause erosion and make foundations costly, while low flat ground may flood. Livestock structures are sited on ground lower than the water source, and drains lead the runoff from the manure area away from fields and water points.
The prevailing wind carries smell, dust and disease-causing organisms. Livestock houses are placed downwind of the farmer's home and of the milk handling area, so that odour and flies are blown away from them. The long side of an open-sided house is turned to receive the cooling breeze in a hot area, while a strong cold wind is blocked with a windbreak of trees or a solid wall on the exposed side.
The soil decides how strong the foundation is and how well the site drains. Well-drained loam and sandy soils carry a building well. Black cotton soils swell when wet and shrink when dry, so they crack walls and floors and need special foundations or another site. Rocky ground is costly to dig, and very sandy soil may need to be compacted. A soil test or a trial pit shows what lies under the surface before the site is chosen.
A structure must be reachable in all seasons by the people, vehicles and animals that use it. A feed store and a produce store need a road that a lorry or a pick-up can use after heavy rain, while a goat house needs a path along which animals can be led to pasture and to the crush or spray race. Access for a veterinary officer in an emergency is also considered when the site is chosen.
Structures that depend on each other are placed close enough for easy work but far enough apart to prevent contamination. The feed store is near the animal houses, and the milking parlour is next to the cow shed. The manure pit and the dip are kept away from the milk room and the water source. The farm house is upwind of the animal houses, and a hay store is separated from other buildings to reduce the spread of fire.
Security protects animals, feed, tools and people from theft, predators and unauthorised entry. A perimeter fence with a gate, a night house for small stock such as goats, lockable stores, lighting near the animal houses and a position visible from the homestead all improve safety. The farm analysis records where the weak points are, such as a boundary on a footpath or a forest edge where predators enter.
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Create a free accountThis chapter explored the process of developing a comprehensive farm plan, beginning with the clarification of key terms related to farm planning. Various types of farm plans were examined, highlighting their distinct purposes and applications. The analysis of farm conditions was detailed, covering critical factors such as topography, wind direction, soil type, accessibility, the location of related structures, and security considerations, all of which influence effective farm layout decisions. The chapter then addressed how to determine the space requirements for different farm components, ensuring efficient use of available land. Finally, the chapter discussed the principles of farm plan layout, emphasizing the importance of strategic arrangement to optimize productivity and resource management. Together, these topics provide a structured approach to designing a functional and sustainable farm environment.
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