Can you make a small farm profitable? The answer is yes! You’re just going to have to ask yourself what exactly you’re looking to produce.
This might be hard if you don’t have a plan already in place or know much about how to farm. But all you have to do is do some research on what your community maybe after, figure out what the people want, what can work in your geographical location, and also what the people are willing to pay for agricultural-related goods and products.
It may be best to think of some of these suggestions as hobbies first before diving in and making them the main focus of a business since the return on investment can be a bit slow. However, whatever area you decide to specialize in, you may want to consider figured farm software to keep track of your finances and help give you a clearer picture of your farming business.
Make a Small Farm Profitable
Microgreens
Microgreens can be a very profitable crop if you’re strongly thinking about how much square footage you have available to you. They can provide a very large profit quickly as they tend to grow quite fast in a short amount of time.
Within 2 to 3 weeks, most of the microgreens will be ready to harvest, as it’s roughly around $17 per pound for most microgreens. These must be sold fresh, but you also need to check if there is demand for them in your community.
These microgreens are mostly used for salads, sandwiches, and other cold dishes so that’s something that needs to be kept in mind. Selling microgreens is a great way to make a small farm profitable.
Flowers
Flowers can also make a small farm profitable! You don’t need that much space to grow these, and within 2 to 3 months, you’ll have a beautiful garden just filled with so much color. It doesn’t take too long to start raising capital if you decide to invest in some bulbs, tubers, and seeds.
You can either sell bouquets or go with something more fun and inviting such as having a picking garden on your farm. Then you can charge by the flower, and make additional money by serving coffee and cake. This also tends to be a more seasonal business, so that is also something that you need to take into account.
Oyster Mushrooms
Mushrooms have been rising as a popular business over the last couple of years. Oyster mushrooms can grow very quickly, being completed in 8 to 12 weeks, with a pretty good price if you decide to sell them per pound.
This is another avenue to make a small farm profitable. While it’s not always easy to sell fresh fungi, having them dried out is a great way to extend their shelf life. It takes a bit of work to get started with growing oyster mushrooms, but after the first time, it comes very easy thanks to propagation. These days psilocybe cubensis kits are also available for growing mushrooms.
What you’ll need to keep in mind about oyster mushrooms is the fact that disease can be a big issue. You’ll have to be very cautious with how you take care of these and will need a steady supply of organic substrate such as straw, and a way to sterilize it. However, a crop is very easy to sell at farmers’ markets, retail shops, and local restaurants.
Tourism
Tourism is an excellent way to make a small farm profitable. Depending on how much space you have, it can be used for farm stays, bed & breakfasts, AirBnBs, glamping, and so much more. All you have to do is make your farm stand out, market it, and the rest will come to you.
If accommodations aren’t something you’re interested in, then farm experiences can be something. There are plenty of ideas such as a mini petting zoo, cooking classes, fruit picking, flower picking gardens, hayrides, or even just something small like a little café on a farm. These all take a bit of work and require skills in customer service. But they’re great ways to make a profitable business.
Rent Out Space for MotorHome Parking
This may be for you if you live just outside the city. Many people who are living in cities own motorhomes or some sort of caravan. If you have unused space, then it can be utilized by allowing people to store their caravan or motorhome there until they need it. This way, you can make a fairly decent profit without much work.
Since this doesn’t require much work, you’ll still have the time and energy to plan out your finances and your future. Your retirement is very important and should be something to think about, even if you will be doing part-time farming. This is why it’s important to look into things such as the guide to self-directed IRAs, so you can learn what your options are.
Horses
Depending on your location, and the terrain of your farm, you could make the property set up for horses. This can be a very good source of income, especially if you live nearby a city. You’ll have to have some experience with taking care of horses since people will be paying you for their shelter and care.
Farmers Market
Farmers’ markets are one of the biggest ways to make a small farm profitable. It does seem rather obvious to do this. These markets are a great way to get in touch with other farmers. And to give exposure to your farming business, it’s a win-win.
Etsy
Depending on what your farming business is, Etsy may be a great way to make an additional income. Especially when the farmer’s markets are closed during the off-season. While you can’t sell fresh produce on Etsy, food that’s been dehydrated or canned certainly can be sold there. Items such as wool, or products made from animal milk ( such as soap) are very popular items on Etsy. You will probably be surprised when you find that you can sell more on Etsy than you thought.
Live Stock
A livestock farm is considered to be very fast producing in terms of return on investment. Livestock such as broiler chickens produce very quickly. For these, it often takes about six to nine weeks to lay eggs, rather than the traditional hens. They occupy little room and can be raised easily as well. You’ll just need a dry, warm place for them, as well as somewhere to protect them. Other livestock such as alpacas or sheep can be very profitable thanks to their wool.
Goats and cows can be milked. Then the milk can then be used or sold for various products including adding it to handmade soaps. Rabbits are a very fast-producing livestock species, they breed very fast and can be a fast way to sell bunnies. Just be sure to look into the local laws in your area and whether or not it’s legally viable.
Final Thoughts on Making a Small Farm Profitable
There are many options to make a small farm profitable. Pick and choose the activities that would most benefit your farm from above. Then continue to come up with even more ways to provide additional income. What have you done to make extra money from your farm?