The term “snow farming” is used to refer to the management of snow supplies and reserves. Snow farming is practiced by many ski resorts, in the interest of keeping the slopes well-stocked with snow to attract visitors, and it is also used by some governments, to conserve water reserves in the form of snow. Individuals may also engage in a bit of snow farming, with the goal of keeping their homes and gardens in optimal condition in the winter.

Snow farming can be accomplished in several ways, depending on the desired outcome of the farming and the resources available to the people doing the farming. At its most basic, snow farming simply involves moving snow around with the assistance of heavy equipment, depositing snow supplies in some areas while removing unwanted snow from others.

Snow can also be transferred to areas used for holding, in which case it is typically covered with heavy material to slow the rate of melt. Many ski resorts practice this form of snow farming with the goal of reducing the amount of artificial snow they will need to create in the winter. These snow reserves can last for an extended period of time when well-covered, making less work for the snow machines.

It is also common to see people snow farming with the assistance of walls and barriers which are designed to accumulate snow. These same barriers can also be used to keep snow out of particular areas, as for example in a garden, where people might not want their plants to be covered in snow. By establishing a snow fence or gate, people can encourage the snow to collect along the fence, freeing up the ground around the fence. The snow is also more easy to collect and move when it clumps around an obstacle.

Snow farming may also involve manufacturing snow with the use of snow machines. This practice is common at ski resorts, where people often want to ski early in the season, and high-quality snow is demanded by discerning visitors year round. In periods of light snowfall, snow machines make up the difference, with resorts running the machines before sunrise so that there is a layer of fresh powder on the slopes when skiers arrive in the morning.