by Maryland Department of Agriculture Office of Resource Conservation (first published in the October 2024 Equiery)
Before purchasing land or beginning improvements to an existing property, plan a visit to your local Soil Conservation District (SCD) office. The professional staff at your local SCD can help you understand the limitations of your property before you spend a lot of time and money. They can develop a conservation plan that will help you achieve your goals and work with the natural resources on your property.
UNDERSTANDING AGRICULTURAL ASSESSMENTS
Assessment is the value of the real property given by the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT). This value is used to calculate real property taxes. To receive and maintain the agricultural assessment from SDAT, the property must be actively used for agricultural or farm purposes. SDAT information is publicly available and can be found here: https://sdat.dat.maryland.gov/RealProperty
ZONING AND PERMITS
In each county, every parcel of land is subject to zoning laws that determine how the land can be used and what public facilities and amenities are needed to provide service to the community. Depending on the zoning of the property, some agricultural practices may require permits. Contact your local SCD office for advice and for a copy of A Farmer’s Guide to Environmental Permits. This guide explains most federal and state permits. For more county specific information, contact your local county zoning office.
HOW MUCH PASTURE DOES A PROPERTY REALLY HAVE?
Consider how much land is currently or can be devoted to pasture. Factors that will limit the amount of pasture or increase the amount of management include poor draining soil types, steep slopes, presence of water such as streams, wetlands or areas that lie wet consistently. Will there be enough land to rotate animals between pastures, allowing forage to recover after grazing? Contact your local SCD to discuss an appropriate stocking rate (animals per acre) before purchasing a farm property.
WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH THE MANURE?
One horse can produce around 50 lbs of manure per day. Is there enough land to spread the composted manure your horses will produce, or will you need to stockpile manure to be hauled away? Is there an appropriate area away from the barn, neighbors, and water sources to stockpile manure? Will you have the ability and equipment to compost your manure and spread it on your pastures? All of this should be considered and discussed with your local SCD before purchasing your farm.
For more information on managing your horse farm, visit the Horse Outreach Workgroup (HOW) website at https://mda.maryland.gov/resource_conservation/Pages/horse_pasture_manure_info.aspx