When it comes to farming, livestock is always much more profitable than crops. Even though there is a much larger amount of cash needed to set up a livestock farm, you will find that you can sell the meat and animals for a far higher price than crops. And once your livestock farm is all set up and ready to go, the costs shouldn’t be too extortionate.
Read MoreFarming is a different beast to what it used to be. Customers want the best deals, so supermarkets pay less for produce. While we would all like to stick to our guns and refuse these cheap offerings, we also need to make a living. And, if you aren’t selling, that isn’t going to happen. But, with prices as low as they are, even selling isn’t enough to see decent profits. So, the face of farming is changing. We’re finding cheaper ways to produce the same products. We’re also trying to be innovative with ideas. Anything that makes extra money is worth trying. One thing that might be worth considering is opening your farm to the public. Of course, it’s your home and your business. This can be a hard decision. But, you don’t have to open all year round. One open day a month could be enough to see you through. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to make the public aware of the work you do. Here are a few things worth considering if you think this is the way to go.
Read MoreJust because you’ve retired doesn’t mean you can’t carry on doing what you love. Buying a retirement property which can also be used as a platform for a business, can give you a new lease of life. However, food is an explosively diverse market, and almost anything goes, because there’s a use for almost anything that’s well made. Entrepreneurs with ‘professional hobbies’ are dreaming up new ways of reinventing the wheel, and the world is being made to pay attention. Giving sanctuary to a startup or successful entrepreneur who has proven their idea will yield a high return is something you could take pride in fostering. Perhaps it’s something you could leave for the children or grandkids for the future.
Very rarely do you meet a one of a kind entrepreneur, who rather than go the traditional route of setting up an online business, would rather get their hands dirty and do something physically wonderful. Craft ciders that are utterly unique sell well in metropolitan cities with large populations of young people. The younger generation is more inclined to appreciate complex and new flavors which veer off from the stereotypical line.
Lots of independent entrepreneurs are willing to put a lot of the hard work it requires to plant, nurture, grow and harvest apples which make the cider. Those who have shown themselves to be passionate about creating unique flavors and involving themselves at every step of the process to keep quality levels high may be leasing the land they use. Investing in the person is just as important as investing in their product. After a one on one meeting, you may see a spark of genius in them that’s worth investing in and buying shared equity in their business. And if you wish to get the product off the ground quickly, you’ve got to supply them with the real-world amenities. Real estate such as the Van Dyke Farms Homes for Sale, generally have around 1 acre of land which could be used to grow the produce. As the soil will be up-turned, proper environment safety laws must be adhered to.
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Slicing through the mainstream market in shopping stores are the enthusiasts turned professional cheese farmers. Independent entrepreneurs are breaking through the cheese market due to their unique vision of flavors and different recipes which their cheeses are created for. Hardworking youngsters like Beehive, are the case in point. They make delicious hard cheeses specifically designed to be used for melting into a panini sandwich, or sub. Not too stiff, but packed full of flavor, cafes and even global coffee chains will be interested in buying something new, rich and quintessentially unique in flavor.
As little as 20 dairy cows are needed for an entrepreneur to get a decent sized batch of cheese ready to sell at a farmer’s market. Investors are always out on the hunt looking to scoop up any cheeses which tickle their taste buds. The great thing about innovation is, it can very profoundly make a business take off like a rocket. All popular companies started off somewhere and without someone who believed in them, no one would even know they existed.
Farming is a tough gig. The early morning alarms, the unexpected eventualities with crops and livestock, and contending with harsh weather conditions would scare off even the most seasoned inner-city dweller. However, farmers have arguably higher qualities of lives and deeper job satisfaction than most people. Because of the hours required in maintaining a farm effectively, the farmer's life is one that has less of a dividing line between life and career.
Read MoreHarvest season is important for every farm. Being prepared for it is key, especially if you want to get through it as safely as you possibly can. To make sure that you get the help that you really need, here are some essential tips and advice that will make harvest season as safe and successful as possible for you and your farm.
Read MoreIn the world of farming, organic produce is an incredibly trendy commodity. More people than ever want to know exactly where their meat and vegetables are coming from. Everyone pays a trip to the farmer's markets to get their locally sourced meat or full-fat milk from reputable cow sources. Not only are people expressing their interest in the locally sourced produce, but the health benefits of grass-fed butter and full-fat items instead of the processed, 5% fat foods that are increasingly being held up as the reason the western world is overweight. Everyone is now looking to the farming communities to bring us the best produce. So, the summer months when everyone is itching to get a barbecue going, you can certainly make the most of the organic produce to make an amazing summer feast, from breakfast to your evening meal.
Read MoreAgriculture buildings are often quite different to commercial and private use ones. This is because they have a very clear purpose, and need to be constantly up to scratch to perform their function well. Otherwise, you are endangering your crops and animals. But what are the vital buildings every farm needs to flourish? Read on to find out.
Read MoreIf you have been a part of the farming industry and you have been following the trends over the last few years, you might have thought you had a pretty firm idea of the direction it was headed in. For instance, you probably assumed that more and more farms would be run on an intensive model.
Read MoreRecently, there has been growing concerns on the left in politics about the impact of global food supply chains on local economies in developing countries. Take quinoa, for example. Around 2011, quinoa suddenly started turning up in recipes on health food blogs all over the internet. It was touted as a wonder grain which would end obesity and help people return their bodies to a state of health. And it turned out to be true: quinoa is far more nutritious than many other grains that are staples in the Western diet.
Running a farm is often a labor of love. People do it to make money, sure. But their passion for the land and what they do is often just as important. However, passion doesn’t necessarily lead to profitability. If you’re having trouble turning a profit, it might be time to look at cutting some of your farming costs. There are lots of techniques that can be used to make this possible. And you can learn a bit more about the best of them below.
Read MoreWhen you own and operate a farm, it’s fair to assume that money isn’t your only motivator. As far as your satisfaction is concerned, a love of the job is probably just as important as turning a profit. In reality, though, running at a loss simply isn’t an option. If you want your farming company to thrive, it’s imperative that profits are maintained at all times.
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Soulful rock singer, storyteller and guitarist Tony Tripi returns to Better Farm backed by his full band for a Better Radio Live Broadcast Series performance at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 18 on the outdoor stage of the Art Barn.
Tripi, based out of Buffalo, was the first act in betterArts' Live Broadcast Series last August, playing with Andrew Daniels. This show will be Tripi's second-to-last stop on his spring tour. Those living locally who can't attend can listen in live on Better Radio, 88.5 FM.
Friday morning, May 19, Tripi will be offering a free “Live Music and Meditation” for anyone who would like to participate. Bring your yoga mats or blankets, pillows, water and your friends. Reconnect with yourself as the musicians help you work your way through the chakras, bringing healing and a sense of peace. Email info@betterfarm.org to sign up!
Lodging is available—click here to make a reservation.
Suggested betterArts donation of $5 at the door to support future live broadcast series events. BYOB. Lights snacks and refreshments will be served. In the case of inclement weather, the show will be held inside the Art Barn.
BETTER FARM IS LOCATED AT 31060 COTTAGE HILL ROAD, REDWOOD, NY.
You may think that farming is one of those industries that is already performing quite well when it comes to the environment. It is not a massive corporation which is spewing pollution into rivers, or an urban retail business which wastes so much cardboard and plastic, not the mention the immense amounts of electricity required to keep the lights on all day. However, this would be a misconception. The carbon footprint of a farm can still be quite substantial. For instance, the use of machinery like combine harvesters or tractors requires fuel which results in a certain degree of pollution. Not only that, the manufacturing process that created those machines would have resulted in a great deal of pollution. There is then the issue of how the farm manages to sell its products. Employing a transit company, irrespective of whether it does its best to reduce its emission, is another toll on the environment. There is then the issue of all of the fuel and electricity that are used when running a farm. The animals themselves can be a problem too. Cows are said to produce between 70 and 120 kg of methane a year. That is the equivalent of 2300 kg of carbon dioxide, which is about as much as is produced when you burn 1000 liters of petrol. You could drive 12500 km with that much.
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