The United States is experiencing an unprecedented shortage of farmers.

In fact, there’s been a poor farmer harvest for some years now.

Apparently, there are now more bus drivers than farmers in the country. That’s a shocking realization for a country historically built upon agriculture.

Sure, farming is far from dead in the dirt (there’s still the same old demand for beef there always has been!). But, the fact of the matter is, the US could always do with more farms than there currently are.

Which is why it’s awesome you’re thinking of starting your own farming business! That’s presumably why you’re here, anyway! We want to help ensure you make your aspirations come true.

 

 
 

Looking for some advice on how to start a successful farm? You’re in the right place.

Keep reading the 9 essential tips for starting your very own farm business.

1. Have a Plan

You’re about to embark on one epic journey.

The road ahead won’t be easy; there will be plenty of ups and downs to come. It would be foolish to jump into it willy-nilly.

In simple terms, you need a plan of action.

Planning is a key principle behind any successful business venture. It’s about looking ahead to where you want to be and breaking it down. Set yourself milestones with associated timeframes attached to them.

Look ahead to potential obstacles and plan accordingly. You don’t want to stumble at the first hurdle. Planning in advance means you’ve already predicted a certain challenge. When it arises, you have a plan in place for overcoming it.

It’s also about assessing the competition. There’s no point starting a farm if there are ten others already competing for the same customer! This is a recipe for failure. Effective planning helps sidestep saturated markets.

Always start your farming journey with an accurate plan for how you’ll get to the end result you want.

 
 

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2. Know Your Market

Planning and market research go hand in hand.

We already alluded to this in the previous tip. First off, you don’t want to farm something that already has a huge amount of competition. Unless you can guarantee a superior product and are a top marketer, then your farm is far more likely to struggle.

It’s far better to farm something that’s in higher demand and has a lack of supply.

Likewise, you absolutely have to know who you’re farming for in advance.

Essentially, who is your target customer and where can you find them? It’s no good setting up a farm that’s 1000 miles from where they are.

It’s your job to know the where, the who and the how:

• Where will you sell your product?

• Who is going to buy it?

• How will you get it to them

Know these things before you get to work. It’s about prior preparation. Don’t do it and leave yourself open to catastrophic failure upon harvesting your goods.

You might consider planning for change as well. Have backups in place, just in case your primary customer or marketplace disappears suddenly.

Remember, forecast, expect problems and plan ahead how to handle them.

 

 

 

 
 

3. Set Realistic Goals

Goal-setting is a major part of this planning section.

Goals provide honing beacons to work towards. The milestones you set yourself determine where you’re heading. The overall task might seem too large to comprehend.

It’s a monster that can be tough to tackle. Overly daunting, many people get put off before they really begin.

Breaking it into smaller, achievable steps makes it feel more achievable. It’s also a major help in visualizing what you need to do.

Farming might seem like a mystery at the beginning. Planning inevitably encompasses a level of research. This can prove enlightening, and provide the necessary insight and tools to take appropriate action.

 

 
 

4. Buy Your Land

You might already have available land at your disposal.

If that’s your position, then skip ahead to tip number 5.

For everyone else, listen up: to have a farm, you first need some land to put it on. Mind-blowing stuff, right?

It’s obviously a vital piece of the puzzle to think about though. Again, this relates to your plan. Not all land is the same in terms of farming capability.

There may be irrigation issues. Depending on where you are in the country, the weather may be a key consideration too. The soil may be another important thing to think about.

If you know what you want to farm, then it’s key to find suitable land. That means it’s of the right standard and size to make it fit for purpose.

Of course, acquiring land isn’t cheap. This may take a loan to cover (more on debt-related matters later). Likewise, got any plans to expand in the future? Make sure there’s the potential for it wherever you buy your first plot.

 

 
 

5. Use Your Land Appropriately

We hinted at this in tip number 3.

But it’s definitely worth re-emphasizing.

Make sure you farm in accordance with your land’s particular merits. It’s tempting to try and bend land to our will. We see it as a blank canvas that you can do anything with.

In reality, that isn’t always the case. The size, location, particular dimensions, fencing, water-access, soil-quality, and so on, all come into play. Sometimes, our hands are tied by the land itself.

Take certain animals. You might want to raise ducks on a strip of greenery. But if they don’t have any access to a natural water source, it can be a recipe for disaster. You’d be far better off sticking with cattle or sheep.

6. Farm What You’re Interested in

Okay, the land can play a role in what you might be able to farm.

But there’s always wiggle room- especially if you’re buying the land beforehand.

It’s important to farm something you have a passion in. That doesn’t always align with the most lucrative option. It’ll sure as hell make your life more enjoyable though.

Hate cows? A cattle farm is never going to be fun.

It’s worth keeping in mind how demanding (physically, mentally and emotionally) farming can be. It takes time, effort, and an enormous investment of work.

It’s far easier to remain motivated when you value the fruits of your labor. Love poultry? Start a chicken farm. Love apples? Plant an orchard. Want grapes? Create a vineyard. Heck, niche right down if needs be- create CBD products for animals!

 
 

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7. Acquire Experience

Experience is the key to a successful farm.

You can learn all the theory you like. You can gather as much upfront investment as you need.

Without the requisite hands-on experience, you’re unlikely to succeed. Gather that experience over time. You don’t need to be an expert before you start your own farm.

But it definitely pays to know what you’re getting into. Planning and goal setting becomes more realistic- they’re based upon knowledge and past trial and error.

Read books, speak with consultants, visit other farms, work on other farms, and so on. Heck, you could experiment on your own farm too. You’ll definitely gain experience anyway. Start small and expect failure. This trial by fire approach always proves enlightening.

 

 

 
 

8. Avoid Debt Where Possible

You don’t need to take on masses of debt to start a successful farm.
Farming is unpredictable. Loan repayments can be a serious struggle. They’re always a burden. But for farmers trying to make a success of their venture, they can prove too much.

Many new farmers try to start too large and take on too much debt upfront.

It’s usually a better idea to begin at a smaller scale and slowly build up. This approach has a host of benefits.

Firstly, the required loan size will be smaller. Second, there’s less risk involved. Finally, you can incrementally expand your experience and expertise, without taking on too much at once.

 

 
 

9. Market Your Farm Early on

Marketing is central to the success of any business.

The same holds for farms.

It’s always a good idea to start your marketing endeavors early. Having a product is great. It’ll be far easier to sell when you already have a line of interested customers outside the door.

Setting up an online presence in advance can be a great first step.

You could begin a blog or video log where you record the setup process. You could create content that addresses key farming challenges. Perhaps you could demonstrate your expertise and knowledge into the product itself.

Whatever you do, marketing in this way can develop interest and exposure prior to officially opening. This outside awareness will be a major boost when you start to sell the final product.

 

 
 

Time to Start Your Farm Business

There you have it: 9 key tips for starting your very own farm business.

Farming has long been on the decline in the United States. This is sad news for a country with a rich agricultural history. Simply, the rise of technology and shifting cultural ideas have equated to a dwindling supply of farms.

However, the industry is far from dead! There will always be the need for agriculture, and there’s always an opportunity for new farmers to start a successful farm from scratch. All it takes is the right approach!

Hopefully, this post has highlighted exactly how to make it happen.

Want more outdoorsy articles like this? Head to the ‘Tips and Advices’ section of our blog now!

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