When many people think of starting a business, their first thought isn’t to start a working farm. Of course, there are many people out there who live and breathe their farms and have had these businesses passed down many generations. Running a working farm is not easy and it can also be quite costly to get started.
In this article, we are going to look at the cost of starting a working farm. Keep reading if this is something you have considered.
The Land
The biggest investment that you’ll need to make for your farm is the cost of the land. If you are planning on having a lot of different animals, you’ll need enough space to keep them in. On top of this, you’ll want a prime location that has rich soil and a nice farmhouse for you to live in. While you don’t need to live at the farm, most farmers do as the job is 24 hours a day. The price of agricultural land in the UK can be as high as £6,975 per acre so make sure to consider this carefully.
Animals
Your working farm isn’t going to be very profitable if you don’t have the animals to fill it. Many people think that the animals pay for themselves as they reproduce but you’ll need to get some animals in there, to begin with. Some animals will cost more than others, for example, a cow will be much more expensive than a chicken. It is important that you are only buying what you need so as not to waste money in the beginning. If you don’t have a lot of staff to help, cows, chickens and sheep will be hard to manage at the same time. Make sure to check out the current livestock prices.
Farm Supplies
Another cost that you will encounter on your working farm is the cost of farm supplies. You’ll need everything from farm fencing to troughs and of course, food for your animals. That’s not all, you’ll also need to pay for shelter for your animals and buy all of the tools to make sure that they are cared for. Farm supplies don’t have to be expensive, just make sure that you shop around and find the best possible price for you.
Machinery
Finally, a working farm isn’t going to be complete without machinery. You’ll need to have the right tools to milk your cows effectively and look after your chickens. You might also need some tractors and other forms of machinery to keep your farm operating properly. This will likely eat into your budget but hopefully, your profits will cover the costs over time.
If you are thinking about starting your own working farm in 2020, you should consider the costs carefully. A farm can be a family business and starting one now can be a great idea. Use the tips that we have given you and start your farming business today.