There are many good reasons why you might want to get into the farm industry. For one, you will actively be supporting something which is one of the most important bedrocks of the culture and society we live in. After all, without farms and farmers we would not really be functioning as a society at all. It can also one of the most profitable kinds of business there are however don’t think that farming is easy or that this profit appears very quickly. Farming takes a lot of hard work, planning and grit but it’s also a great way to make an honest living, and that is what draws a lot of people to it.
In this article, I am going to look in particular at some of the early stages of running a farm and setting it up. This is not a comprehensive guide but a few points to get you thinking if you are considering farming for yourself.
Sourcing
First of all, you might be struck by just how much there is to get hold of in order to be able to run a farm business. There are a whole host of machines and equipment which you are going to need, and the more aware you are of what exactly you need, the easier it will be to get started on finding it as soon as possible, and with as much chance of spending little as possible.
When it comes to sourcing equipment, bear in mind there are some essentials to focus on. You will need to find quad bikes for sale if you have a larger farm, so you can get around more easily. You will also need to look into tractors, combine harvesters, and – if you are excavating before starting your farm – a digger. Get all this, and you can start actually building your farm. Without it, you will find that much harder indeed. Do your research and get the equipment you need and only that as remember, profit can take a while to come through.
Marketing Your Farm
You need to start telling people about your farm, ideally as early as you possibly can. If you leave this too late at all, then it will only result in you not quite being able to make the right kind of money early on, and that will mean your business is more likely to tank before you have even really begun. To market properly, you need to spread the word in person, and to make the most use of local advertising that you can.
People like to support their local farms, so keeping it mostly local is going to really be an advantage in most cases. However, you should also make a point of using digital marketing wherever possible too, to really get the word out there. Look at what your unique selling point is and focus on that, be it that you are local, organic, have a certain type of crop, a certain way of working, if you have something interesting about your farm to share, share it!
Hiring
You might find that you need some help for the farm. If you do, then you should look into hiring as soon as possible in order to stay on top of all the work that needs to be done to maintain a farm. Remember that when hiring someone you need to look at tax, national insurance, workplace pensions etc so get some proper advice about this. Also, consider what kind of employer you are going to be.
Running a farm is hard work, very hard work. It can be rewarding though, if done properly. Make sure you do your research before taking the plunge.
