Organic farming could be an interesting and lucrative career choice. People are taking their diet and health more seriously and environmental issues are becoming more important to younger customers as well. However, starting and working on this business is about than just having a farm without chemicals. It’s also a business that needs to be run with a profit and mind otherwise it’s just an expensive hobby.
Anyone who cares about the environment and is willing to work hard could try and make their mark in business, but serious preparation and planning are necessary to make it.
Resources needed
The most important resource for an organic farm is a land that’s suitable to your needs. Since you’re not going to use any chemicals the quality of the land is the only thing you can rely on. Besides that, initial costs are mostly about machinery and energy. Except the banks and your personal funds, there might be another option for early funding. The government is willing to subside this industry due to its rising importance. Research whether you are eligible for grants and stick to the guidelines needed to get it.
Testing the soil
Before you start with any work, you need to be certain about the properties of the soil you’re working on. This may take a while and require the services of professionals, but it’s the only way to know whether your plans feasible in the long run. The testing requires experts like Douglass Partners, who will test the water absorption, particle density and flakiness index of your soil. There should also be a small population of insects and plant pathogens. A good soil should be able to resist unfavorable condition if they arise, so it’s best to be prepared for a harsh winter if there isn’t one yet.
The distribution
It’s important to start thinking about the distribution side of the equation before there’s anything to distribute. Put in place a distribution strategy and stick to it at least in the beginning the easiest way to get things started is to work with your local markets and retailers. But there are other more daring ways to go as well. There a few apps available that deliver fresh ingredients directly to customers and allow them to cook the meal themselves with the provided recipe. This could be a growing business endeavor so get on it before anyone else does.
The paperwork
It may seem like farming is a work for those who want to avoid pushing paper around, but the truth is that there’s a lot of bureaucracy involved in running a farm. There are licensing requirements that you need to pass which can vary in different areas. Also, it’s important to get farm insurance right away just in case something goes wrong. If your farm is going to employ anyone except you, the standard paperwork for getting an employee applies to farms as well.
Advertising
Like any other business, a farm needs something that will distinguish it from its competitors. The marketing campaigns needs to determine what are the clients you want for your business and what are the benefits that your farm in particular offers and no one else can. Once this is established, advertising works like with any other products, although it’s usually contained to professional and local publications because that’s where the customers are as well, at least at first.
An organic farm business could be very lucrative. Start treating it like a business right away and think in broader terms than just farming and the product is going to start taking shape.
