So You Want to Farm?
Over my years in Extension I have encountered many ambitious folks wishing to farm. There is no better feeling than producing a crop or raising animals to feed yourself and others and having that product go to market. It provides a sense of accomplishment you will have a difficult time matching. However, this sense of accomplishment is not easily acquired due to many factors well beyond your control. I do not want to discourage anyone from their dreams but there are a number of considerations which many overlook.
I have heard people say, "I love to work outside." But it's important to consider if you are willing and able to work in all weather conditions which means being outside in rain, snow, heat, and cold. You may need to be outside in harsh weather conditions to harvest a crop in the summer or repair an item during winter months. Equipment always seems to malfunction at the most inopportune times and always when you need that equipment most.
A positive aspect of horticultural production is that you may not need to be outside during very cold weather except if you are growing apples or pears. If this is the case, you may need to prune those trees during cold weather. However, depending on your scale of production, you may be able to choose less severe conditions to be outside.
If you are raising animals, there is a long list of additional considerations. You will need to provide reliable shelter for them. Yes, they have hair or wool, but cold wet weather will slow weight gain and can also cause respiratory problems. Keeping water flowing during cold weather always presents a challenge. Chickens either stop laying eggs or greatly reduce production during the winter months when daylight hours are reduced. To maintain production, they will need a warm, well ventilated, and lighted building to keep producing eggs.
One of the first things I tell someone who says "I want to farm" is to start small. Very few farmers began farming at the size they are now. They start small and grow the business over time. Unless you have grown up on the farm you are starting or taking over, there is a learning curve you need to overcome. Instead of starting with 5 acres of vegetables, start expanding your garden and selling some of your additional produce. This will teach you both, production and marketing skills while also getting acquainted with the rigors of the job and idiosyncrasies of your land
The larger the operation and the more intense the production method, the more management is needed. Organic growers will be some of the first to tell you this is true. The production methods are quite different from conventional production but they do use pesticides (OMRI approved) and sometimes apply them in shorter intervals than conventional producers. Using very narrow rows and keeping plants closer together may reduce weed populations but also increase the incidence of fungal disease due to poor air flow.
Another thing I tell people is to be sure you have a passion for what you want to do. If you do not have a passion and support from your family for what you want to do, you have a job, which you have already. You will be spending time on your farm that was previously spent with family, friends, or hobbies that you enjoy. You want something you get up to every morning and say, "I am looking forward to today." Many small or beginning farms are in addition to full-time employment, so the additional work you take on needs to be something you truly enjoy.
If you have made it to the end of this article and still want to farm, great! As I stated previously, I do not want to discourage the dream of farming, I just want folks to be better informed when making the decision. Future newsletters will cover business start-up, financing, risk management, and where to find information for your type of production or product.
This article is the first in a series planned for this newsletter. This newsletter was previously the Start Farming Newsletter. With a change in leadership and structure, it will now be titled the New and Beginning Farmer newsletter.
