Knowing the Land You’re Working On

Why reading country matters before you start clearing, cleaning up or opening new ground

Out here, the land does most of the talking.

If you’ve grown up on your place, you probably know it without even thinking about it. You know where the water runs after a big storm. Which paddock dries out first? Which corner always cuts up when it’s wet? Where the scrub keeps creeping back, no matter how many times you push it out?

That kind of knowledge doesn’t come from a manual. It comes from time on the land. From getting bogged down, breaking things, fixing them, and slowly building a picture in your head of how your country behaves.

But sometimes the land is new to you.

Maybe you’ve just bought a block or taken on a new lease. Or you’re bringing ground back into production that hasn’t been worked properly in years. From the gate, it might look simple enough. A bit of regrowth here, fallen timber there, paddocks that just need “a tidy up”.

Then you get in amongst it and realise the country has a personality of its own.

That’s where a lot of time, fuel, and frustration can be saved by slowing down at the start and understanding what you’re really working with before jumping straight into clearing, clean-ups or new development.

We talk to landholders every week who are tackling all sorts of country. Sandy flats. Heavy soil. Red dirt ridges. Thick regrowth. Storm-damaged blocks. And one thing always rings true - no two properties work the same, and no two land jobs should be tackled the same way.

Every block has its own personality…

Some country is wide open and forgiving. You can cover ground quickly, take long clean runs, and get big jobs done in short order.

Other blocks are tight, timbered, and full of old roots. Some paddocks look firm on top but have soft patches hiding underneath. Some areas have shallow soil sitting over rock. Others hold moisture longer than you’d expect.

Even neighbouring properties can behave completely differently with just small changes in soil type, slope, or drainage.

Understanding these differences helps you plan:

• How wide you can safely work

• Where tighter turning is needed

• How much material you’ll really be shifting

• Where soft or rocky patches might slow you down

• How often maintenance clean-ups will be needed

It’s not just about getting the job done. It’s about getting it done efficiently, safely, and without unnecessary wear on your machinery.

 Old country knowledge vs new country learning…

If you’ve been on the same place for years, most of this becomes instinct. You automatically adjust how you work each paddock. You know when to hold back and when to push on. You time work around the weather because you know how your soil responds.

But if the land is new to you, you’re still learning all of that.

That’s why, before starting major clearing or clean-up work, it pays to spend time walking the ground. Watch how water sits after rain. Notice where grass grows thick or struggles. Look at the vegetation - old timber, young regrowth, or storm-damaged debris all tell you different stories about what’s underneath.

Talking to neighbours who’ve worked the area for years can be just as valuable. They’ll often point out old drainage lines, bog holes, buried fence lines, or areas that have always been tricky.

It’s simple knowledge - but it can save costly surprises.

Soil type changes everything…

If you’ve worked different country, you’ll know soil makes or breaks a job.

Light sandy soils behave one way. Heavy clay behaves another. Black soil plains, red ridges, and hard-setting ground all work differently again.

Soil affects:

• Machine traction

• Ground bearing strength

• Risk of bogging

• How debris sits on the surface

• How roots hold in the ground

• How regrowth returns after clearing

Push heavy clay when it’s wet, and you’ll know about it quickly. Work sandy soil too hard, and erosion becomes an issue.

Understanding your soil means:

• Timing works better

• Choosing the right attachment width

• Adjusting how aggressively you clear

• Reducing wear on machines

Australian land management organisations like Local Land Services NSW and Landcare Australia both highlight soil awareness as a key part of sustainable land management - particularly in Central West NSW conditions.

You can explore their practical guidance here:

Local Land Services NSW - Soil & land management
https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au

Landcare Australia - Sustainable land practices
https://landcareaustralia.org.au

Water always win…

One thing the land never hides for long is water.

After a decent rain, you’ll quickly see:

• Where water runs

• Where it pools

• Where erosion starts

• Where tracks wash out

Ignoring drainage when clearing or developing new ground is one of the fastest ways to create long-term problems. Washed-out tracks. Eroded slopes. Waterlogged paddocks.

That’s why understanding slope and drainage before you start makes such a difference. Sometimes, leaving vegetation in the right places protects soil and waterways. Sometimes, reshaping access tracks early saves years of repair later.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries has helpful resources on soil, erosion, and vegetation management that many landholders use when planning larger works:
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au

Good land management isn’t just about today’s job - it’s about protecting the productivity of your block long term.

Clearing and clean-ups aren’t one-size-fits-all…

After storms, you might be dealing with fallen limbs and scattered timber.

When opening new ground, it might be thick regrowth and old roots.

Before harvest, it might be sticks and debris that need clearing for machinery access.

Each job needs a slightly different approach. And each one works better when the tool on the front of your loader matches the conditions you’re working in.

Too small and you’re doing double the passes. Too big and you’re fighting tight corners and uneven ground.

That’s why most conversations we have at AARCH start with simple questions:

• What sort of country are you on?

• Flat or undulating?

• Heavy timber or light regrowth?

• Open paddocks or tight access areas?

Because once you understand the land, the right attachment choice becomes obvious.

Built for real Australian country…

By the time you’ve spent a bit of time reading your country, the next step becomes clearer - choosing tools that suit the conditions you’re working in.

Open paddocks with lighter debris call for a different approach than tight regrowth blocks. Heavy storm clean-ups need strength and control. New ground needs something that can handle roots, sticks, and uneven terrain without folding up.

That’s why we build our AARCH stick rakes and loader attachments right here in Narromine, NSW. Not because everyone needs more options - but because no two blocks work the same.

Some landholders need wider coverage to get through big open areas quickly. Others need tighter setups to work around fences, troughs, and timber. Some are doing seasonal maintenance. Others are opening brand new ground.

Matching the attachment to the land makes the job faster, safer, and easier on your machine. Simple as that.

Storm season changes everything overnight…

Anyone in Australia knows how quickly a property can change after a storm.

One afternoon of high wind and rain can mean:

• Fallen timber

• Scattered debris

• Washed-out tracks

• Blocked access

Storm clean-ups are rarely neat. Debris hides hazards. Soft ground slows machines. Access becomes tricky.

Knowing how your land behaves after rain - where soft patches form, where water lingers - makes these clean-ups faster and safer.

And it’s one of the biggest reasons landholders value strong, simple attachments that can handle unpredictable conditions without fuss.

Learning from local knowledge…

One of the best tools you’ll ever have isn’t made of steel - it’s local knowledge.

Neighbours who’ve worked the area for years know:

• Where water has always run

• Which paddocks bog first

• Where old infrastructure sits

• Where past clearing created regrowth issues

A five-minute chat can save hours of rework later.

Letting the land teach you…

The longer you work on a property, the more you realise the land is always teaching you something. Sometimes it teaches gently. Sometimes it teaches the hard way.

Either way, the land always has the final say.

• Read the soil.

• Watch the water.

• Learn the vegetation.

• Plan your work.

• Match your tools.

Do that, and your land will look after you for the long haul.

If you’re planning clearing, clean-ups or opening new ground, take a bit of time to read the land first. It’ll save you fuel, frustration, and rework down the track.

And if you ever want a straight answer on what attachment might suit your country and your loader, give me a call. Always happy to have a chat and point you in the right direction.
Ross

If you want to dig a bit deeper into land and soil management in our region, these are genuinely useful resources:

Australian Government - Managing Soil & Erosion
https://www.agriculture.gov.au/ag-farm-food/natural-resources/soils

Central West Local Land Services region info
https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/regions/central-west