Starting a Farm

Are you thinking about starting a farming operation? In this section, you’ll find information on starting a farm or other business in the agriculture industry. Resources include food for profit, emerging markets, and more.

How to Start a Farm

If you’re considering starting your own farming enterprise, you first have to be confident that a farm business is right for you. While you’re waiting for the perfect parcel of land to pop up, there are lots you can learn about starting your farm.

There are lots of resources available for anyone wanting to achieve their small farm dream. You might think you want to farm, but do you appreciate what it entails? Success in the food business requires hard work and dedication.

Penn State Extension partners with growers across the Commonwealth to provide demonstrations for new, young, and minority farmers. Start farming ”Models for the Future" living classrooms, on-farm demonstration plots, and the Beginning Farmer program are just a few examples.

If you haven’t got the capital to start your farm, you may be eligible to apply for a grant or loan. Here are a few examples:

• The Small Business Innovation Research grants
• The Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program
• USDA Value-Added Producer Grants

You will need to research whether your planned operation is acceptable with your local ordinances. Ideally, your property and land have to be zoned for agriculture. In Pennsylvania, the Municipalities Planning Code of 1968 controls zoning.

Machinery and equipment play a key role in agricultural enterprises. Good machinery management is required if you want to provide a reliable service for your agricultural enterprise at the lowest cost.

Farm Management Basics

Farm management is a collective term for various management strategies and methods you’ll need to keep your farm productive and profitable. You can use the methods regardless of the size of the farm you're starting.

Diversification is a way for you to increase your income or extend your farming season. Understanding how to set your prices is a crucial skill to learn.

Before you start your food for-profit business, you need a clear business plan. The business plan helps you define your reasons for entering the food business, the type of enterprise you want to run, and the goals you want to achieve. A business plan is fundamental for effective business management.

Penn State Extension has published a Farm Management Handbook to help you learn how to manage your farm successfully. You can use Quickbooks to help you manage your farm business.

You will have to purchase crop insurance to protect against the loss of your crops due to natural disasters or revenue loss due to declines in agricultural commodities’ prices. In the US, the federal government subsidizes premiums.

Access to reliable legal advice is helpful when making major business decisions, such as buying or transferring land. Free legal services for farmers are available through Penn State Law.

Raising Livestock and Growing Crops

Agriculture is the art and science of cultivating the soil, growing crops, and raising livestock. You can choose to specialize in agronomy, horticulture, livestock, or a combination of all three. There’s a lot involved whichever branch of agriculture you choose. But don’t worry because plenty of information is available, such as the Penn State Extension beginning farmer project.

If you want to raise beef cattle, you need to understand nutrition, health, breeds, and marketing. Proper nutrition and herd management are essential for generating income on a dairy farm. To be a successful sheep or goat farmer, you also have to manage various resources, including land, labor, capital, feed, and management.

If you want to raise hogs, your farm will require a good infrastructure, constant water and feed, and good fencing. Small poultry flocks, on the other hand, require a sound knowledge of the costs and potential income. This information is valuable when you make future decisions.

For those looking at crop production, soil management is critical. Once the soil’s quality is optimized, you can look at how best to grow your seeds and seedlings. A vital step in producing a successful crop of vegetables is stand establishment. This means your crop gets off to a quick, healthy, and unform start in the field.

If you want your fruit growing to be more than a hobby, creating a marketing plan for fruit crops is essential. Site planning and preparation are also necessary for the success of a tree fruit farm. You can expect a commercial apple orchard to be productive for at least 20 years, so long-term plans are crucial. Investment in a peach orchard may also be spread over a long period.