THE MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL
Farm Stewardship presented by
A Few Things to Consider When Buying a Horse Farm by Maryland Department of Agriculture Offi ce of Resource Conservation
Before purchasing land or beginning improvements to an existing
property, plan a visit to your local Soil Conservation District (SCD) of- fi ce. T e professional staff at your local SCD can help you understand the limitations of your property before you spend a lot of time and money. T ey 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). T is value is used to calculate real property taxes. To receive and maintain the agri- cultural 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 deter- mine 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 offi ce for advice and for a copy of A Farmer’s Guide to Envi- ronmental Permits. T is guide explains most federal and state permits. For more county specifi c information, contact your local county zoning offi ce.
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 appropri- ate 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 con- sidered 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/re- source_conservation/Pages/
horse_pasture_manure_info.aspx
Learn more at
MDA.MARYLAND.GOV/HOW
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717-529-6853 44 | OCTOBER 2024 | THE EQUIERY YOUR MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL PUBLICATION 800-244-9580 |
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