Summary:

The current state of rural area development results from agricultural activity carried out in specific natural, economical and political conditions. Supporting the development of rural areas with EU funds encourages farmers to take a broader interest in undertaking activities aiming at improvement of spatial conditions in which their farms function. The spatial structure of rural areas is to be developed within the so-called "rural surveying" projects, with land consolidation as a top priority. The proper performance of these projects is based on updated, reliable and easily available information about the current state con-cerning soil conditions, the lay of the land, water conditions as well as the owner-ship and usufruct structure. The knowledge of agricultural land and its quality, expressed mainly by the soil quality class, is of fundamental importance in the land management process.