Ready to Grow? How to Start a Farm with this Essential Guide

Ready to Grow? How to Start a Farm with this Essential Guide

So you want to start a farm business? Maybe you want to turn your side hobby in to a second career. Or maybe you grew up on your grandparents farm and feel a pull to go back to your roots. Whatever your motivation to start a farm or agritourism business, you might not know where to start. This guide can help. 

Do You Have What It Takes?

Farmers are also CEOs.

Most people who have started their own agricultural business will tell you that all of a sudden not only are they having to deliver products that require strong technical knowledge, they also must market their products, keep the accounting books, manage labor, fix equipment, and stay on top of industry changes and regulations. Pair that with the stress of making sure their animals, plants, and family are taken care of – it can feel like a 24/7 job. 

Farmers are passionate people. They are determined, risk takers, and optimistic about the future. If this sounds like you, you already have what it takes to be successful in the agriculture world. 

Build Your Team of Professional Partners

Whether seeking expertise or simply having a sounding board to discuss ideas, it is smart to have a network of people to rely on. You need to have someone you know you can ask when you don’t know the answer. 

Here are five professionals to consider having on your side:

• Cooperative Extension Agent: Agricultural Extension Agents provide local expertise and advice for agriculture production based on current university research. They often conduct farm trials and field days that are geared to helping famers learn about best growing practices for their area.
• Lender: Your lender can help you talk through farming decisions through the lens of the financial impact. Be open and honest with your lender. They can be a great resource to bounce ideas, and a source for loans for farm improvement, equipment, operating lines of credit, and expansion.
• Attorney: Unless you already own farm land, an attorney can be helpful in navigating various options such as leasing land, renting to own, owner financing or other ways to purchase. An attorney that looks out for you is important.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA): CPAs can be a huge asset when you have tax questions or when making purchasing decisions. You can discuss with a CPA  the tax implications on whether to purchase or lease land and equipment. 
• Insurance Agent(s): Whether you have crops or livestock, working with a crop insurance agent that can guide you in the right policy with the best coverage for your farm will be a true asset to your operation. You’ll need a business insurance agent if you’re opening up an agritourism operation. If you have a young family, life insurance is especially important as well. 

Expand Your Business IQ

Most farmers love to be outside and work with their hands, but managing finances is a different story. With tight profit margins, farmers today must learn good business and financial management skills for long-term success. 

Educational Programs That Can Help:

AGAware - Developed by AgSouth in 2013, this FREE one-day, in-person workshop introduces farmers to a variety of financial related topics critical to running an operation. 

What You’ll Learn: Balance Sheets | Income Statements | Business Planning | Risk Management | Applying for Financing

AgBiz - Farmers interested in diving deeper into farm finances can apply for AgSouth’s online program through Farm Credit University to work through modules at their own pace. The online program ends with a two-day in-person conference with participants from sister Farm Credit associations. 

What You’ll Learn: Strategic Business Planning | Constructing a Balance Sheet, Income Statement & Cash Flow Projections | Farm Business Management Factors & Benchmarks | Personal Finance

NC Farm School – offered through NC State Extension, beginning farmers can apply to participate in a series of in-person training sessions to learn the business of farming and consult with experts in the field. 

What You’ll Learn: Production Practices | Crop Management Decision Making | Managing Your Farm as a Business | Farm Plan Development

SC New & Beginning Farmer Program – offered through Clemson Extension, farmers can apply to go through the multi-session program to gain the tools, knowledge and skills needed to become a successful farmer. 

What You’ll Learn: Business Plan Development | Financial and Risk Management | Legal & Regulatory Issues | Marketing Strategies | Farm Program Resources

GA Journeyman Farmer Certificate Program – offered through UGA Extension, farmers can enroll in a series of trainings that cover both production and farm business management. 

What You’ll Learn: Depends on local program offerings | Small Farm Business Planning | Small Fruit & Vegetable Production | Small Ruminants Production | Hands-on Training or Mentorship

You Are the Sum of Your Network

Some of the most successful beginning farmers are those who apprentice with or are mentored by experienced farmers. Get involved in your community to help you connect with other famers, market your products and get educated on production practices. 

Georgia

• UGA Extension, Fort Valley State Extension covers every county in Georgia. Local agricultural agents can offer advice based on current research, attend trainings, production meetings, and field days, or explore vast online resources. 
• Georgia Grown program through the GA Department of Agriculture is a network of certified local producers. Joining and using the brand on product labels can help promote and market your farm business to potential customers, suppliers and partners. 
• Georgia Farm Bureau is a grassroots organization serves as a voice for farmers in legislative arenas, offers leadership training and industry networking opportunities for farmers and small business owners, and provides insurance to farmers and rural families.
• Team Agriculture Georgia (TAG) is a partnership of USDA agencies, state departments and community organizations working together to provide educational resources to farmers.

North Carolina

• NC State Extension, NC A&T University Extension covers every county in North Carolina. Local agricultural agents can offer advice based on current research, attend trainings, production meetings, and field days, or explore vast online resources: 
• Got to be NC - program through the NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services is a network of certified local producers. Joining and using the brand on product labels can help promote and market your farm business to potential customers, suppliers and partners.
• North Carolina Farm Bureau is a grassroots organization serves as a voice for farmers in legislative arenas, offers leadership training and industry networking opportunities for farmers and small business owners, and provides insurance to farmers and rural families.
• NC Growers Association is the nation’s largest user of the agricultural “guest worker” program. Members, especially growers of sweet potatoes, blackberries, lettuce, tomatoes, strawberries, and Christmas trees, are provided with supplemental workforce that is stable, legal, and reliable. 

South Carolina

• Clemson Extension, SC State Extension covers every county in South Carolina. Local agricultural agents can offer advice based on current research, attend trainings, production meetings, and field days, or explore vast online resources. 
• Certified SC Grown - program through the SC Department of Agriculture is a network of certified local producers. Joining and using the brand on product labels can help promote and market your farm business to potential customers, suppliers and partners.
• South Carolina Farm Bureau is a grassroots organization serves as a voice for farmers in legislative arenas, offers leadership training and industry networking opportunities for farmers and small business owners, and provides insurance to farmers and rural families.
• South Carolina Grower Resource Guide is a resource to help SC farmers find production and business management information as well as organizations to join or connect with for assistance.