How A Small Farm Can Turn a Big Profit

Farming is one of the oldest professions; it’s honest work that allows you to grow life while still making a great profit.  Unfortunately, many people don’t plan very far ahead and wonder why their farms don’t turn out as much of a profit as they expected. However, a farm of any size, even just a couple of acres, can make a ton of money if it chooses the right crops, is well maintained, and circulates new crops every season. 

Here’s how to start a small farm for profit and why building a small farm from scratch might be the right choice for you.

How Small Can You Go?

This question is one that many ask when looking at getting into farming.  More land means more work and more money you have to spend to get it going.  The smallest farms in the USA right now can sit at just a handful of acres.  There’s no regulation saying how physically small a farm can be, but monetarily any farm that pulls in less than $250,000 in profit a year is considered a smaller farm.

How to Start The Property

You have to choose good land before you buy it for farming.  What were the last crops grown on it?  Has anything been produced on this land before?  Did the previous owners rotate their crops, or is there a chance the soil is already overworked?  If you’re unsure about any of these, consider treating the land like it’s never been worked before. 

Till your land, if you buy it in the fall or late summer, you can fertilize it and put in a winter crop like radishes or brussel sprout to ensure that the land is growing some, and then move on to whatever your goal crop is in the spring.  If you’re unfamiliar with farming, it’s a good idea to look up things like dogwood springs, where most farmers in the south don’t start planting until after the cold snap that usually happens around the time dogwoods blossom.

Your Crop Matters

Your income on the land depends on what you choose to grow and how much you produce.  The most lucrative crop out there is saffron, a spice used in the most delicious dishes.  Saffron can sell for over a thousand dollars per pound, which means that it’s over seventy dollars per ounce.  Unfortunately, you can’t grow saffron everywhere!  The best companies that develop it do so in Vermont and Washington state.  Otherwise, cherry tomatoes, goji berries, and hostas all sell for enough money to make these crops worth growing.

How Much Can You Make?

As a small farmer, you can make up to $250,000 a year to keep your title, but it’s a good idea to rotate what you grow and treat it all seriously if you want to go up in profits.  If you grow saffron, the best crop to rotate with would be corn since it’s a short growing period, and it doesn’t need dense or wet soil to grow.  This can allow for saffron to grow stronger when you grow it.  This can enable you to have two different crops that pull revenue, although one makes more while also keeping your soil healthy.

Farming Is One of the Most Rewarding Jobs.

There’s nothing quite like building a small profitable farm to allow anyone to make a lot of money while working with their hands.  By ensuring you’re choosing a profitable crop and rotating it with another crop to keep the soil fresh and your income flowing, you can guarantee a good income.  Keep at it, and your farm won’t be considered so small anymore.