How do you find good farmland?
If you ask me how to find “good” farmland, the first thing I’ll have to tell you is that the answer will vary tremendously depending on your plans for the land. Your wish list will be one thing if you want to start an urban vegetable farm; something else if you intend to plant 1,000 acres of heirloom barley, in support of a craft brewery; and another thing entirely if you plan to raise chickens as part of the effort to save the world.
More than any other decision you make about your farm, this choice – about the land – will be defined by what type of life you wish to live. No matter where you look, you will find advantages and disadvantages in a piece of property. In this Episode, you will learn what to look for when searching for land on which to farm.
The Appeal of Conventional Agriculture
Industrial agriculture is broadly appealing because its scale and (presumed) efficiency often provide a high rate of profit – but it delivers this by minimizing nature: Modern industrial agriculture kills and sterilizes the soil, replacing much of it with petrochemical enhancements, and producing a food-like substance that is consumed mainly because of good marketing and cheap prices.
Regenerative agricultural, however, is more akin to the way nature functions - with cycles, symbiotic relationships, and a complex system of balances.
These widely divergent styles of farming, and the goals you set for yourself and your business, should determine your choice of land. When you do make your decision, do so with the next 10, 20, and 30 years in mind. How do you want to live? What do you need in order to scale up your business? Will those resources be available to you?
These are complicated and daunting questions – especially if you are just getting started, and don’t yet know what you need. Your farmland is going to decide how your farm functions, what you can grow, and how well you can grow it. It is worth taking time to sit down, think, plan, and ask lots of questions.
Some of the questions you should ask when searching for farmland:
What other crops are being grown in this area?
Is there anyone else doing what I want to do in that area?
Is there more land nearby that I can rent?
What resources do I need?
Is there electricity?
Is there a water source?
How close is the nearest town?
Is there more than one town near me?
How close is the nearest major metropolitan area?
What is the average household income in the area?
Are there any farmers markets in the area? When are they? Can I visit them?
Are there local restaurants that would feature the food I am looking to sell?
How many supermarkets are there?
What kind of shelters do I need for people, animals, and equipment?
Do I want people to be able to visit my farm?
Do I want road frontage for random traffic?
Can I turn a 53’ semi around in the driveway?
Is there a high-speed internet connection available?
The more questions you are able to answer, the better off you will be. The list above will help you narrow your search and create your own list of “must haves.” And each of those questions can be expanded to include more details – details which will also vary greatly depending on your stance.
Get Social Proof
The exercise of writing down your questions and answers is an important one. Once you have something in writing, you can show it to someone else, and get an outside perspective. If you need more reasons to connect with people, and to share your story, go back and read 04 - Farm Community.
TROY BISHOPP IS AN EXPERIENCED FARMER WHO IS ALSO JOHN’S MENTOR, FRIEND – AND A GREAT SOUNDING BOARD FOR HIS IDEAS.
Bring your list to an experienced farmer. Buy that farmer a beer, and ask to pay for some of their time. After all, you are asking them to take time out of their life to be a consultant; respect that, and show them how you value their time. They will be able to answer some of your questions, and – perhaps more importantly – they will help you think of even more questions.
When you are just starting a farm, you don’t know what you don’t know.
There are an infinite number of ways to find farmland. Some of them have been covered on FMS before, and the rest will be covered in future content. If you would like to be alerted when new stuff comes out, sign up for the email list. And if you would like to suggest a new topic, fill out the AMA form on the Home page.
There Is a Farm Out There For You
Finding a piece of land to farm is the biggest decision of your career. The choice of where you are willing to farm, and what that farm will require of you, will be the baseline for all of your decision-making. It is okay if that search for the right piece of land, with the right resources, takes some time to get right.
The more accurately you define the factors that make you happy, and the ways in which you want to live your life, the more you will be able to narrow your search for the right property. Once you have clearly defined those factors, you will be able to hold that up against both the realities of the times and your own personal constraints. There is a piece of land out there for everyone; you just need to go find it!
YouTube Playlist
Farm Podcast Episode(s)
Books On Finding Farmland
Holistic Management - Allan Savory
A must-have for any aspiring grass farmer. This resource helps you build the framework that will affect every decision you make on a farm. Think of it this way: This is the map that gets you through the next twenty years of your life.
Making Small Farms Work - Richard Perkins
(In the time since John bought his first copy of this book, a new version of this book been published, titled, “Regenerative Agriculture: A Practical Whole Systems Guide to Making Small Farms Work.” Although John has ordered the new version, he has not yet received it.)
