How to get started with agtech and farming investments?

What should I cultivate on a roughly 4,000 square foot plot that used to be a pig farm? Since I won't be able to visit the site regularly—it's a bit of a trek—I need something that doesn't require constant supervision and is easy to delegate to an employee.

I considered mushroom farming, for instance—but that's probably not going to work out.

Why not?
I mean, if you put even a tiny bit of effort into that space, it’s basically perfect!!!

How often are you actually showing up, how many hours are you putting in, what kind of budget are we talking about here, and what’s your setup looking like in terms of machinery and gear?

If you're just thinking about planting out in the field, I might head out to the ranch once every couple of years, but if you're trying to run an indoor grow operation, there is absolutely no way to pull that off without being there on a daily basis.

Beyond that, you really have to weigh all the other factors—labor costs, secondary facilities, oversight, transportation logistics...

nimblewalker58 said:How often are you actually showing up, how many hours are you putting in, what kind of budget are we talking about here, and what’s your setup looking like in terms of machinery and gear?

If you're just thinking about planting out in the field, I might head out to the ranch once every couple of years, but if you're trying to run an indoor grow operation, there is absolutely no way to pull that off without being there on a daily basis.

Beyond that, you really have to weigh all the other factors—labor costs, secondary facilities, oversight, transportation logistics...

I would likely only visit once or twice a month—though that assumes I have staff on hand—and I actually have a reliable crew there to handle the oversight. It’s a fully equipped pig farm, though it has been sitting idle for about ten years now.

I am looking into some low-investment farming options—nothing needs to be incredibly profitable, really—as long as the risk remains minimal. The land is located in Canada, so I won't be worrying about any government subsidies or grants there.

Alexander Chase3 said:I would likely only visit once or twice a month—though that assumes I have staff on hand—and I actually have a reliable crew there to handle the oversight. It’s a fully equipped pig farm, though it has been sitting idle for about ten years now.

I am looking into some low-investment farming options—nothing needs to be incredibly profitable, really—as long as the risk remains minimal. The land is located in Canada, so I won't be worrying about any government subsidies or grants there.

if it's a pig farm, then sticking with pigs might actually be your best bet.

Hey everyone, quick question for you all. I’ve got about 7 acres of orchard land, but there’s this one patch—maybe an acre or so—that’s just sitting there empty. I’m thinking about throwing some veggies in that spot. Does anyone have any experience with this or maybe some suggestions? Looking for something relatively easy to get in the ground and actually keep alive without losing my mind.

Timothy Cox3 said:Hey everyone, quick question for you all. I’ve got about 7 acres of orchard land, but there’s this one patch—maybe an acre or so—that’s just sitting there empty. I’m thinking about throwing some veggies in that spot. Does anyone have any experience with this or maybe some suggestions? Looking for something relatively easy to get in the ground and actually keep alive without losing my mind.

We might need a few more details first.

I'm out of data here... things are looking pretty rough and I'm scrambling to find ways to make some extra cash since my orchard is gonna be sitting idle for a few years anyway.

Timothy Cox3 said:I'm out of data here... things are looking pretty rough and I'm scrambling to find ways to make some extra cash since my orchard is gonna be sitting idle for a few years anyway.

Alright, then I'll just assume you're living out in California's Central Valley. While you're waiting on those citrus trees, maybe you could plant some watermelons? It feels like you might have a few more details to share.

First things first—whereabouts in Canada are you located? What’s your religious background, and what’s the vibe of your local community? I’m asking because, let’s be real, if you’re Muslim or living in a heavily Muslim area, trying to market pork is going to be an uphill battle.

But if that’s not your situation, man, listen to me...

Get into pig farming. Why?

It’s pretty straightforward. Pork prices are climbing, while corn prices shouldn't see any massive spikes for a few years. Plus, pigs reproduce incredibly fast, and honestly, they aren't a ton of work once you get the hang of it.
A single sow can litter about 2.5 times a year. On average, you're looking at maybe 10 piglets per litter, which means one sow can pump out around 25 piglets annually. Right now, those little guys are fetching about $6 each in Canada—actually, even more if you're down south near the border $1.25. The strategy is simple: sell whatever you don't keep as piglets up to 30 lbs, then move them as feeder pigs up to 120 lbs. Whatever is left over—maybe just a tiny 10% margin—you sell as hogs.

There isn't a mountain of labor involved, and the profit is reliable. Since you have access to corn, you're already halfway there—it's everywhere in the Midwest, and I've got plenty of my own sitting in storage, maybe about four railcars worth. Just mix in some soy, a bit of barley, and a little concentrate, and you've got a guaranteed paycheck. If you have the barn ready, just go for it.

The real question is whether 400 square feet could actually handle the overhead for staff and supervision. Pigs don't care how small the operation is—they demand daily attention, no matter what.

My father used to run a highly sophisticated pig farm out of that area—plus another massive facility—using some pretty advanced tech. Honestly, though, that’s just not an option anymore; it demands far too much labor and hands-on involvement.

I find myself leaning more toward plant-based ventures or something similar?

What's the actual deal with mushroom cultivation and the wholesale market?

slydrifter39 said:For starters. 😁
Like how to plant tomatoes. How much water they need. Which toxic chemicals to spray them with. What kind of soil works best. Stuff like that.

You’re better off coming down to Miami to work for maybe 3 or 4 months—because let's be real, you aren't getting anything for free—and even after you finish your internship, you still won't know a damn thing.

I'm positive that if everyone just bailed after seven days, the whole system would collapse. Actually, scratch that; good citizens in Miami would probably bolt by day two.😂
farming helps
Sure, go ahead and try to plant and grow them successfully enough to pay for your heating oil and gas. I'll walk you through the harvest right now.
Harvest starts at 5:30 AM and goes until 10:00 AM, then you're dead tired and pass out in the greenhouse where the temp hits about 120-130 degrees. You wake up around 4:00 PM, start sorting the tomatoes at 5:00 PM, and load them onto trucks until maybe 7 or 8 in the evening. By 9:00 PM, you're asleep. Then you head straight to the markets in Miami, Savannah, Seattle, or Washington, D.C., or sell to wholesalers if you're lucky enough to snag a good spot on a good day. If everything goes right, you sell out by 3:00 AM, rush home, sleep until 5:00 AM, and do it all over again for 50 or 60 days. If it's a bad day, you're selling until noon, and if you still haven't moved them, you haul them to the big grocery chains where you'll sell them for 20-30% of the price with payment terms stretching from 500 to 1,000 days.

You didn't mention where the orchard is located, what kind of crops you're running, or anything else for that matter. Honestly? It’d be easiest just to plant what you’re already growing and call it a day.

Looks like you’ve got a pretty hefty workload on your plate here.

Where exactly are these sites located?

It’s a plum orchard, located out near Kansas City... and you gotta wait five years before those plums actually start producing a full crop...

Timothy Cox3 said:It’s a plum orchard, located out near Kansas City... and you gotta wait five years before those plums actually start producing a full crop...

Do you have access to a solid irrigation system? If you do, go all in on watermelons. Honestly, if anyone tells you that nothing will grow there for some reason, just ignore them and plant anyway. You can still get them in the ground this year. If you have the right setup, grow your own seedlings. If not, just buy them from some pros you can actually trust and don't overthink it. As my Mexican buddies would say—it's as easy as pie.

I know I managed to turn my old farm into a necessary warehouse with next to no investment.

High-quality irrigation? It’s simple. Secure your water rights, pay the lease, and grab a pump. I know a few spots where you can pick them up cheap—electric models work fine, though diesel ones are available if you don't mind the massive price tag. Personally, I run two Lamborghinis. Get your hoses, get your piping, put in some sweat equity to DIY the setup, and you're set. Plant whatever you want. But remember: without reliable water, nothing else matters.

My single acre of orchard is valued at roughly $50,000 because I’ve got young trees, irrigation systems, hardware, pumps, and fencing all set up. I also have a cold storage unit, an Aweta grader, two new tractors, delivery vehicles, and a guaranteed market with steady payments. I have zero intention of selling, even though there's a buyer ready to pay top dollar for everything, house included. And just to be clear, I’m sitting on 10 acres total, with my oldest trees being 12 years old. You don't value orchards by the square foot—do some actual research.

One more thing: I didn't pull these numbers out of thin air. The valuation was commissioned by a potential buyer and conducted by a certified court appraiser. And who's to say I haven't picked up some olive groves or vineyards near Napa in the meantime?