Starting a small farm is a dream come true for many people. You’ve always dreamed of starting your own farm, where you can grow acres of crops to feed not only your family but your local community, and eventually, the world at large as well. You love the idea that your day will begin at sunrise when the air is freshest, and you know you’ll step out onto the front porch of your old farmhouse with a slew of tasks already in mind for completion that day.
First, you have to get your farm started; then, you have to work extremely hard to make sure it’s a success. You need to know about corn yields, how many acres of land you want to purchase, and the fertility of the soil you’ll be planting in, ideally, before you sign on the dotted line to become a farmer. In this article, you’ll find a few tips to help you start your own farm and realize your dream.
1. Identify your niche.
Even if you already know exactly what type of farm you want to start, it’s never a good idea just to dive in headfirst without first doing research and considering everything. The first thing you need to do is consider your target market. For example, what if you’ve always dreamed of owning a fruit farm in Florida? You purchase the farm, devote many acres to oranges, then find out that the demand for oranges is now in California, and you truly can’t afford to ship your fruit there at the moment. You need to know your market and your target audience before you decide on your niche.
2. Research your particular crops.
It’s also important to do your research into the type of crop you’re going to grow. For example, if you want to grow corn, and expect your corn yield to be high, then you wouldn’t just plant corn and hope for the best, would you? You need to know the best way to use a corn yield calculator, the fertility of your soil, and even the effects of climate change on your crop yields.
Ensure that you research forms of pests control as well, so you don’t lose your corn yield to pests, like the European corn borer. This is all research you need to do ahead of time, not after you’ve planted your corn crops and then realize you’ve failed. You’re not going to get a high yield from your crops without putting in the research.
3. Find and purchase the right land.
Once you’ve figured out what you’re going to grow on your farm, then it’s time to find the land to farm on. It would be best to decide whether you’re going to lease the land or purchase it. Since farming is difficult, some farmers choose the lease the land, but the choice is yours. Things to consider when looking for land to buy are how near it is to water, how close you’ll be to markets to sell your bushels of soybeans or corn and the soil type of the land. It’s recommended that you have a soil test done before making a final decision because the soil fertility will reflect directly on your crop production.
4. Relax and have patience.
Farming is hard, so you’re going to have to be patient with everything from the purchase to waiting on your crops to grow. That’s why when you’re not in the fields, it’s important to relax. Farming should be one of the 5 reasons to get a massage. Massage therapy by a qualified massage therapist is a good way to relieve the pain of sore muscles, aches in your joints, and stress as well.
Muscle tension is a killer, and a good massage therapist trained to practice massage therapy can work the kinks out for you and have your body’s immune system strong and raring to go in no time. Relaxing with a regular massage is a great way to unwind after a long day of work in the fields.
These are just a few tips for starting your own farm. Remember, have patience, do your research, and you’ll have a successful farm in the end.
