Build the farm yard for the heaviest movement.

Map equipment movement before paving limits.

The yard should be understood as routes, turning zones, loading areas and transitions—not one undifferentiated rectangle.

List the heaviest regular vehicles, how often they enter, where they turn, where they stop and whether seasonal operations change the traffic pattern. Include trailers, tankers, loaders, forklifts and service vehicles where relevant.

Base questions begin with existing ground.

The visible gravel may include multiple generations of fill and maintenance. Rutting, pumping, contamination, buried organics and soft pockets can affect what preparation is appropriate. There is no single base detail that can be selected from vehicle weight alone.

Design the water route with the vehicle route.

Ditches, culverts, wash water, roof discharge and flat field grades can interact with a paved yard. Water should not be directed toward buildings or trapped at busy thresholds. On Sumas Prairie properties, describe known wet-season conditions even when the assessment occurs in dry weather.

Protect shoulders where wheels travel.

Farm traffic may approach edges closely or leave the asphalt during turns. Shoulder support, ditch proximity and transition geometry are important parts of the brief. The safest paved shape is not always the smallest possible outline.