The plant and animal species need to be matched to the soil resource on a given landscape. The management level and forage production system also need to be adapted to match the soil resource base. The landscape indicates the soil types, water-runoff patterns, erosion potential, and air movement.
Cold air flows into swales, and ridgetops provide positive air movement in the summer.
The Soil Survey for your county will help you to identify the soil map unit and its characteristics that will affect your grazing system. Soils are assigned pasture and hayland suitability groups. Soils assigned the same suitability group require the same general management and have about the same potential productivity. The Pasture and Hayland Soil Suitability Groups include Group A that has few limitations affecting the management and growth of forage plants. Soils in Group B are limited by droughthiness because of sand and stones throughout the soil.