#STARTING A HOBBY FARM HOW TO#

If youвЂ™re starting your crops from seed, youвЂ™ll need to purchase the seeds in the winter.

#STARTING A HOBBY FARM HOW TO#

The next step in how to start a small farm is to purchase the materials and tools youвЂ™ll need to care for your crops or livestock. Talk to other local farmers to gain inside knowledge.Research the crops that grow best in your geographical area as well as the best animals for hobby farm success.Choose an area of your property that will best support your intended crops or livestock.Check with your local government to determine if there are any restrictions or required permits.

Here are some other considerations to keep in mind: How many acres do you need for a hobby farm? It largely depends on what you plan to raise so think about the space you have and research what it can support. For your first year, we suggest starting small, with just a few crops or one species of livestock. The first step in how to start a hobby farm is creating a sustainable plan. While it can also be used as a small, side income, a hobby farm wonвЂ™t provide the full-time income of a larger farm. Rather, the goal of hobby farming is to raise produce or animals for your own pleasure or consumption. Unlike a farm, a hobby farm is small and not intended for profit. But first, what is the difference between a farm and a hobby farm? What is a Hobby Farm? Our guide provides the planning and forethought that can pave the way to success. Wondering How to Start a Hobby Farm? HereвЂ™s Where to BeginДЄ hobby farm requires daily, year-round commitment and hard work. WeвЂ™ll review how to start a hobby farm from planning to purchasing so that your farm is both successful and gratifying. Hobby farmers wishing to start a fishery should consider applying for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Finance Program this program provides grant funds and low-interest long-term financing for the cost of construction of aquacultural facilities.Are you an experienced gardener looking to take the next step? Perhaps you have an understanding of animals or a desire to raise your own food? In either case, a hobby farm can not only be a practical choice, but a rewarding one as well. The field of aquaculture is a growing industry for hobby farmers.

The majority of small farms are established for hobby and lifestyle reasons crop or livestock production is usually a secondary source of income.

Another USDA program, Farm Labor Grants, provides money to buy, build, improve or repair housing for farm laborers. Eligible applicants are independent producers, farmer and rancher cooperatives, agricultural producer groups, and majority-controlled producer-based business ventures. Department of Agriculture sponsors Value-Added Producer Grants, which may be used for planning activities and for working capital for marketing agricultural products, and for farm-based renewable energy. One example is a Vermont small-operation farmer producing biofuel from his fields of canola.The farmer also sells the byproduct, canola meal, for cattle feed, which helps ensure the profitability of his hobby farm. Successful SARE grantees are producers, researchers, nonprofit organizations and educators. SARE is a grant making and outreach program advancing sustainable agriculture across America. Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education, or SARE, has funded more than 4,200 projects since 1988. Project funding is limited to three years, and proposals must not exceed $250,000 per year. Awards may be used for assistance for beginning farmers or ranchers in acquiring land, whole farm planning and basic livestock and crop farming practices. In 2010, funding for $19 million in grants and guaranteed loans was approved by Congress. If youвЂ™re just starting a hobby farm or have been involved with a small farm for 10 years or less, the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program may offer grant funding to build or improve your operation.

Starting a hobby farm