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Carolina Farm
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NC State: Growing Small Farms
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chemicals, real estate, seeds, crops, livestock and a wide range of
services including job opportunities.
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How To Buy Horse Friendly Real Estate
Organic Producers |
Profit Potential of Hobby Farms
The profit potential of hobby farms varies greatly. The size of the farm,
experience of the operator, and the location of the farm can all make a
difference. The type of land will affect the profitability of the farm. Is it
bare land, grassland, forested land, or wetlands? Government regulations, the
weather, and zoning regulations also come into play.
Give careful consideration to all the previous points if profitability is
part of your reason for buying a hobby farm.
To determine the profitability of the farm, first
look at the market potential for any intended products. The
type of clientele in the area and
their
ability to pay should be considered. It is better to find a product that has a
limited number of producers. How far you are from the market
affects
transportation costs and the ability to manage your product at the marketplace.
The closer you can bring your product to the end user, the more profit potential
you have. Producing raw materials that require further processing is less
profitable.
If the location has not already been determined, this should be the next
consideration. If land is needed, the property should meet the conditions needed
to produce a quality product. Perhaps an existing set-up is for sale which may
be cheaper than building new. Be aware of any zoning restrictions that might
affect your business operation.
Setting aside time to produce a quality product is important. With some
products, a high-quality product will return twice as much money per unit with
no greater input costs. Larger profits may result simply by packaging the
product to please the consumer.
Source: Univ. of MN
Extension Service
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