In the beginning success may have seemed well within reach.
A2/A2 milk is $10+ in the stores, mini Jersey heifers are $4000+ at just weaning age, grassfed beef is $8/lb…we as farmers should mathematically be wealthy in our cash flow and bank accounts!
But it just doesn’t play out that way. Instead of ewes lambing twins and triplets twice a year and lamb selling for $10/lb we experience ewes lambing singles once a year. And by the time we’re done culling those ewes that didn’t lamb at all, the ones that were lousy moms or became wormy despite our best efforts we’re glad to have one fat lamb to wean! Of course, $10/lb is a major city price and in our rural small town USA everyone thinks lamb is “disgusting“ so the precious fat lamb becomes a ewe in our flock as we plan to rebuild our flock with home raised genetics!!
I could write the same real life experience about every single species or crop, but the point is the same, it takes a large fortune to make a small fortune on the farm.
Look closely at the successful well known small farmers. Did they make a living on growing lettuce, or writing a book? Was it selling beef at their local market or selling their cattle genetics? Joel Salatin isn’t an excellent farmer. He’s an excellent writer and motivational speaker. He found creative ways to make his farm sustainable. Host field days, write articles, and books, and speak at events all over the world. I’m not saying this is wrong, I greatly admire his talents! But I am saying to look at what successful farmers are really selling.
When you start your farm, build it for you. You will be the number one investor and should have the best rewards!
Daily I see homesteads begin with Nigerian Goat, Kunekune pigs, dual purpose chickens, and they’re looking for an affordable polled a2/a2 disease tested registered mini Jersey that is trained, bred, in milk, with a heifer calf by her side, delivered for under $2000…
Just as frequently I see people selling extra roosters instead of butchering them, rehoming their rooting infertile Kunekunes, and trying to sell their crazy jumping goats. Next for sale is the almost new milking machine, the stanchion, and the open dry milk cow. This is saddening because I know these people have invested large amounts of time and money and they have not enjoyed their investments. Stop living in a bubble people. Farming is real live work, every single day. Learn to adapt your farm for you, push yourself, challenge yourself, be critical occasionally so you can get fresh perspective and improve. Unite with your family or spouse on what you want from your farm, because the farm should serve you, not you serve your farm.
You have to be resilient and adaptable. I’m going to be the first to tell you that a black cow can give as excellent of milk as a perfect Jersey…and she almost always costs less.
Find your niche, this is key to your financial success. Friends have discovered sourdough breads, painting rocks, carving wooden spoons, making walnut syrup, breeding mini Jerseys, soap making, lip balms, leather books…the opportunity is truly endless. Understand that these endeavors can often take many years to develop into a 40k income, but they can be an easy side gig that helps pay the farm expenses. And once it does develop into a sustainable income, it’s YOUR brand, and YOUR company, so enjoy what you sell or produce.
Learn to sell. Learn to value appropriately. This is your business sense. In our farm I do the writing and Alan does the in person teaching/selling. I’m quite sure neither would enjoy success if we switched roles!! When we price things we usually are very close and often exactly the same. We always critically review our farm classes so we can improve the next time. We also make goals and decide how to celebrate achievements. Without celebration farm life can become an endless cycle of toil with very little feeling of reward. This is your life, enjoy what you do, know where you’re going and what your plan is to get there. Then you simply have to be adaptable.
Be open to the reality that farming may not be for you. There is no shame in that. I’m the oldest of seven children, all raised on the same farm. To date, I’m the only one actively farming and there is one brother who would like to farm some day. My other siblings have wonderful lives and are my best customers. They have amazing gardens, take incredible vacations, and run successful businesses.