Re: Small acreage profitability

Posted by kyhayman on January 02, 2005 at 09:40:20 from (152.163.101.7):

In Reply to: Small acreage profitability posted by MeAnthony on January 02, 2005 at 04:07:25:

LOts of good suggestions here, I especially like ErrinOH'es ideas. One good place to state is to look at the MSU Extension budgets, see which crops have the highest net returns per acre. Do a resource inventory, see what your most limiting resources are (time, money, whatever) then begin to plan accordingly. The days of someone going out and making it farming without being a business and resource manager are long gone (if it ever was that way).

Some ideas that come to mind off the top of my head are asparagus, tomatoes, blueberries, etc. All are either high cost up front or high labor (or both). You cant make it small scale on bulk commodoty crops or livestock, has to be something 'special'. Catnip is a great idea. The key is going to be marketing and packaging it. Internet is great, lets you marke tto the world at your finger tips. Also, be sure and not to forget non-program crop Federal Crop Insurance. I'd say to properly set up to grow, harvest, dry, package, and market catnip figure on sinking at least $100,000 in the business, maybe 2 or 3 times that. Sure want to make sure you have crop insurance to ensure cashflow. Lots of folks say it cant be done, one of my friends that I ggraduated high school with got out of college and couldnt find an ag teaching job. He started planting asparagus for fresh market and worked odd jobs on farms. Three years before he had something to sell. Made all the farmers market rounds. That was 18 years ago, now he markets pickled asparagus world wide, sells retail out of his home, also freshwater shrimp ponds, and sells organic alfalfa. He just has 30 acres, yet makes a profit in the low 6 figures annually. Took risks, sunk everything he made for years back ing the business, then just when he was making good money (clearing in the low 40's) he borrowed a million dollars and put in a top of the line pickleing and packing plant.

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup Name: E-Mail: Subject: Comments: Optional Link URL: Link Title: Optional Image URL: Email Notification: If you check this box, email will be sent to you whenever someone replies to this message. Your email address must be entered above to receive notification. This notification will be cancelled automatically after 2 weeks.

TRACTOR PARTS	TRACTOR MANUALS

We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]