Kirill Yurovskiy: How to Start a Farm Business From Scratch

For many, starting a farm represents pursuing a dream and a deeper connection to the land through agriculture. Turning this dream into a viable business, however, requires methodical planning and preparation. Without sufficient groundwork, launching headfirst into commercial farming typically ends in failure. The barriers to profitability are steep - markets are competitive, margins are slim, land is expensive, and returns on investment come slowly over years or decades.

Yet with the right approach, new farmers can overcome these hurdles and establish successful operations. This comprehensive guide outlines the essential steps for starting a farm business from initial concept to first harvest. It covers the planning, financial analysis, resource acquisition, infrastructure development, production methods, and relationship building needed to turn raw land into a functional money-making farm tuned to market demand.

While tailored expertise may be required for specific farm types and products, these universal guidelines identify the systematic process new ag entrepreneurs should follow on their journey to growing food, generating farm income, and ultimately running a rewarding small farm business. Whether plotting five acres of market vegetables or a 500-head cattle ranch, let this be your playbook for strategically developing your agricultural endeavor.
1. Decide on a Farming Focus
The first step in starting a farm business is deciding what you want to produce. Will you focus on crops, livestock, or both? Some common farm production choices are fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, cattle, pigs, chickens, and more. Consider what grows well in your climate and what appeals to you. The farming choice you make will inform many subsequent decisions.
2. Research and Learn About Your Chosen Farm Type
Once you decide on a farming focus, learn all about it. Study production methods, equipment needs, profitability, required acreage, and marketing options. Attend farming conferences and classes, join industry associations, and network with local farmers. Identify the challenges of your chosen farm type and make sure it aligns with your goals, skills, and resources. This research is key to making sound business decisions down the road.
3. Make a Farm Business Plan
Every new farm needs a business plan. This is your roadmap to establishing and running a profitable farming operation. The plan should cover your business model, market analysis, production plan, resource requirements, financial projections, and contingency plans. It will require extensive research and number crunching. Create detailed budgets, asset lists, and pro formas. Your business plan is vital for securing loans, tracking progress, and guiding your decision making.
4. Select and Buy Land for Your Farm
Purchasing the right farmland is one of the biggest steps in starting your business. Make sure acreage, soil conditions, water access,climate, and buildings are suited to your chosen production. Location factors like market access and development pressure also matter. Land certified organic or with coveted production history can enable key opportunities. Shop around, get fair market assessments, and consult legal expertise to protect your interests in any farm real estate transactions.
5. Purchase Farm Equipment and Supplies
Outfit your farm with all the necessary tools, vehicles, machinery, implements, buildings, and supplies to launch production. Refer back to your business plan details to guide major equipment purchases. Buy quality used equipment when possible. Make sure you understand equipment operation and maintenance. Also budget for routine farm supplies like seeds, fertilizers, fuels, veterinary medicines, spare parts, and tools. Shop around and buy in bulk when it makes sense.
6. Set up Your Farm Infrastructure
Create the physical infrastructure for efficient farm operations by establishing things like barns, equipment sheds, irrigation, livestock pens, work areas, storage facilities, greenhouses, fencing, and more. These are typically costly investments, so pare down to the essentials needed to start. You can phase in infrastructure upgrades over time. Also handle basics like electricity, water, septic, fuel storage, and road access.
7. Plan Your Crop and Livestock Production
Dig into the details of how you will produce salable farm products. This includes crop rotation planning, breeding and animal housing programs, health and reproduction protocols, pasture management plans, etc. Understand your local growing conditions and optimize production techniques accordingly. Consider starting small by growing a variety of marketable crops or buying affordable livestock breeds. Implement practices to ensure animal welfare, soil health, and environmental sustainability from the start.
8. Find Customers and Marketing Channels
A new farm needs customers ready to purchase what gets produced. Explore your marketing options: farmers markets, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), restaurants/stores, food hubs, u-pick, agritourism, online sales, etc. Choose accessible outlets aligned with your production scale, customer base, and sales bandwidth. Network, get promises to purchase, and establish accounts before harvest time. Later, you can diversify marketing channels once production stabilizes.
9. Acquire Permits, Licenses, and Insurance
There are legal and insurance requirements for commercial farm enterprises. The specific permits, licenses, regulations, and insurance policies vary greatly based on your production choices and location. Research what is legally required and recommended. This may include water rights permits, organic certification, vendor licenses, food safety plans, liability insurance, equipment insurance, and more. Account for these expenses in your business plan and stay on the right side of inspection agencies.
10. Hire Farm Personnel
Even small farm startups require some hired labor, especially during peak periods. Determine if you can handle all production tasks alone or with family help. If not, define seasonal and year-round personnel needs and wages budgets in your business plan. For specialty or hazardous work, hire trained professionals. Treat employees fairly to minimize turnover problems. Also consider barter arrangements, apprenticeships, interns, and workers' coop members.
11. Start Farming with First Harvest Goals
You are finally ready to begin producing crops or livestock! Make sure to pace activities aligned with your business plan production timeline and budget. Your first year focus should be achieving a viable harvest for establishing markets rather than maximizing volumes. Avoid taking on too much physically or financially. Stay organized, keep good records, watch cash flows, and don't be afraid to adjust plans that aren't working. Stay motivated towards your first profitable harvest!
12. Monitor and Adjust the Farming Business Plan
Use your business plan performance metrics to monitor outcomes versus plans and projections. Review productivity, costs, sales, profits, growth, cash flows, and customer feedback. Be ready to adjust details of your business model, production plan, and financial plan based on realities experienced. Deal quickly with surprises like crop failures, unsold output, slower than expected growth, or equipment breakdowns. There is no shame in revising your business projections based on lessons from experience.

Starting an independent farm business from the ground up is extremely challenging but also hugely rewarding. Follow this step-by-step guide to stack the odds for success in your agricultural venture. Perform in-depth planning tailored to your production focus, temper ambitions with reality, access key resources, and manage risks wisely as you grow your farm over time. With grit, passion, smart decision making and hard work, you will reap the fruits of your farming dreams.