2.  Efficiency  Safe, pleasant, productive  Environmental control

3.  weather  geography  materials handling Whether new or old -  consider entire farmstead  possible future changes

4.  Topography: Is it suitable (flats) for crop production and cattle grazing or  (hilly) for tree plantations, orchards and vineyards?  Availability of natural resources: Sufficient running water for cattle and  sheep; what about a river for irrigation purposes?  Location of the farm: How far is it from a market (fresh fruit and vegetables)  or silo (maize, sunflower and wheat crops)?  Farming practices: The availability of workers must also be taken into  account as fresh fruit, vegetables, citrus and vines need more labourers  (handpicking) than cattle farming.  Different enterprise possibilities: Sufficient rainfall, soil type, daylight hours  and temperature to yield crops, or rather cattle breeding (Bushveld) where it  is too dry and warm for crops?  The availability of capital: Aid from the government, Bank loans or Contract  based?  The preference\experience of the farmer/owner (in a lesser degree) will also  influence decision-making.

5. Do not forget factors such as:-  Intensity and direction of the wind,  Average monthly minimum and maximum temperatures  What time does the sun rise and set through the seasons?  What is average annual vapour-transpiration rate of an area?  What is the average humidity throughout the year?  These factors must therefore be integrated in such a way to ensure a sustained farming enterprise. To accomplish this task, the farmer will have to do some planning at first. Planning though, can not be done without knowledge

6.  To evaluate the farm in its whole, it will be necessary to draw a map indicating the farm’s topography, boundaries as well as soil and water resources.  This is essential information needed in the planning process when selecting a site for a specific purpose, e.g. building a dam or waterway; the lay out of a new land etc.  North –eastern slopes are preferred for maximum sunlight, warmth and protection from winds.  Slopes do have a tendency to erosion and need to be cultivated with care. Soil erosion can be prevented by not using slopes with a gradient of more than 7º when cultivating for crops.

7. Pay attention to the following when production sites are selected  Soil types, soil depth and fertility  Drainage of the soil  Availability of water  the natural vegetation  Access to the area

8.  During the process of selecting an enterprise on the farm one will also take into account the information regarding natural resources and the specific needs for the different enterprises.  The natural resource base must be able to sustain the selected enterprise. The following should be taken into account:  Water flow onto and off the farm.  Terrestrial (land) and aquatic (water) living organis found on the farm.  Expected biomass to be removed from farm and required inputs to replace the loss

9.  A Farm layout refers to the compiling of physical structures such as homesteads, outbuildings, waterways, contours, camps, water supply roads and the layout of orchards, vineyards or lands.  However, the area where the farm is situated, the topography, the availability of natural resources, the farming practices, the different enterprises,the availability of capital and the preference of the farmer/owner will also affect the farm layout.