Being an entrepreneur is one of the greatest gifts in life and allows you to do what you feel passionate about; making a life for yourself that works for you.
If you are an entrepreneur and you are looking to open up your own farm this year, there are a lot of things to consider as well as steps you need to take to be a success.
Today we are going to talk about what it takes to open a farm that is successful and does great things in your local community and beyond.
Pick your land
The first decision you will need to make when you decide you want to open a farm is where you will situate it. There are countless beautiful places in the countryside as well as close to towns and villages where you can set up your own farm, and the choice you should make is based on transport links and accessibility. Be sure that there are plenty of roads leading up to the land you choose as you’ll want to transport your goods from farm to factory or shops once they have been grown.
Decide on crops
When it comes to choosing the right crops for your farm there are several factors you’ll take into account.
- Value – how much money will you be able to make from growing your chosen crops?
- Climate – what crops will reasonably grow in the country you live in?
- Soil acidity – which plants will thrive in the conditions of your land?
There are many considerations but once you have chosen one crop or a couple of different crops, it will make the most of your space and allow you to make money all year long. Consider even choosing a crop for summer and one for winter so that there are always crops growing.
Choose livestock
Livestock, even if you are not a livestock farmer, can make the most of your farm. If you are looking to produce meat as part of your farming, ensure that you have the capacity to provide a good free range lifestyle for your animals. Free range animals are not only happier, but their meat is much better quality and will fetch a bigger price. Even if you don’t intend to farm meat it is a good idea to invest in chickens and sheep or cows to help graze on your empty fields and keep them full of nutrients. When farming you should have a field that is empty, one with livestock, one that is growing wild, and one with your crops. Every season you can circulate between these fields to ensure that every crop gets the best nutrients from the land.
Research the market
When starting any business whether it be in an office or out in the field, marketing is an important thing. Before you start your farm be sure to research the market and see where there is a gap in crop or livestock supply in your area. Once you have done this you can invest in Digital marketing for agriculture and begin to make a name for yourself as you set up shop, to allow people to get to know who you are and build up interest.
Learn to be frugal
The first season of farming will be tough, and you will soon need to learn how to be frugal and save some money on day to day life. The great thing about having a farm at your disposal is that you will be able to grow your own food, and you can install solar panels to help generate sustainable power for your home.
Get local support
It is super important when you start off in the farming world that you gain local support from your community. You can do this easily by opening up a small farm shop for your local visitors to come and buy fresh produce from you once a week. This will drum up interest and soon the people in your local community will trust you. Gaining the support of local people will help you once you try to sell your products in shops and supermarkets down the line.
Gear up
Starting a farm is a huge task and you will need a lot of different tools and machines to do the job right. Tractors come in all shapes and sizes and there are different ones that are made for different purposes. Take a look into these options and see what you can find for what you need.
Prepare for early mornings
One of the most important things you can do for your farming career is be ready for early mornings. And when we say early- we mean sunrise. Often the best time to start your day on the farm as soon as it’s light and by doing this you will be able to make the most of every hour of the day. Getting as much done as you can ensures that you don’t waste any precious resources.
Host events
As we mentioned earlier it is important to get your local community involved in your farm, but you can go beyond that and look to entice people all over the country. One way to do this is host small dinner parties, school trips, and even Halloween haunted events such as Spookyworld. By getting people to see your farm as more than a farm you’ll make more money and you’ll also have more fun!
Get a dog
If you have any sort of livestock in your farm, you need to get yourself a farm dog such as a border collie. Farm dogs can be helpful when tracking down animals and keeping them contained, and they will offer great companionship for you on those long summer days. A dog or even a cat can be a great addition to your farm, plus from a marketing perspective you could open an Instagram account and share their daily adventures with the world!
Opening a farm can be a great opportunity so make the most of it this year!
