Rural Property with Action Steel sheds

9 Tips For Improving Your Rural Property

Land can be a valuable asset and, when farming, an asset you certainly can’t do without. 

Here are 9 tips for improving your rural property

1. Regular maintenance

Maintaining your rural property makes your farm a safer living and working environment.

A schedule including regularly checking and maintaining fences, firebreaks and roads can help to ensure upkeep.

Provision should also be made to eliminate environmental hazards, paying attention to proper disposal of chemical containers and being aware of any underground tanks.

2. Pay attention to appearance

Along with general maintenance around the property, attention should be given to the appearance of the property.

This could include simple repair jobs and the removal of rubbish and outdated buildings.

As well as improving living and working conditions, a tidy, well-kept and aesthetically pleasing property has a higher perceived value.

3. Consider planting native trees and shrubs

Planting native vegetation on your rural property has many advantages.

Planned placement of native trees and shrubs can protect your livestock from the wind, prevailing weather and the effects of extreme temperatures.

Interestingly, a recent study by Australian researchers, published in the American Journal of Agriculture found that native vegetation also increased the value of rural properties, with buyers in central Victoria being prepared to pay more for land with native vegetation than land without it. One of the reasons being the attraction of native species to the property as well as making the property more private.

Rural Property with Action Steel sheds

4. Adequate drainage

Good drainage can improve both land quality and value. It is particularly important if the land is prone to flooding.

Options include underground drain tiles that can help make land more sustainable for farming and grazing.

5. Maintaining nutrient levels

Soil fertility can be increased and maintained by monitoring levels of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus in the soil.

Frequent soil tests help determine whether fertiliser needs to be applied or if surplus needs to be absorbed.

6. Combat erosion

If erosion is an issue, techniques like no-till farming can help decrease the amount of soil erosion that occurs.

Maintaining organic matter in the soil can also help the soil retain moisture. Read about the importance of organic matter in soil, here.

Three 64m x 24m x 7.5m open-front hay sheds

7. Invest in good infrastructure

There are many benefits of having sheds on your rural property.

For example, a hay shed is a versatile investment. A hay shed not only protects your hay, but in the off-season it can also keep your machinery out of the weather, ensuring a higher resale value for your machinery in the future.

For reasons like this, heavy-duty, fully hot dip galvanised sheds can increase the value of your property when it comes time to sell.

8. Maintain access points to your property

Make sure any gateways or entrances to your property are well-kept and visible.

Driveways and any roads on your property should also be maintained and able to accommodate large vehicle traffic.

This makes your property more practical and accessible as well as making the property attractive to investors.

9. Keep records

It is important to record any changes or improvements made to your property.

Records could include tile maps, soil and yield maps, drainage information and building permits.

Accurate and up to date records can be used in research to help determine what other changes or improvements should be made to the property.

These can also be shown to potential buyers if you are thinking about selling.

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