Annual Sustainability Review

Why do an annual sustainability review?

Day to day, small farms run on urgency. Animals need feeding, weeds need pulling and weather forces decisions. Without a pause, problems like thin pasture, compacted soil, rising costs and worn-out people can build for years before anyone names them.

A yearly review gives you a planned moment to look at what worked, what did not and what to change. It does not need special software or a consultant. A notebook, some photos and a quiet afternoon are enough.

If you are just starting out, the first review can be simple. Even a single page listing what went well and what went wrong gives you a baseline to build on.

When and how should I do it?

Pick a slow season, often late fall or winter in many regions, and put the date on the calendar. Gather your notes, receipts, photos, weather records and any production numbers. Walk the property with the notes in hand, since seeing the land often brings up things records miss.

Invite family members or farm helpers to take part. People who share the work often see different problems, such as safety hazards or time pinch points.

• Choose a slow season and block out the time
• Gather records, photos and receipts
• Walk the property before you sit down to write
• Include everyone who shares the work

What should I check on the land and water?

Look at soil cover, bare patches, erosion, compaction and pasture condition. Think about where water goes during heavy rain and in drought, and whether any area is eroding or polluting a stream or pond. A soil test is the best way to know your fertility, and your extension office can explain how to collect and interpret samples.

Review how fertilizer, manure and chemicals were used, following labels and any local rules. Look for places where you can reduce inputs, add cover, or protect water.

Take photographs of problem areas and good areas from the same spots each year, so future reviews show change clearly. Mark the spots on a map.

What should I check on animals, plants and wildlife?

For animals, consider health records, losses, stocking rates, pasture rest periods and your veterinarian's advice. Ask whether you kept more animals than your land and time could support. For crops and gardens, review yields, pests, rotations and what you would change.

For wildlife and habitat, note what you saw and where. Count the habitat features you maintain, such as hedgerows, water and brush piles. Decide which small additions would help most next year.

Be honest about the animals and crops that did not do well. A loss is information, and ignoring it repeats the cost. If animals died or were ill, discuss patterns with your veterinarian.

What about energy, waste and equipment?

List the main sources of energy you use, such as fuel, electricity and firewood, and see where use rose or fell. Look for waste of feed, water, packaging, plastic and time. Review equipment condition and whether anything is unsafe, overdue for service or no longer worth keeping.

Check that safety equipment, first aid supplies, fire extinguishers and emergency plans are current. Safety belongs in a sustainability review because an injury can end a farm faster than any weather.

Give some thought to waste streams as well, such as manure, bedding, plastic wrap, feed sacks and worn-out materials, and whether any can be reused, composted or reduced.

How do money, time and people fit in?

A farm that burns out its people or its budget is not sustainable. Review your costs by category, such as feed, seed, fuel, repairs, vet care, insurance, fees and supplies, and compare them with what the farm produced or saved. Ask honestly whether the workload is manageable and whether anything should be dropped, simplified or shared.

For financial, tax or legal questions, ask a qualified professional. Your extension office and farm service agency can point you to beginning farmer resources.

Ask who does what on the farm, and whether the workload is shared fairly. A plan that depends on one tired person is not sustainable.

How do I turn the review into a plan?

Pick a short list of changes, ideally three to five, with a person and a season attached to each. Write down how you will know it worked. Keep the list visible, and review progress partway through the year.

Store the review with your records and compare it next year. Over time you will see patterns, and the farm will gradually become easier to run.

Keep the final list short enough to finish. A short list that gets done beats a long list that gets abandoned.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Homestead & Small Farm Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.