Many cases can be made in favor of starting an organic farm. Most deal with the importance of environmental concerns, and how an organic operation could help. There are also matters to consider regarding healthy food, and a healthy way of life.
However, one case is never made often enough: that being the case for market and profit.
One thing every business owner needs is a small, niche market they can dominate. This is the case with organic farms, as well. When you launch a small farm, you’ll be in a better position on the market than you would be with a larger operation–particularly if you focus on niche products.
When operating within a small market, you need fewer resources to rise quickly in the community. This means you’ll be able to borrow money more easily overall.
At the same time, no businessperson likes to see their company peak early in its lifetime. Farmers who go into sustainable produce rarely have this problem, simply because there’s a great chance their business will keep growing in the years to come.
Interest is only growing when it comes to sustainable farming. A predominately young clientele pool presents businesses with the chance to grow and expand in the years ahead.
Initial costs often scare young farmers. One must rent or purchase land and equipment right away. There are also standard costs associated with running the farm and marketing your produce.
However, this isn’t necessarily the case with organic farms. You’ll need much less land to make things work, and you’ll need no machinery at all. This makes organic farms a great choice for upstart farmers.
There is a sense of community among those working on sustainable farms. The farm becomes a part of the community where it’s based, making it easier to work with local companies. At the same time, farmers themselves share a sense of community, as there is less competition involved than with other, larger businesses. This allows some costs to be shared, such as expenses for equipment and livestock care.
There are environmental reasons to start and run an organic farm, and the government recognizes this fact. Organic farms are often subsidized, allowing businesses to avoid paying taxes on land needed to run a sustainable farm.
Sadly, government relation to small farmers is mostly determined by the influence of large farms and agricultural conglomerates. That’s not always great for the little guy, and you should be prepared for it.
Small businesses need the room to pivot their production when necessary. This means sometimes focusing on a different product or market, rather suddenly and often on the go. This is true for small farms, as well. It happens due to market changes, or another product proving to be more profitable.
This is easier to accomplish when you run a small, sustainable farm, simply because there’s much less infrastructure in place and things are done on a smaller scale. These factors make changes more fluid.
Potential for profit is a cade to be made for starting any sustainable farm. Other reasons include environmental and lifestyle concerns.