As an Entrepreneur, livestock farming or plantation agriculture is an aspect of agro-business that can guarantee comfortable income annually. You can make more money from farming business now that the rise in food prices and the increased demand for consumables have created viable opportunities in the agricultural sector.

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It has been noted that farming incomes will rise dramatically in the next few decades, faster than those in most other industries because the present day economy does not need more bankers but more farmers.

There is a serious food problem in the world and the only real way to solve it is to get more entrepreneurs back to agriculture to create wealth and provide jobs for the unemployed.

As it is, there is a possible renaissance in farm towns as the flow of money in agri-businesses will prompt farmers to seek new investment opportunities in companies that will create uses for their crops, like biodegradable plastics, biofuels or similar agricultural products.

The end result of all this is more jobs and more money to be earned. This article has put together some important steps that will help you make enough money farming.

• How to Become a Successful Farmer And Entrepreneur
• How to Make More Money From Your Farming Business
• What is The Easiest Way to Start an Agriculture Business?
• What is The Most Profitable Agricultural Business Idea?
• How to Make Money From Agriculture Without Going to The Farm
• What is Smart Farming in Agriculture?
• How do Farmers Become Entrepreneur?
• How do Farm Owners Make Money?
• Ways to Make Money From Your Own Farming Business

How to Become a Successful Farmer And Entrepreneur

Farmers in the entrepreneurship sector consider their farms to be businesses. And they will treat them as such. They are willing to take risks, they will try new and innovating techniques and in general they will do everything in their power to come up with ideas that will maximize their profit, minimize their effort and grow their business.

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Every ‘’small-scale farmer’’ can become an entrepreneur. Farmers show a remarkable ability to adapt to new technologies that help them organize their farms in a new and innovating way. And this is the first step towards becoming a Farmer-Entrepreneur.

If you really want to become a true Farmer-Entrepreneur, however, you will feel the need to follow each of the following steps carefully to maximize your chances of success:

Create Your Niche Market

You can create a niche for yourself in the sale of a particular produce, you can sell organic produce and vegetables as well as hard-to-find varieties of edibles to local grocery stores.

You can also sell some of these produce to restaurants as fresh or canned products though you do not necessarily need to grow fruits and vegetables on farms, you can have a nursery where varieties of vegetables and other crops are planted.

When customers know that they can always get some selected produce from you, they will always patronise your farm thereby leading to increased returns and enough funds for you.

Provide Fresh Produce

There is opportunity for you to sell a fresh produce basket several times monthly as a subscription service which should be filled with variety of the fruits and vegetables you grow on your farm. You can charge your customers a percentage of the subscription fee up front and the balance in the middle of your growing or harvest season.

For more income, you can offer similar subscription service with fresh-cut flowers from your farm as well as other items of interest to your customers.

Provide Varieties Of Farm Produce

You can also increase your income as an entrepreneur by allowing your customers access to varieties of farm produce at specific prices. The prices of the produce should be affordable and the produce must be fresh and attractive.

Some of the produce you could sell include vegetable, fruits and a few tuber crops. You may offer customers free boxes or bags to use and carry their items to endear them to your agri-business.

Make Your Farm Produce Affordable

Making your farm produce affordable is a sure way to ensure success in your agricultural business. Quality and affordability of your farm produce will definitely attract buyers and prevent them from looking elsewhere for alternatives.

Improve Your Farming Skills

To ensure good yield of farm produce, you must put in the necessary efforts to grow and manage your produce profitably. You will need to know the current chemicals and fertilizers that will boost production and this of course requires a level of skill to do.

As another ways to improve your farm earnings, you could offer seasonal tours of your farm for a fee and you can as well include demonstration and food as part of the package.

Upgrade Your Farmland

You can attract more customers by upgrading your farmland as the customers will be eager to see the new things you are putting up in your farm and they will naturally want to gain from your experience. You can therefore use the opportunity to showcase your new products and make more money for your business.

How to Make More Money From Your Farming Business

Agriculture can be very lucrative. Cash crops, food crops, fruit crops, etc will always yield better commercial outcomes since food always attracts a larger market. Here are some ways to make money from agriculture.

1. Grow a niche product for sale

It’s hard for small farmers to compete with larger commercial enterprises when offering produce to the market. But sometimes there are niche products that are in demand and un-catered for by larger farmers.

Some ideas for niche areas small farmers can specialize in include: raising goats or free range pigs; marron or yabbie farming; heirloom vegetable growing (including seed production); duck eggs; and breeding fancy chickens for pets.

2. Sell farm by-products

You can make money off the by-products of farming as well as your core products. If you have animals and poultry, sheep, goat, chicken, cow or horse manure can all be sold to gardeners to improve their soil structure. 

Most manures should be hot composted or matured for at least six months, to kill parasites and pathogens that can affect humans. If you have a very productive worm farm, you could even consider selling worm castings or ‘worm wee’ some of the most concentrated and valuable liquid formula to use in gardening.

3. Rent out space for caravan or motor home parking

Many city dwellers love to go caravanning but don’t have the space on their property to conveniently store their caravan when it is not in use. If you have an unused area of hardstand on your small farm, you can hire out space for people to store their caravan or motor home until they need it.

This can be particularly useful if you are located on the periphery of one of the larger cities, so it’s not too great a distance for caravan owners to make collections when getting ready to go on a trip.

4. Speak or teach about farming matters

Have you developed expertise in an area of farming such as beekeeping, tree grafting or preserve making? If you are confident enough to share your knowledge, you can speak or teach other interested people to do what you do.

Local community associations, university summer schools, councils and shires may have opportunities for you to teach where they will look after the marketing and ticketing for you, making it far less administrative. You may want to offer a few sessions for free to hone your presentation skills before offering this as a paid service.

5. Provide agistment for horses

Is your property set up for horses? Providing agistment services for horse owners that don’t have the land to keep horses themselves can be a good income source, especially in peri-urban areas near major cities. You should ensure that if you are taking responsibility for housing and caring for other people’s horses, your property is safe and has adequate pasture and shelter. 

You should also check that you have adequate insurance coverage to offer this service.  Insurance, water costs and infrastructure maintenance are just three things to cost out when planning how much to charge for agistment services.

This can be a great additional source of income if you are located in an area with access to riding trails, pony clubs and other horse related businesses making it more of a destination.

What is The Easiest Way to Start an Agriculture Business?

Not all agricultural businesses focus primarily on maintaining land and animals. Agribusinesses are now expanding to interact directly with farmers. More agribusinesses are buying and selling directly with farmers.

If you are looking to get into the agriculture business by starting your own company, here are 6 tips to make your business come out on top

Determine What Services & Products You Will Offer

Before you start anything, you should define the products and services that you will provide. This will act as your business plan.

In this plan, you should also include the profits you intend to make over a designated amount of time, the farm or ranch supplies you will need to make this happen, the correct licenses you need to make your agribusiness legit, and the proper insurance to cover your new business in the event of accidents or emergencies.

Get Financing

Seek the right form of financing for your agribusiness. Getting a loan from a bank is becoming more and more difficult for new businesses because of the state of our country’s economy. Many alternative financing options are available that will help start your business off on the right foot.

If your business already has incoming and outgoing orders to clients, you may want to consider agriculture factoring. Agriculture factoring will help your business control cash flow in times when you may have more going out than coming in.

Because you are often faced with pending invoices and orders, a factoring company will purchase those contracts to give you an upfront cash advance. This advance will allow you to have better control of your finances and grow your business.

Get The Appropriate Licenses

According to your state, you will need to get specific licenses in order to operate your business. You can find the right paperwork from the Secretary of State’s office. If you plan on doing business with out-of-state farmers, ensure that you complete the correct paperwork for the states in which you will sell in or buy from.

Set Up Your Business On Land

Now that your business exists in the legal sense, it is time to bring it to life on the land you purchased or leased. Establish a physical building that will best suit the purpose of your operations. This will act as a place to house the materials, tools, and machinery that you will need to operate.

Develop a Marketing Plan

Your business is now ready to operate. A marketing plan will allow farmers, suppliers, and others know about your business. Without a solid marketing plan, your business will suffer.

Hire Employees

After you have established a solid marketing plan and are starting to bring in new clients, you should consider hiring employees. Completing orders for your agribusiness is not a one-man job. Get the help you need to make a lasting first impression on your new clients.

What is The Most Profitable Agricultural Business Idea?

Agriculture is a very essential and important part of everyone’s life. So, It is one of the widely used as a successful business idea. Below are the top 10 Agriculture business ideas that help you to make money.

1. Agricultural Farm Business

• This business includes producing and exporting crops, vegetables, and fruits.
• It is done with minimal investment.
• With proper publicity, you can expand its sales locally and far off cities.
• It is the most profitable farming In India.
• Nowadays, the production of black grapes provides high returns to the farmer, which proves it is the most profitable business in India.
• Apart from this, the export of vegetables is continuously increasing in India. In 3 months, around 23% increase in vegetable export registered in India.

2. Organic Farming

• Organic farming is a perfect business idea for new generation farmers.
• These days most people use organic products for better health. It means the demand for organic products is increasing.
• By the production of organic fruits, vegetables, and flowers, you can earn good returns.
• If you are thinking of starting an organic farming business. First of all, it’s essential to know thoroughly about the use of agricultural products in the business.

3. Poultry Farming

• Poultry Farming is one of the fastest-growing businesses in the Indian market.
• In the last three decades, it has transformed from backyard farming to techno-commercial farming.
• If you want to buy livestock for your poultry farming, for that you have to visit TractorJunction.com.

4. Organic Fertilizer

• The organic fertilizer business provides low investment and high production. This business only needs proper knowledge about organic fertilizers.
• Organic fertilizer has become a domestic business.
• The business needs a little bit of awareness about organic fertilizer.
• It is the best agriculture business in India.
• Before starting this business you have to understand the difference between organic fertilizer and inorganic fertilizer.

5. Flower Business

• The flower business is one of the largest businesses in India.
• The business requires all types of flowers, especially unique and hard to grow varieties.
• Growing, processing, and selling flowers are the best way to make money.

6. Fertilizer Distribution

• The fertilizer distribution business is one of the most profitable businesses in India.
• Fertilizers are used to protect crops and improve production.
• If you want to enhance your business. In that case, you have to search online for ideas related to how to improve farming productivity and many more.

7. Mushroom Farming

• Mushroom farming can give you profit in less time.
• Mushrooms require less space and time to grow.
• This business provides high profit in the least time.
• We all know that the Government always comes up with new schemes for Indian farmers’ betterment. This time the Government announced to provide online training for mushroom farming in many states.

8. Sunflower Farming

• Sunflower is grown for oilseed and called commercial cash crop.
• It takes a very short duration to grow.
• Sunflower farming can perform in diverse agro-climate and soil conditions.
• It can grow in the rainy season.
• Hydroponic Retail Store Business
• The hydroponic retail store business is the fastest-growing business in recent time.
• In this business, the plants cultivated without soil.

9. Dairy Farming

• Dairy farming is one of the popular farming business ideas in India.
• With time the demand for milk is rising.
• It produces manure in huge quantities.
• This business needs proper knowledge about the profession.
• You can now easily sell livestock online with TractorJunction.
• Government trying to provide all the help for dairy farming in India. For more visit TractorJunction Youtube Channel.

10. Hydroponic Retail Store Business

• The hydroponic retail store business is the fastest growing business in recent times.
• In this business, the plants cultivated without soil.

How to Make Money From Agriculture Without Going to The Farm

You can invest in the agricultural process and products and earn money from it without necessarily owning a farm or going to one. There are a lot of reasons why you can invest in agriculture, one of which is the increase in the value of the business and it is a low-risk investment, high profits and flexible work.

1. Investing in a farm: this is one of the major ways you can earn money without owning a farm. You can either invest in someone’s farm by giving out capital that is needed for the business and then earn profits. There are also online farms which makes it easier to invest in a farm without physically been present there. You can also invest in a farm by giving out a spare piece of land to another person who has the time to help in managing its for-profit purposes.
2. Exportation of farm produce: you can also earn money from a farm by been in partnership with farmers to export their produce when harvested to other states and countries where they are in need of them. Exportation of these farm produce such as cotton, cocoa, maize, millet, cowpea etc can be very challenging but also rewarding with great profits.
3. Selling of farm produce: you can also earn money from agriculture by buying and selling farm produce in bulk to consumers. You get these products at a cheaper rate directly from the farm and you can sell it at the price of your choice to retailers and consumers. You can either chose to be a distributor who partners with a farm to sell or be a retailer. In either way, you earn enough income from the business.
4. Farmland yield: farmland investors can make money from agriculture through the harvesting of crops and fruits. These crops are either harvested monthly or annually on the farmland. This farmland yield is beneficial to both the farmers and investors even when there is a loss, the farmer can still start all over again.
5. Packaging and storing of farm produce: if you can do food packaging very well that would be appealing to the consumers, then this is another good way to make money without owning a farm. A good and well packaged product is more attractive to the eye. Packaging and storing of farm produce is also a great way to make money from agriculture.
6. Agronomy consultancy: agronomy provides research background knowledge for farmers. They help to supplement the traditional knowledge of the way farmers do their things with new technologies and tools to increase yields and produce tastier and healthier farm produce. You can earn money from agriculture by rendering advises to farmers on their crops and investments. Agronomy consultants are always in high demand.
7. Farm transportation: transportation is a major challenge for farmers especially, those on a small scale. Limited access to transportation can affect how a farmer will be able to move his farm products into the market. In order to cut out this hardship, then farm transportation is necessary as it helps to move the products with ease. Transportation can be improved by buying a fleet of trucks and then partnering with farmers. Providing access to transportation for farmers can generate a strong profit.
8. Online farming: this is almost like the investment type of farming. In online farming, all you need to do is spend your money for the planting of a particular type of crop for a duration and at the end of the planting season when the crops have been harvested and sold, you will get both your capital and profits. There are a lot of online farms which are legit and offers good rewards.
9. Selling of farm equipment: you can solve farmers problems by the sale of farm equipment and machinery and the sale of high production seeds and crops, fertilizers, pesticides etc for the efficient and high production of farm produce. This is another great way of making a good income on agriculture.
10. Teaching farming classes: If you are a farmer and you are confident in your skill, you can share your knowledge with young farmers who would pay for your classes. You could start an online farming class which can be interactive. This is a very good option for older, experienced farmers who are looking for a retirement option. Also, as a young farmer, if you are skilled and you have the ability to impart knowledge, you can also start your own tutorial online about farming. However, this can be very profitable for farmers who don’t just want to work on the field, but have the passion to share their knowledge with the next generation of farmers.

What is Smart Farming in Agriculture?

Smart Farming is the application and implementation of modern Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) into agricultural practices.

With the experiments on plant breeding and genetics revolutions, this smart farming is taking over the agricultural world based upon the combined application of ICT solutions such as precision equipment, sensors and actuators, geo-positioning systems, Big Data, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs, drones), robotics and so on.

Smart Farming is equipped with the potential to deliver a more productive and sustainable method of agricultural production based on a more precise and efficient approach. Smart Farming provides the farmer with added value in the form of better decision making or more efficient exploitation operations and management.

Smart Farming can also provide added benefits in terms of environmental needs, for instance, through the efficient use of water or the optimization of treatments.

How do Farmers Become Entrepreneur?

The concept of entrepreneurship and entrepreneur has evolved; from a for-profit business to including social entrepreneurship; and from an individual who organizes or operates a business to qualities that define a successful business person.

A small farmer does manage an agribusiness but may not exhibit qualities generally associated with a successful business person. An entrepreneur is someone who produces for the market and always looks for opportunities to improve and expand his business by taking calculated risks.

Farmers, on the other hand, produce keeping in mind their consumption needs and the MSP (Minimum Support price). Only a small percentage of farmers try new crops, adopt alternate technologies and package of practices to make farming profitable.

Small farmers possess technical and managerial skills but lack entrepreneurial drive to take calculated risks to overcome agribusiness challenges related to accessing remunerative markets, timely finance, low bargaining power, regulations, appropriate technologies and information, and access to BDS providers.

Following three broad areas would help in creating a right ecosystem for farmers to become agri-preneurs:  

Build business and entrepreneurship skills: Government needs to encourage private agencies and institutions that build marketing, business and entrepreneurial skills of farmers, certify farmers and also extend onsite hand holding services to them. 

Create and facilitate modern IT enabled marketing infrastructure: In order to bring transparency and efficiency all APMC mandis need to use electronic weighing machines, grading machines as per Agmark standards, and differential prices for graded products. Promote modern warehouses with enhanced capacities, cold storages, and incentivize agri processing units.

Policy law and regulations: Innovative laws such as treating FPCs as start ups and extending 3 year income tax exemption proposed recently for corporate startups companies.

How do Farm Owners Make Money?

There are several ways landowners can earn income from their farmland investments. Each business model carries different levels of risk and reward.

The best choice for you will depend upon things like your level of capital reserves, your level of experience with farming and production agriculture, and your preference for investing in active or passive income opportunities.

The following is a brief overview of the most common farming arrangements here in the United States.

Farm Owner-Operator

In this scenario, the landowner and the farmer are one and the same. Getting started as an owner-operator requires capital for land and equipment, business acumen, physical strength, and extensive hands-on experience that is typically earned by working for more experienced farmers.

Most owner-operators have grown up in the business and work for family members, but the complexities of modern farming have led more young farmers to also obtain college-level degrees in agricultural sciences.

Buying a farm in order to become an owner-operator is less like making an investment and more like buying yourself a full-time job. While farming your own land can yield the highest annual returns during years with good harvests, it can also carry the most dramatic swings in profit and loss from year to year.

If you do not have adequate farming experience, millions of dollars available to purchase the land and equipment, or the desire to assume the responsibility of running an agribusiness full-time; becoming an owner-operator will not be a suitable option for you.

Custom Farming

With a custom farming operation, you hire farmers to grow crops on your land and pay them a set rate or fixed fee. Hired custom farmers typically provide and maintain their own equipment and tools-of-the-trade necessary to nurture the crop from planting through harvest.

As the landowner you pay 100% of the input expenses including seed, fertilizer, pesticides, etc., and also keep 100% of the profit. This can be especially lucrative in years with great harvests and, when factored over several years, can net average annual returns approaching 9% to 10% of the land value (assuming you own the land outright).

The custom farming model is far less labor-intensive for the landowner than being an owner-operator. However, it is only a good fit if you have some agribusiness experience, ample capital to cover input and labor costs, and the risk tolerance to go through one or more bad harvests or years with low commodity prices.

Crop Sharing

With a crop sharing arrangement, the landowner partners with a farmer. The landowner provides the land, while the farmer provides the labor and equipment to work the crops. The terms for this partnership often vary based on regional customs.

For instance, a common arrangement in midwestern states is where the landowner and farmer each pay half of the input costs and share equally in the profit of the harvest.

In the delta states, however, a more common arrangement is where the farmer pays all of the input costs and takes 65% to 80% of the revenues, while the landowner receives 20% to 35%.

With a crop share arrangement, the landowner has significantly lower out-of-pocket expenses compared to custom farming. Unlike custom farming, however, the farmer has less obligation and financial incentive to prioritize your land over other parcels he is working, where he may be fully invested and earning 100% of the crop revenues. This could be problematic if the farmer finds themselves overworked and facing a choice of where to invest time and effort.

Averaged over several years, a crop share agreement may earn the landowner 5% to 6% of the land value annually.

Compared to the cash rent model below, however, you assume significantly higher risk with exposure to commodity markets, crop risks, and inclement weather, yet achieve only a slightly higher return.

Cash Rent (Lease)

With a cash rent agreement, the landowner acts only as landlord. A tenant farmer pays you a fixed dollar amount per acre per year for the right to farm your land.

The farmer uses his own equipment, assumes all input expenses, and, for the most part, conducts his business as he sees fit. In turn you collect an annual rent check, usually before planting begins each spring, which is typically 3% to 5% of the land value.

For example, if you have 100 acres of farmland valued at $3,000 per acre, you could reasonably expect to charge a tenant farmer anywhere from $90 to $150 per acre for a total annual cash rent of $9,000 to $15,000.

Of all the income options discussed here, cash rents offer the lowest relative risk and require the least amount of activity for the landowner.

Since most cash rent contracts are fully prepaid before planting season, this arrangement prevents landowners from taking on any crop risk from the farmers and prevents farmers from taking on any credit risk from the landowners.

Because cash rent leases require no direct labor or inputs from landowners, they are a good fit for those who lack the experience, ability, capital, time, or desire to actively work the land.

Cash rents are a truly passive income opportunity with relatively little risk. For these reasons, AcreTrader investment offerings focus on this model for investors.

Residual Income Opportunities

Depending on the unique features of your land and your level of creativity, you may also be able to secure residual income beyond your agricultural operations.

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Some common arrangements involve hunting leases, mineral rights, or even renewable energy leases for wind turbines or solar panels.

 Ways to Make Money From Your Own Farming Business

Agriculture is very important in any nation’s economic growth and therefore, it’s consistent contributions to the evolution of mankind is overwhelming. Agriculture is a very great opportunity for one to make an income either on a large or small scale. There are also a lot of career options in agriculture.

• Plant medicinal herbs: this is one of the most effective ways to make money from your farm. With the increase of the side effects of synthetic medicine, more researches are been conducted for the use of natural medicine which is gradually becoming a trend. People now makes use of more natural medicines which are obtained from plants to cure their ailments. Medicinal plants like;

– Aloe vera: this plant can be used to clear the skin, increase the growth of hair and also stop balding in men.

– Lavender: these plants have medicinal usage and also it is used in cosmetics. It is a very rare plant to grow.

– Lemon grass: this plant has high medicinal value; it can be used in curing malaria and fever and it can also be used in soaps, perfumes, beverages and so on.

• Breed fish and snails: other ways you can earn money from your farm includes the breeding of fishes and/or snails. The most popular type of fish to breed is the tilapia. The breeding of snails is known as heliciculture and it involves the raising of land snails for human consumption. Every part of a snail body is usable and therefore, there are fewer risks in snail farming than any other type of livestock farming. This business a very profitable one, which gives you the needed additional financial security.
• Have a private lake: you can have a private lake on your farm if you have a large space. You can use it to charge for commercial fishing, which could be for fun where visitors catch the fishes and then release them back into the water or they can take the fish and pay for them. Either way, you will make a great income.
• Breed chickens: you can add livestock farming such as the breeding of chickens to your farm for additional income. You can sell the chicken or sell the eggs that are been produced before they are hatched.
• Start a Honeybee farm: the harvesting of honeybees is known as Apiculture. Honey bees can produce quite a lot of honey which makes Apiculture very lucrative business,  especially for people who are not allergic to bee stings. It is important to make sure you wear beekeepers gear once you are around the beehive to prevent yourself from the bee stings.
• Investments: you can also earn money by investing in people’s farms. All you need to do is sponsor a farmer either to buy equipment needed for the farm or the crops which will be planted and at the end of the planting season, you get your profits. This is also a lucrative way of making good money from the farming business.

Conclusion

As the world keeps revolving, there are now different ways, you can earn from agriculture without owning a farm or even physically been present on the farm.

There is also the use of online farming which can be done from the comfort of your home, all you need to do is to invest your money to Farmers who are willing to do the work and you get your profits at the end of the farming season. Indeed, agriculture can never be out of season.