If You Were To Start A Farm Tomorrow, How Would You Make It Successful?

Ever had a dream of owning a couple acres of land, putting some sheep on it, and going out to bale hay in the late summer? It’s something we’ve all thought about when we’re stuck inside, working at a desk, and thinking about better ways to use the time. 

So what if you did actually take the plunge and buy a smallholding of your own? 

Starting up an agricultural business like this is something to approach with caution. As a sector, a lot of time and money is required to even get started - and those costs are only expected to grow as time goes on.

You need to be very careful about the way you tackle the next few months. Success can be hard to achieve on a farm, even when you’re only farming for yourself. As such, here are a few of the most important things to consider about starting up a successful farming business.

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Start Small

No one buys 100 acres of land and instantly makes a profit. No one even buys half that and can expect to make a decent return. Farming is very much a ‘start small and grow outwards’ type of business. 

You can’t make any money off of land that is impossible to farm in the first place. After all, you’re just the one person taking on the charge. You also have a limited budget, and likely very limited experience in getting the work done as well. 

Keep it small, start with a single acre if you can, and get used to the life and role of a farmer.

Don’t Overspend on Equipment

You’re going to need plenty of farm machinery to work your new plot of land. Farming by hand is a thing of the past, and aiming to do so to try and keep costs low will just make your holding more pricey to run in the long term. 

However, don’t overspend on your equipment at this early stage. For example, you’re unlikely to need more than one tractor, hauler, or trailer. It’s also often best to rent equipment while you’re still unsure if it’s worth it to buy something outright. 

Hire Experience

You don’t have much yourself - although you may have kept chickens when you were younger. But even so, because of that, you’re going to need to hire the experience you’re missing. 

And even if the cost of hiring outside contractors to help farm the land seems to be too much of a cost, as you’re planning to put your heart and soul into your new farming business, you’re going to need at least one other pair of hands. 

If nothing else, think of it as a necessary learning experience. You can gain the skills you need by working alongside the team you’ve brought in. 

So, if you were to start a farm tomorrow, would you be able to make it a success? There’s every chance! It all depends on how well you plan it out!