by Tom Zink, Horticulturalist
Taking the leap into market farming can be both exciting and daunting. Aside from the big dreams, one must realize that some serious questions must be asked and answered to ensure success.
In this series, “Intro to Market Farming,” subjects will include how to set up a farm, equipment demands, crop planning/rotations, small farming techniques, and how to build and market a brand.
Future farm site selection is the most important decision to make in regard to starting a farm. A good site is more than just a piece of land. Fertility can always be built up, slopes can be managed, and even water availability can be improved on to some degree.
One thing that cannot be negotiated is farm proximity to customers and potential sales outlets. Having a larger population center nearby equates with opportunities for sales and a bigger demand overall. Business location is the key to success.
Optimum growing conditions in a fresh spot, in most cases, will be low. The good news is that fertility can be improved. Soil testing in multiple areas on the piece of land before building plots is highly recommended. Testing will identify what nutrients are present, and where pH levels are at and what kind of supplements may be needed.
The addition of organic matter and compost, planting of cover crops, or a combination can boost soil life significantly. On a small farm, it’s more cost effective to identify your growing area and focus on improving just the plot spaces instead of the entire piece of land. Be aware of fertilization methods and the long-term effect they will have on the land and growing space.
Growing on sloped land can be both an advantage and disadvantage based on how the farm is arranged. A raised bed system (to be covered more in future articles) built with the slope can channel water into walkways and out of the plot. Building beds against the slope will result in washout issues.
An aggressive slope should be tamed with heavy machinery. Slope also limits equipment choices and abilities. Slopes can also play a factor in sun exposure and wind pressure the garden might experience.
A new site may come with a lot to be desired and improved. Water availability must be considered immediately. Will water from obtained from a pond, river, or creek? Will there be reliance on well, rural, or city water? What is the backup source for water? Farming depends on water availability, so an early decision on the water source and building the farm around it is imperative.
How water is deployed into the fields and plots will be dictated by crop selection and rotation. Some crops need more water than others, so keep the source in mind. Longer-term crops (in-ground 50+ days) typically receive drip irrigation while fast spinning crops (in ground less than 50 days) receive overhead. Remember to follow Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) rules pertaining to irrigation water.
Location, soil fertility, grade of the land and water availability are all important factors in successfully picking a farm site. The type of crops to be grown and how sales are made will determine the weight of each factor.
For instance, a u-pick farm benefits by being close to a dense population center and a gentle slope, whereas an independent vegetable producer may sacrifice longer drive times for better sun exposure.
Each farmer will have to make these decisions themselves based on what they value most. Due diligence in site choice will provide foundation for success in many years to come.
