There are many reasons why each year, people register their own smallholding farm. Usually, it’s a labour of love and interest, something to fill the days with activity and joy. This is because you’ll hardly have the same amount of land and production feasibility as a commercial farm, nor the business registration to that level, but you may gain benefits such as a freezer full of quality meat or the ability to sell eggs to the community from time to time. Think of it as a much larger allotment.
If you have a few acres and the funding to support it, this can be a beautiful project to consider. Of course, it requires deep planning and care to pull off well and to meet all of the essential legislation. That being said, this is perfectly possible provided you’re willing to put the time in. Make sure you look for essential advice around building a small farm or smallholding to prepare for this process. Well-applied, it should help you ease into this situation with more care, and to prevent the range of mistakes that can easily be made.
Consider Shelter Needs For a Small Farm
You’ll need to shelter your farmyard animals, no matter if they are cows, sheep, chickens, or something less farmyard-like but no less important like a horse or pony. Field shelters can help you construct the best protection against the harsh elements, as well as providing a secure place to keep said animals safe and secure at night. It’s worth investing in high-quality shelters such as this because it will serve as the hub around which you structure the rest of your land management.
Running Your Own Small Farm : Protecting Your Land
It’s important to protect your land. With fences, some using barbed wire or electrified elements (to keep cattle in, for instance), as well as locked gates preventing theft of animals during the day or night – protecting your land is important. It can also be important to maintain the land such as using drainage pipes to protect against flooding. This can be a problem if dealing with steeper land or if you’re in a regularly wet environment. Protecting your land to this end can ensure that your animals have enough space, are safe within your borders, and that you can easily defend against encroachments on your land.
Medical Aids & Necessary Restrictions
So-called medical aids are important to follow, and will be outlined in the smallholding law and regulations you must contend with. For example, vaccinating your cattle or sheep is an important process, and may require the use of a third-party verification service to document, apply and log. This also goes with regular inspections of your property (usually once a year) in order to approve the number of animals you may have with you at any one time. It’s up to you to stay up to date with relevant rules and regs and to ensure that your animals are looked after in accordance with them.
If your dream is to run a small farm or smallholding make sure you know what you have to do legally, ethically and get advice to make this a project that is sustainable.
