Wendell Berry, an American farmer, wrote the essay Eating is an Agricultural Act, in which he states that farmers cultivate for the sake of their work; they love to observe and nurture the plants as they grow, they love to live next to animals and they love to work outdoors. They love the climate even when it makes life difficult for them.
So you've decided to become a farmer, but have never cultivated fields or raised livestock? Don't worry, this article will show you the way to make your agricultural dream come true.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Learning the Basics of Agriculture
Step 1. Evaluate the reasons for your interest
Working in the fields is very demanding, requires a lot of responsibility and is certainly not an activity that allows you to get rich easily. The sector is mostly based on traditions. If you have never cultivated in your life and you have not had any direct experience, but you still want to become a farmer, be prepared for expressions of amazement and perplexity from the operators of the sector and not. When asked why you want to go into agriculture, you need to be ready to answer with confidence and determination.
Expect a lot of criticism and blunt remarks. However, most people working in the agricultural world are willing to give advice and encourage those who want to undertake this activity, even if they have no past experience
Step 2. Choose the agricultural sector you like
Basically there are two broad categories of agricultural work that you can choose from: crops, such as cereals (oilseeds, cereals and legumes), orchards, forest fruit and vineyard cultivation, vegetable production, hay and forage production; and breeding, such as beef or dairy cattle, pigs, poultry, horses, sheep, goats, beekeeping and even exotic animals. A relatively new and specific sector is that of organic agriculture, which can refer to all agricultural production, as well as to livestock breeding, but involves the use of unconventional means.
- Commercial / industrial farms usually rely on more than one sector to have a complete farm. For example, a dairy cannot be profitable enough if it does not also have a silage, hay and grain sector. A farm that is dedicated solely to the cultivation of fields often has to set up a crop rotation program and cultivate at least two different types of product for each season, provide for the rotation of cereals, oilseeds and / or legumes every year, in order to satisfy the demands of the specific market. Usually the larger the farm, the less the need to differentiate production in different sectors, even if this is not always the case; however, this is not something to worry about when choosing how and where to start your business. You have every right to choose how many sectors and activities you want for your farm.
- Many family-owned or single-farmer farms, regardless of size, often cover at least five or even more sectors. Not so rare are those farms, even family farms, which are defined as "mixed", that is, they deal with both cultivation and livestock.
Step 3. Talk to some experienced farmers
Contact those companies that mainly deal with the sector you are most interested in. Check if there is any reality of this type in your area that you can visit. Do an internet search to find farms or agricultural fairs in your area where you can go and that you can study. You may meet serious and active growers to talk to about agriculture and get information from.
- You can ask other farmers what type of crops they are involved in, how their activities or the company itself have changed over time, if they have ideas about the most important sector of the moment, in which it is worth investing and even if you can stop in their farm for some time to visit it well. Farmers are usually friendly, humble and welcoming people, although some are more cautious and circumspect than others.
- Fairs and agricultural markets are also perfect places to meet other farmers, especially those specialized in particular sectors (such as goat cheese, berries and so on).
Step 4. Study agriculture
Read books covering the type of industry you are most interested in, do some research online, and find articles and forums that talk about life in the fields. In particular, the forums are ideal for comparing yourself with farmers and experts from the farming world. On the internet you can also find advice on how to start a farm in Italy, you just have to choose from many sites; to help you we report this link, from which you can start your research and get the first information.
During your research, you also need to inform yourself about the skills that are needed to successfully perform the job you are particularly interested in. How is the market for your product? Is the type of agricultural production you want to start compatible with the reality you live in?
Step 5. Take some informational lessons
There are several ways to study agriculture. The most suitable is to attend university and study agriculture in all its sectors: animal husbandry, agricultural economics, agricultural engineering and hydraulics, up to biotechnology. Obviously a university degree is not necessary to become a farmer, but specific training never hurts. Search the internet to see if there is this university in your area.
Today's farmers are business men and women, entrepreneurs who know their rights and must be able to survive in the market. So it is important to know the economy and agricultural policy, so you should seriously think about enrolling in the university faculty of agriculture to learn the basics of the agri-food sector. If you don't want to limit yourself to being a simple farmhand, you need to be informed of all aspects of the rural world
Step 6. Consider moving
Some geographic areas are better suited for farming than others, and some areas are better suited than others for implementing a particular farming business. You need to know which are the best regions for the sector you are particularly interested in and which companies are present in that territory. Or, you can first inquire about which farms are located in a specific area before considering moving there, in order to understand if the sector you want to take care of is suitable and interesting for that particular area or not.
Part 2 of 2: Getting Direct Experience
Step 1. Become an apprentice and offer your services as a laborer or laborer
This is the most critical aspect of becoming a farmer, because you choose to work in exchange for the opportunity to learn, gaining a lot of indispensable experience as you work. Since you are only at the beginning of your "career", you will find yourself on the lowest rung of the hierarchy and you will have to take care of the most humble jobs (as happens in almost all professions). There are several ways to start working on a farm:
- Check if there are regional or state programs focused on agriculture and livestock. Sometimes the Regions organize specific training courses for agriculture which you can decide to enroll in. These are usually great opportunities, as they connect you with more experienced or retired farmers. These programs can include advice from farmers or they can also put you in touch with some landowners and consider managing their farm once they retire.
- Sign up for a beginner farmer training program. Ask your local agricultural policy office or search online. You will certainly also find some of these courses in your area (just type "course for agricultural entrepreneur [your region]" in the search engine).
- Sign up or join an organic farming course (such as those organized by the AIAB association). Search and choose, among the various proposals in your area, the ones that suit you best. Following the programs organized by associations that have been dealing with this sector for years, such as AIAB, is an excellent opportunity to feel involved in organic farming and allows you to explore different solutions, because sometimes you also have the opportunity to visit different organic farms and get to know their reality up close.
Step 2. Be aware that you will most likely not be able to make a lot of money
The wages of agricultural workers or laborers are often very low or completely absent. On some farms, work is repaid with room and board, although often only on a seasonal basis (for example, during the growing and harvesting seasons, while it is very difficult to find work during the winter).
Step 3. Make it clear that you want to learn
Watch people work and ask them to teach you; often you will find that it is enough to ask why certain tasks are carried out to learn how to do them correctly. The first year on an agricultural farm will be very challenging, as you will have to learn many things, such as changing the tractor oil, setting up the combine harvester, preparing the cows for milking, managing the cattle in the pastures, preparing the feed for the animals, until you have to recognize the difference between wheat and barley.
Don't expect to become a farmer if you don't know the art, science and technical skills that underpin entrepreneurship and run the farm. The best way to learn is to gain first-hand experience in the field. The wikiHow books and articles can only give you the basic general information, but then real life experience on the fields and with animals is needed to become a real farmer
Step 4. Be flexible and open to new activities
You must be willing to do and learn whatever is needed on a farm. In some cases you will need some time to acquire the skills necessary to do a task well (as well as a good amount of manual work). If there is something that you are not willing to do or that is creating difficulties for you, talk about it in advance, but be aware that these difficulties of yours will also be a major limitation for your future entrepreneurial activity. If, for example, you are uncomfortable with having to euthanize a sick or dying animal, you are probably just forgetting that you are actually doing the best thing for that animal and not doing it any more harm. Among these activities there are (but they are certainly not the only ones):
- Shoveling manure from barns and stables.
- Climb ladders or grain silos.
- To operate machinery such as skid steer, tractor or combine harvester.
- Kill parasites such as mice or rodents.
- Handle rebellious and restless animals that can cause damage in some way.
- Plan and follow feeding and milking protocols.
- Work weeding or harvesting in the fields for 12 hours straight or even more, with little or no breaks.
- Spreading pesticides in the fields.
- Take care of the slaughter.
- Managing the euthanasia of animals.
- Manage and follow up on machinery maintenance, care for sick livestock, etc.
Step 5. Stay in top physical shape
Many jobs in the agricultural world involve crouching, bending over, lifting and pulling weights. Only those who have started a large farm and can afford to have staff can sometimes spare themselves certain physical jobs, but even these entrepreneurs actually work very hard on a physical level.
Do not avoid mechanical tasks. Try to familiarize yourself with agricultural machinery as much as possible, use them safely, learn how to maintain them and repair them. Even the smallest farms typically rely on machinery such as a motor hoe and a small tractor
Step 6. Dress appropriately
This advice may seem useless to you, but be aware that walking around a farm wearing a suit and a pair of elegant shoes is a bit like interviewing a job in a law firm wearing jeans and boots. If you are still a novice farmer, chances are you will have to do a lot of work that requires physical effort, so the ideal is to wear a shirt, jeans and work boots, even better if the safety ones with the steel toe.
- Invest in a good pair of work gloves, as you will have to handle materials and tools that could scratch you, injure your fingers, or cause blisters in a short time. They are also perfect if you don't want your hands to get terribly dirty.
- If you have long hair, pull it up in a ponytail or braid it so it doesn't get tangled in any tool. A hat or cap is also perfect for keeping your eyes and head out of the sun.
Step 7. Try to have a good sense of humor
If you laugh and smile, the day goes by faster, especially when the muscles are sore, you feel like your fingers are coming off your hands and the weather has ruined all your plans for the umpteenth time. A positive attitude is an important asset on any farm!
Step 8. Know when you are ready to start your own farm
In most cases, it takes at least a year or two of work on a farm before you can consider yourself "good enough" to go from a simple farmhand to a full-fledged manager and owner of a farm. If you want to know how to start a farm, you can read this article and find more information.
Advice
- Keep an open mind and try to learn as much as you can. You will definitely make mistakes, so don't take them personally if they cause you problems - consider them as an opportunity to learn.
- Be on time and be kind to your line manager!
- Before you think about starting a farm, start by creating a small vegetable garden or get a pet so that you understand a little better the work ahead.
- Make sure you always use common sense and listen to your instincts; if you are unsure of something, ask for help.
Warnings
- The agricultural sector can be extremely dangerous, especially since you have to constantly work with animals and machinery. If you volunteer on a farm and don't have insurance coverage, you need to know what the risks are, pay close attention, and be extremely cautious!
- Agriculture is not a sector for everyone. After the first few months of life as a farmhand or agricultural worker, you may realize that you don't like this job. That's why it's better to start working with third parties than to start your own farm and regret it later.
