The article presents the results of the study of natural-anthropogenic complexes of rural areas as self-developing polysubject environments. In this case, a self-developing polysubject environment is understood as a set of subjects that form the technological, social, economic and ecological subsystems of natural-anthropogenic complexes, taking into account their values and culture. Such an approach to determining the object of management is characteristic of the post-nonclassical type of scientific rationality, within which management is carried out through the impact on the environment, culture and values. Currently, in relation to the natural-anthropogenic complexes of rural areas, separate elements of such a management system are being formed, which, nevertheless, are already showing certain efficiency. In this article, the authors made an attempt to identify and describe the elements of environmental management using the example of managing the sustainable development of natural-anthropogenic complexes that are formed in the process of grain production.