The PastureMap team recommends performing all major mapping of your ranch to be completed using a computer with a mouse or a laptop, as you will have more control over boundary placement, creating your permanent internal boundaries, and the ability to upload a KML file of your ranch.
Additionally, your local county appraiser’s website may allow you to download a KML of your property.
What is a KML?
Keyhole Markup Language, or KML, is a digital mapping file format that is used to display geographic data using polygon shapes. If you receive an error when uploading your KML file, it is because there are one to all polygons missing. If you need assistance, please contact support with your parcel IDs and the KML you are trying to upload.
Mapping on PastureMap (desktop)
When mapping your property on the desktop, hello.pasturemap.com/login, you have two options. The mapping process visuals are at the bottom of this article.
Option 1:
- Upload the KML file of your property.
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- Add Items to Map > Import KML > Select KML file from your computer > Upload > Allow KML to completely upload
- If all permanent internal boundaries are already identified and pastures are named correctly, you are finished with mapping at this point. If not, please continue to step 2.
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- After successfully uploading the exterior boundaries of your property:
- Select the property, in the item summary’s top right corner select the pencil and Adjust Boundaries, then zoom in on your exterior boundaries to ensure they are on your fence lines. Once completed, click the green save button.
- Next, select the property so the item summary opens and select Subdivide. Begin mapping out your internal boundaries. Once completed, click save. (Successful subdivisions will make the original pasture’s color change.)
- After all internal boundaries have been mapped and saved, click on a subdivision to open the item summary, and then locate the convert to pasture button.
- Rename the pastures to what you call them for the best experience and to ensure clear communication with you and your team.
Option 2:
- Add Items to Map > Draw Pasture > Locate your property on the map > Continue to Step 2:
- Manually draw the exterior boundary of your entire property and save the pasture.
- Select the property, in the item summary’s top right corner select the pencil and Adjust Boundaries, then zoom in on your exterior boundaries to ensure they are on your fence lines. Once completed, click the green save button.
- Next, select the property so the item summary opens and select Subdivide. Begin mapping out your internal boundaries. Once completed, click save. (Successful subdivisions will make the original pasture’s color change.)
- After all internal boundaries have been mapped and saved, click on a subdivision to open the item summary, and then locate the convert to pasture button.
- Rename the pastures to what you call them for the best experience and ensure clear communication with you and your team.
If you have non-contiguous pastures, you will repeat the above process until you have mapped your entire ranch.
Mapping Process visual:
- Draw the external boundary of your ranch or upload the external KML boundary.
- Click on the ranch, then click the subdivide button to begin drawing your internal boundaries.
As you begin to draw your subdivision lines (internal permanent boundaries) you should see different colors.
- After all internal boundaries are identified, click next and then begin renaming the “subdivisions” (pastures) to what you actually call your pastures and click next and save.
- Select a subdivision (pasture) and select Convert to Pastures to turn the subdivisions into permanent boundaries.
Double check the names of the pasture as you click next and save.
Your map after converting to pasture.
- Remove all non-grazable acres by drawing subdivision boundaries around the non-grazable areas using as few subdivision lines as possible.
Convert the non-grazable and grazable subdivisions to pasture.
Delete the non-grazable section.
Repeat this step until all pastures with non-grazable areas have been removed.
- Final Map with Pasture Names displayed.