1.   AGRICULTURAL PLANNING

In agricultural production it is necessary to make various short and long-term plans. The greater the expenditures connected with some activity the more carefully it must be considered.

For example fertilizing and plant protection plans, as well as animal feeding and breeding plans may be considered as short-term plans. Also applying for a loan for sowing needs short-term planning. Crop rotation, long-term investments, erecting buildings and constructions, buying real property, etc. need long-term planning.

In accordance with the Planning and Building Act (RT /State Gazette/ I 1995, 59, 1006; 1996, 36, 738; 49, 953; 1999, 27, 380; 29, 398 and 339; 95, 843), construction of new buildings and making additions to the existing buildings, is permitted only on the basis of design criteria issued by local governments. 

A small one-story building without a basement and occupying an area of up to twelve square metres, which is not used for residential purposes and which has no technical or public functions, can be constructed on a written permission of the local government, and there is no need for building design documentation, a building permit, permit for use or construction supervision.

In the course of designing farm buildings, a plan of the farm-yard which indicates the location of principal farm buildings and utility constructions and provides primary data and criteria for their design shall be prepared together with the design documentation for the first farm building.

The farmyard plan must be designed in such a way that the buildings and utility constructions shall make a whole. The production buildings of the farm shall be located in the production zone and the residential buildings in the residential zone. 

Possible changes in the future (increase in the production volume, etc.) as well as fire safety regulations, environmental protection requirements, heritage preservation, rules set by the Road Administration and other institutions must be taken into account when designing the farmyard plan.

To form integrity, the architectural design of farm buildings ought to be in harmony with other buildings. The proportions, details and materials used ought to be as similar as possible, the roofs in the same style and with the same slope (in Estonia the gable roof is to be preferred).

The location of the buildings shall be chosen taking into account the relief to prevent runoff of surface water into manure storage facilities and silage depots or against the basement of buildings. 

The residential zone of the farm shall be planned on an area situated higher than the production zone. Animal housing shall be built on an area lower than the residential zone, manure storage facilities and other utility constructions even lower.

The location of animal housing and other production facilities, which may emit unpleasant odours, ought to be chosen so that the prevailing winds are taken into account, i.e. they ought to be situated before the wind regarding the residential zone. Manure storage facilities, silage, slurry and urine depots as well as compost heaps in their turn ought to be situated before the wind regarding the animal housing. Southwestern and western winds are prevailing in Estonia. 

Figure 1. Farmyard plan

If a farm is located in the vicinity of a densely populated area, production technologies, which cause as little odors as possible, must be chosen.

Farm roads must be durable and resistant to climatic factors.

The width of the merging lane should be at least 3,5 meters. There must be special areas with enough space for big lorries (milk lorries, etc.) to turn around without difficulties. Farm roads where tractors, agricultural machines, etc. move should not cross the residential area. There should be a direct road from the manure storage facility to the fields.