Owning a small farm is many people’s dream. After all, there’s nothing like the sun on your back and a day’s worth of hard work. But if you’re going to make an effective start in this industry, you should heed a bit of advice. Otherwise, you risk making a series of mistakes that can put you at a disadvantage later down the line. These are a few helpful tips and tricks for first-time farmers to ensure you get off on the right foot.
Lease Your First Plots of Land
To start off, you should lease your first few sections of farmland instead of buying them. Though you might feel tempted to purchase them outright as a way to help with long-term expenses, you might find that doing so doesn’t leave you much to spare. Leasing has no upfront costs; you’ll have more money in your pocket for the rest of your farm’s preliminary needs. Once you have a stable cash flow going, you can make the full purchase of the property.
Set and Stick to a Budget
Make sure you create and abide by your budget. Like with any business, starting a farm is expensive, and having a limit on your spending will protect you from severe financial distress. Even if you have a fair share of money to work with, finding deals with material vendors and saving where you can will help greatly.
Know Where To Sell Your Crops
Getting an idea of where you want to sell your crops is also a useful tip for first-time farmers to consider. Developing a lineup of shops interested in your produce can help you establish what crops are most desirable. This way, you can plant things you know your local area will buy. Planning in this way can help you get your foot in the door and build your clientele.
Protect Yourself From Injury
While many of us don’t want to think about the possibility of getting injured on the job, farm equipment poses a large threat to you and your workers. In fact, incidents involving faulty farm equipment result in some of the most severe injuries. You should have a plan to protect yourself in these cases. If you sustain injuries, make sure that you have a farm injury lawyer on standby to file for the appropriate amount of compensation. Having workplace injury insurance is also important to ensuring your team can get help in a crisis.
