Farming is big in the US with over 900k employees in the industry. As a farmer, it can be a huge responsibility to play the role of feeding the nation.
Your farm is probably your pride and joy, but it is best to treat it like any other business if you want it to grow. If you are serious about taking your farm to the next level, you need to identify how it can grow and take action.
Read on to find out about 8 powerful ways to help grow your farming business.
1. Start Treating Your Farm Like a Business
Even if you feel like your farm your life’s passion, it is still a business, and you should treat it as such. A farm represents a considerable investment, and the potential to grow can be nearly limitless if you manage it right.
You should realize you are a business owner as much as you are a farm owner. Instead of clinging to emotions or habit, start thinking of the financial nuts and bolts behind the success of your farm.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Is your farm as profitable as it could be?
- Are you doing all you can?
- Is your staff properly qualified for the tasks assigned to them?
- Are you trying to fill all roles within your business by yourself?
- What are your short-term and long-term goals for your farm?
- Who are your competitors?
- Are you satisfied with the money your farm is making you?
With the above, you will have a clearer picture of your farm as a business and be ready to take the next steps.
2. Invest in Marketing Strategies
Even if you have the most amazing farming business, you will need to market your products or remain in obscurity. In today’s digital world, you have to differentiate and discover your niche for your products to sell more than they are currently doing.
Sure, you can keep selling your products locally, but if you could process, package and ship them worldwide, your farming business would boom overnight!
Here is where marketing comes in. There are many ways to get the word out there, including blogging, videos, advertising, social media, and online communities. As you might have noticed, all these require some digital competency. Going online is more or less a must if you want to grow your farming business.
3. Commercialize Your Small Farm
As part of your marketing efforts, you need to create your farm brand. You are not selling “just another” of whatever it is you are selling. You need to create a brand that is unique and memorable to stand out.
Farms are uniquely blessed when it comes to branding. A successful farming brand is essentially evergreen and will remain sustainable for years to come. So, if you manage to build a brand, you practically guarantee your farm’s future and ongoing success.
4. Obtain Asset Financing
You may have big plans for your farm, but farming equipment is costly, and future yields are uncertain. The solution? Asset financing. Asset financing can be a real game-changer for farms and agricultural businesses. Want to know more about funding for agricultural equipment and farm infrastructure? Check it out!
If you can secure asset financing for your farm, you are essentially taking out a totally secure loan to help fund your business. As asset financing is pre-approved, you run no risk of defaulting, so it’s a purely beneficial arrangement for you and your farming business.
5. Optimize Operations
A modern business should strive to do everything faster and better. This encompasses everything, from decision-making to actual production and sales.
Running an agile farming business relies on a combination of modern methodologies, autonomy, and investing in emerging technologies. Some farms are more laborious to modernize than others, but if you want your business to grow, you can’t rely on outdated methods.
6. Find Dependable Contractors
Your farming business needs reliable partners to work with. This includes distributors, retailers, and suppliers of farming equipment and supplies. Thankfully, there are tons of dependable contractors to choose from in the US.
The internet makes it easier to find contractors, so you just have to spend some time browsing companies and sending them emails about your farm.
7. Follow the Latest Trends
The advent of the internet and the organic produce craze have transformed the agricultural markets. Obscure products become popular overnight and plants the public considers healthy skyrocket in price.
If you want your farm to grow, you should follow the latest wellness trends and try to produce whatever the public demands, within reason.
8. Establish Yourself as an Authority
Finally, one of the most effective ways to stand out is to build your reputation and establish yourself or your business as the definitive authority in your niche. You can do this in many ways. Some of the most conventional ones include:
- Online videos about your business and the products you specialize in
- Blog posts
- Infographics
- Social media polls
- An online forum to discuss topics related to your products
These are but a few options to grow your reputation. You can focus on your personal image as a farming expert, on your business’s position in the market, or both. Depending on what you choose, you may end up being regarded as a world authority in the things you produce, which leads to global sales and enduring success.
Ready to Find the Perfect Contractors for Your Farming Business?
As we’ve seen above, no business can thrive alone. Your farming business needs reliable contractors, but where do you start? Check out Find a Business That…, the world’s most comprehensive database for small businesses and contractors in the US.
In addition to the impressive database, you will find a wealth of business resources and general tips to help you take your farm business to the next level. So come on in and find that perfect contractor for your business!