Agricultural Marketing - Getting Started in Farming

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Getting Started in Farming

Getting Started in Farming
Steve Richards

Do you want to own a farm someday?

Getting started in farming is not easy. Successful farm seekers differ from their counterparts due to some common traits:

1. Patience: this process takes time.
	It takes time to find the right farm and farmer to work with (1-2 years). It takes time to transfer the farm (depending on the size of the farm and the options you chose to initiate the transfer--it could take 10-20 years).
2. Experience: successful farm seekers have 3-10 years of farm experience.
	Nothing substitutes for real-world experience on the farm. If you don't have a lot of experience, try volunteering or working on a farm. These days, it takes a good farm manager to keep the farm running and supporting a family. Try to gain management experience!
3. Money: it always helps to have the ability to invest in a farm opportunity!
	Livestock, equipment, and cash (of course) improve your options of which farms you may pick from. If you or your spouse have an outside job, it helps with the cash flow. You may not want to quit your outside jobs immediately-give the farm situation a try first.
4. Initiative: the seekers who take the initiative have an advantage.
	Farm seekers who contact and interview farm owners are more successful. Farm owners usually do not contact seekers. Try other networks to find farmers that are looking to transfer their farm to an outside party. We would like to have everyone on our database, but we don't. Some good contacts can be found through Cornell Cooperative Extension and professionals serving farm businesses (nutritionists, veterinarians, etc.). The FarmLink office can give you the contact phone numbers.
5. Using your resources: keep in touch with the FarmLink office.
	FarmLink consultants are free and confidential and give personalized assistance throughout the farm transfer process. A library of guides and workbooks for beginning farmers. A referral database of professionals to help you with specific needs.

Once you get a farm taking advantage of the many support services available in and around your community.

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Last modified Saturday, August 13, 2005 14:34
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