Farming Ideas
Farming, like any competitive economic activity, benefits from diversification and change in order to remain profitable and relevant to new economic conditions. Fortunately, farm land provides a number of possibilities for new economic activities and innovative practices to increase and diversify production and profits, many offering social and environmental benefits. With a little time and imagination, a farm can be the perfect place to implement new ideas.
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Value-Added Products and On-Farm Processing
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Farm production, from grains and fruits to dairy and vegetables, is often sold to manufacturers who turn those products into other products and specialty items. This manufacturing process adds value to the raw materials that make up the finished items, meaning that the final goods are sold at a higher price than the farm goods purchased by the manufacturer. Innovative farmers, however, can capture this added value by implementing on-farm processing processes. Making cheese rather than selling raw milk, drying fruit to be sold as a specialty item, or making simple products like cider, candies or jams for sale adds value to farm production and can boost farm revenues.
Organic Farming
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One of the fastest growing markets in the food industry, organic produce and food items are sold at premium prices in most areas. Organic farming practices require several changes from conventional farming, but many farmers find that the price and demand for organic produce make these changes worthwhile. In addition, organic farming, which does not utilize chemical fertilizers and pesticides, has a much lower environmental impact than conventional farming and can even have health benefits for farmers who are no longer exposed to potentially dangerous chemicals.
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Permaculture
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The practice of permaculture refers to a systematic approach to environmental sustainability in agriculture. Adjusted to the conditions in each of the areas where it is implemented, permaculture involves designing crop rotations, irrigation systems and construction methods to fit the local environment. Beyond its environmental impact, however, permaculture also drastically reduces the need for expensive external inputs like fertilizers, water and pesticides. Crop rotations ensure soil fertility, rainwater management and irrigation systems are designed to maximize water utility and natural insect repellent species like garlic are planted throughout the field to eliminate the need for pesticides. A well-managed permaculture farm can be quite productive and reduce expenses to a minimum to maximize profits.
Recreation and Agro-Tourism
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If a farm is implementing interesting plans like organic farming, on-farm processing or permaculture, it can also become a recreational or eductional destination. Activities like fruit-picking, cheese-making lessons, camping or adventure tourism can attract a good number of paying clients. These visitors can contribute their labor to farm activities, purchase products and provide an extra source of revenue for tourist services like camping and instruction. Many farms, especially those close to major urban areas, derive a substantial revenue from these services, while not interrupting farm production.
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