How to get started with agtech and farming investments?

Dennis Harris7 said:I’m on the exact same page as my boss, though there is one key difference: I actually have some acreage out in the country that I want to put to work with greenhouse production. I am currently weighing my options between growing bell peppers, tomatoes, or lettuce. In various discussions I've had, people have been raving about strawberries, too. I would really appreciate some serious feedback here—any guidance on the "what" and the "how" would be huge. Also, what kind of greenhouses should a beginner look into starting out? What size would we need to talk to make this actually profitable? Would anyone be willing to help me draft a formal business plan and program? And lastly, does anyone know how the startup subsidies and government incentives work for someone just getting their feet wet?

Look, here’s the reality. Regarding strawberries, my experience tells me one thing: don't do it. Just being honest. I used to run two acres of strawberries—and I love them, along with raspberries, blackberries, and currants—but the results were nothing short of terrible. If you go the greenhouse route, you might get an early harvest by maybe two weeks, but that’s exactly when the mass imports from Mexico hit the US markets at clearance prices. When the market dictates the price, you have to play by their rules. And that's where you lose.

Once those imports arrive, the big retailers start moving massive shipments from the border. Of course, it's cheap, low-quality stuff. The wholesalers crush the competition, forcing local producers to swallow the market rates just to stay relevant. Who takes the hit? The grower. It doesn't matter if Walmart is pushing some cheap bulk produce; it's inexpensive and it kills your margins.

If you aren't prepared to lose money, stay away from strawberries. If you don't believe me, send me a private message and I'll give you my number. Call me. Honestly? I was happiest the day I tore down my greenhouse, sold everything, stripped the plastic, hopped on the tractor, and plowed under that strawberry mess for good.

I've got this little creek sitting relatively close by, but it pretty much dries up completely once summer hits

Timothy Cox3 said:I've got this little creek sitting relatively close by, but it pretty much dries up completely once summer hits

Then you just don't have one.

It feels like everyone’s decided to turn their backyard into a peach orchard all of a sudden.
Heh... the real headache with most of those setups is the climate-controlled storage part. You're looking at some pretty massive upfront costs...

I actually really liked that closing thought from Aunt Elsa about the strawberries and how they need to be mulched properly 😁

so what’s the deal with the bean market?

Timothy Cox3 said:so what’s the deal with the bean market?

A pound of beans at the grocery store? Forget about it. Prices are through the roof. Honestly, your best bet is just to plant a few pounds in your own garden. That way you can actually eat like a human being instead of some starving soldier in a 1950s infantry unit.

slydrifter39 said:Awesome, thanks, these tips are solid. 👍 One thing is I don't even have soil yet, so I've got room to choose. Aside from the actual growing, I'm interested in books and info on different soil types, what to look for when buying stuff, and so on.

you could start by digging out a plot behind the house, maybe something like 😬 12x16 feet

near that "Homegrown Garden" spot—or whatever it was called, I can't recall until I get back home—but a space that size should yield enough produce to feed a family for six months. if you get moving now, you'll be set through the fall...

Keith Taylor4 said:you could start by digging out a plot behind the house, maybe something like 😬 12x16 feet

near that "Homegrown Garden" spot—or whatever it was called, I can't recall until I get back home—but a space that size should yield enough produce to feed a family for six months. if you get moving now, you'll be set through the fall...

Provided you aren't eating anything else.

sweet potatoes,

Take some soil samples to a lab first—you gotta know exactly what kind of fertilizer you’re looking at before you waste money.

Usually, you grow them from starts under some plastic sheeting.
Make sure you check with buyers and lock in a deal before you plant, though I doubt you'll have any trouble finding someone to take them.

I was actually thinking about growing my own sweet potatoes just for the house, but finding enough starts is a pain since they usually only sell them in bulk.

coastalviper8 said:It feels like everyone’s decided to turn their backyard into a peach orchard all of a sudden.
Heh... the real headache with most of those setups is the climate-controlled storage part. You're looking at some pretty massive upfront costs...

I actually really liked that closing thought from Aunt Elsa about the strawberries and how they need to be mulched properly 😁

Peaches are great too. They mature relatively fast, don't need excessive protection, and the production isn't overly complex. Easy to move, good margins.

It all sounds fine on paper. But look, people need to realize you aren't going to plant a few dozen saplings and expect a windfall. Don't get greedy. Start with at least 1,000 units if you want actual volume. Anything less is just a hobby, and there's no money in hobbies.

Robert Hall7 said: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?

Good grief, are you serious? One acre is 43,560 square feet. You can convert any measurement—acres, square feet, yards, inches—into anything else if you actually understand basic math.
So, according to you, one acre of your orchard being $45,000 means it's about $1.03 per square foot.

Steven Ruiz13 said:Provided you aren't eating anything else.

Give me a break... 🙄 😁

You could have been decent enough to wait until I actually made it home to check on the book. Besides, how would you know how much produce the boss goes through? Or how much land is sitting behind his new place?🙏

Keith Taylor4 said:Give me a break... 🙄 😁

You could have been decent enough to wait until I actually made it home to check on the book. Besides, how would you know how much produce the boss goes through? Or how much land is sitting behind his new place?🙏

Whoa, take it easy. It sounds good on paper. A 3x4 meter plot should last half a year, right? Wrong. Why? Because

Peter Seabrook "my vegetable garden" - Penguin Random House

The book is based on the "Dig this" series. "...even a tiny patch of land—just about 10 by 13 feet—can yield a diverse variety of fresh veggies every single week, all year round." If Peter Seabrook is lying, then I'm lying too...

There's even a surprisingly precise business plan for the investment: "seed price 42.65 cents - value of produced vegetables $3.00"😬

If anyone’s got the guts, go ahead and start picking peaches....demand is absolutely crushing the supply right now...for more details, take it up with someone else...

Honestly, the smartest move is just to keep an eye on the neighbor—if they’re making bank doing something specific, you should probably be planting those same seeds too. It’s way easier when you can just look over the fence, see exactly what’s working for them, and then go ahead and mirror that success. 🤷

If you’re thinking about jumping into the agriculture game, my first piece of advice—and I mean this—is to look at your bank account first. You really need to sit down with your local commercial bank and figure out what kind of capital you actually have to play with.

Honestly, the smartest move is to start with something that offers a quick turnaround. Don't go out and dump all your cash into orchards or hazelnut groves right off the bat—that's a trap! Those aren't really "investments" you can touch anytime soon; those are more like legacy projects you plant for your grandkids to deal with later.

It also totally depends on where you’re settling up. You’ve got to scout out the local market and see who’s actually buying what in your neck of the woods. Talk to the locals, get the lay of the land, and pick a crop that’s going to put some cash back in your pocket within that first year.

And just a heads-up? Forget about large-scale grain farming unless you’re sitting on at least 120 acres of prime land.

I can’t shake this memory of an old gentleman I used to know from a small town in Illinois—he was actually a legendary production tech back in the day at a major Midwestern manufacturing firm.

I was daydreaming about nothing in particular when the thought of apricots popped into my head. I’ve always had a soft spot for them. That’s when I remembered what that old man used to say: "If you want to embrace failure, go ahead and plant an apricot tree." Well, apparently, apricots aren't on the menu anymore.

Last year, a friend of mine set up an entire apricot orchard just outside of Chicago. He picked up some gorgeous saplings near St. Louis at a great price, got them all in the ground, and waited for spring. Every single one took hold—a perfect 100% success rate. We were all stunned. Throughout the season, they grew beautifully. They were a sight to behold.

If you have the land, just plant them. Go for it.

copperbear3, I’m with you on this.

Yeah, that’s pretty much how my neighbor operates. He wanders into my orchard, swipes some tech, and disappears without a trace. Too proud to ever face me and ask what happened, though.