With so many different directions to take a farming operation, choosing the best farm business ideas can be quite complex. Successful farming can include small, home-based businesses, boutique production of a single product, or giant farming conglomerates that cover hundreds of acres of land. When choosing the best farm business ideas, some items to consider include personal skills and interests, property information, and market research.
Farming can be difficult work, and may be most successful if the farmer is truly invested and interested in his or her work. Mining personal interests and skills is a good way to ferret out the best farm business ideas for an individual. If a person was raised around animals, perhaps a small livestock farm or horse stable is a good place to start. For consummate gardeners, tending an orchard or greenhouse can be an ideal small business. Those with an extensive farming background may want to include several crops that can be harvested year-round, ensuring a continuous supply of product, albeit with high time commitment requirements.
For beginning farmers, considering small, seasonal crops can be a good way to get started in the market. Christmas tree farms or pumpkin patches may be a good starting place for ambitious farmers, since these crops are generally only in demand once per year, leaving many months for preparation and planning. Single-product farms, such as a goat farm that produces goat cheese, can also allow newer farmers to focus on making one product and task successful before expanding into other areas of farming.
Another important consideration when sifting through farm business ideas is the suitability of the farming property. Size of the property is one major concern: a person with a large backyard may be able to start a small farm business selling blueberries or organic carrots, but probably can't start raising cattle. Calling in an expert to perform a soil and land analysis can help determine what the best type of crops are for the size, elevation, drainage, and soil composition of a piece of property. Since different crops grow best in different temperatures, it is also crucial to understand what fruits and vegetables are appropriate for the local climate.
Doing some market research can help determine farm business ideas with a good chance of success. For example, a local area might have an excess of berry growers, but no local stone-fruit orchard. It may help to identify culinary trends, such as a desire for locally grown foods, dairy products from humane farms, or organic vegetables. Researching the market by talking with local food experts, well-respected chefs, and other important market figures can be a good way to identify the proper niche for development.
