Question 1

How much does agronomic consulting cost?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the type of work, the site visits and the analyses required: the quote is always tailored, after an initial discussion. As a rough guide, in Italy hourly consulting fees often range between about €50 and €150 per hour, while a survey or a project are priced as a whole.

Question 2

When is it worth hiring an agronomist?

Accepted Answer

Above all before important decisions: new plantings or crop changes, applying for grants and funding, yield or soil problems, buying or appraising land. An upfront analysis avoids costly mistakes and guides investments.

Question 3

Do you help with CAP applications, RDP/CSR grants and first-time setup?

Accepted Answer

Yes. I handle the farm file, the eligibility checks and the drafting of the technical reports and business plans supporting the applications, including the measures for young farmers (first-time setup), as well as keeping the registers.

Question 4

How often should soil analyses be repeated?

Accepted Answer

As good practice every 4–5 years on the same plot, and always before a new planting or a major investment. In nitrate vulnerable zones the analyses support the fertilisation plan required by the rules. Sampling well matters as much as analysing: the right georeferenced points, depths and timing.

Question 5

Can I fell a tree in my garden, or do I need a permit?

Accepted Answer

Often you need an authorisation or a notice to the Municipality: almost every Municipality has a Green Regulation governing felling, especially for trees above a certain girth. In areas under landscape protection a landscape authorisation is also required, and unauthorised felling exposes you to penalties. I prepare the application and any supporting survey.

Question 6

Who can carry out a tree stability survey (VTA), and when is it advisable?

Accepted Answer

A stability survey (VTA) is drawn up by an agronomist or forester registered with the professional board. It is advisable, and sometimes required by regulations or insurers, for trees in frequented areas, after intense weather events or in the event of a dispute.

Question 7

A tree looks unsafe: what should I do?

Accepted Answer

Have it assessed with a site visit and, if necessary, a VTA: the failure-propensity class is estimated and the interventions are indicated (pruning, bracing or felling). The owner bears a duty of care, so it is best not to delay.

Question 8

How far from the boundary can I plant trees and hedges?

Accepted Answer

Unless local regulations or customs provide otherwise, the Italian Civil Code (Art. 892) sets 3 metres for tall trees, 1.5 metres for smaller trees and half a metre for hedges, shrubs and fruit trees up to 2.5 m tall. I check case by case, including distances from roads and utilities.

Question 9

When is a landscape authorisation needed, and how long does it take?

Accepted Answer

It is required for works in areas under landscape protection (Legislative Decree 42/2004). The simplified procedure, for minor works, normally closes within about 60 days; the ordinary one can take up to 105. I draft the landscape report and follow the application.

Question 10

Do I need an authorisation to fell or manage a wood?

Accepted Answer

Yes: depending on the Region and the area involved, a notice or an authorisation is required, often with a felling plan signed by a qualified professional (agronomist or forester). Thresholds and procedures vary from area to area.

Question 11

In a condominium, who is responsible for the trees and who pays?

Accepted Answer

For trees in the common areas, the condominium is liable as custodian (Article 2051 of the Italian Civil Code), with costs shared by thousandths; for those in exclusive ownership, the individual owner is liable. To manage the risk, a stability survey by a qualified professional is needed.

Question 12

What are the municipal tree balance and the "tree for every newborn"?

Accepted Answer

Italian Law 10/2013 requires municipalities with more than 15,000 inhabitants to plant a tree for every newborn or adopted child, and the mayor to publish the municipal tree balance two months before the end of the term. A GIS-based green inventory is what makes these obligations manageable.

Question 13

What can a GIS analysis do for my business?

Accepted Answer

It turns territorial data into decisions: thematic maps, suitability analysis of an area (for a crop, a plant, an intervention) and knowledge frameworks for projects and applications. It combines soil, climate, slope and constraints on a cartographic basis.

Question 14

Can I use satellite or drone imagery to monitor my crops?

Accepted Answer

Yes. From multispectral imagery, vigour indices such as NDVI and NDRE are calculated, showing the condition of the crop and the variability within the field. From these, prescription maps are produced for variable-rate fertilisation and to optimise water and inputs.

Question 15

Can the environmental value or ecosystem services of an area be quantified?

Accepted Answer

Yes: carbon sequestration, water regulation, urban-heat-island mitigation and value for biodiversity can be estimated with recognised methods. These data are useful for grants, environmental offsets and sustainability reporting.

Question 16

Do I need a licence to fly a drone on my farm?

Accepted Answer

In most cases yes: for drones of 250 g and above you need operator registration on the d-flight portal, the online A1/A3 certificate and liability insurance; in farmland you typically fly in subcategory A3, away from uninvolved people. Alternatively, I carry out the survey with compliant equipment and credentials.

Agronomic consulting, urban green and appraisals for farms, public bodies and private clients.

Services

Agriculture & soil

Parks & gardens

Land

Applied research

Recent work

Mass assessment of 868 municipal trees

Works supervision along the Mella river

Green spaces for a new residential area in the upper valley

Two hackberries to be felled in a protected area

Landscape and agronomic design of the MIND Park

Rooftop photovoltaics on a farm with PNRR funds

How I work

Consultation

Site visit

Analysis

Outcome

Areas of work

Farm agronomic consulting

RDP / CSR, grants & funding

Soil analysis & management

Urban green & parks

Tree stability (VTA)

Plant-disease diagnosis & control

Irrigation systems

Works supervision & testing

Urban planning (PGT)

Green inventory (GIS)

Agro-energy feasibility studies

Appraisals & valuation surveys

The practice

Frequently asked questions

Agriculture

Parks & gardens

Land

Applied research

Contact