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Home › Society › Economy › Business, Accounting & Taxes › How to get started with agtech and farming investments?

How to get started with agtech and farming investments?

Started by gentlecanyon65 · · 👁 21 views · 509 replies

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Participants gentlecanyon65jadebear9Ronald Castillo5Richard Edwards10Larry Price3Joseph Gomez39Drew Young10dustyjackal68slyranger72Walter Myers4Rachel Sanchez64urbanranger18Nicholas Watson4Ethan Ramos3Jeffrey Sullivan8Robin Ross5feralwolf12electricbadger47Gregory Brown4AJoshua Scott2casualtrucker17Nicholas Murphy70Steven White4 …
feralwolf12 feralwolf12 Newcomer
5 messages
joined Nov 2005
#21 ·
That long?
Isn't there some kind of hybrid walnut variety out there that might actually start producing a bit sooner?
electricbadger47 electricbadger47 Newcomer
4 messages
joined Mar 2006
#22 ·
I’ve got about ten mature walnut trees in the yard. I spent forever waiting for them to actually produce anything, but now? It’s great. Whenever work goes absolutely insane in the fall, my favorite thing is just escaping out to the orchard to gather them. Honestly, it’s my version of a stress-relief program. Then when things slow down at the office during the winter, I spend my time cleaning up the mess. Though, let's be real—you have to clear through a massive pile just to snag a single pound of walnuts, which is $13 max. Still, it feels therapeutic, like I'm actually accomplishing something tangible. But could I make a living off this? Yeah, right. Not a chance.
gentlecanyon65 gentlecanyon65 NewcomerOP
3 messages
joined Mar 2006
#23 ·
...... DOES ANYONE ACTUALLY KNOW THE EXACT, DOWN-TO-THE-CENT SUBSIDY AMOUNT FOR HAZELNUT FARMING? .....

OR EVEN WHERE THE HELL I CAN FIND THIS INFO?..... I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING THE ENTIRE INTERNET UNTIL MY BRAIN FEELS LIKE IT'S MELTING.....

btw.... THANKS FOR THE HELPFUL REPLIES AND ALL THE SUPPORT

I'LL KEEP YOU GUYS POSTED ON HOW EVERYTHING IS SHAKING OUT

hehe SO THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF NEWS

WE ARE DIVING INTO THE BUSINESS WORLD—THE THREE OF US ARE GOING BIG AND JUMPING STRAIGHT INTO 75-100 ACRES RIGHT FROM THE START!!!

jupiiiiiiiii

PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP IF ANYONE HAS THE NUMBERS😁 😁 😁 👍 👍 😕 😕 😕
Joseph Gomez39 Joseph Gomez39 Member
34 messages
joined Aug 2004
#24 ·
Just head down to your local county office where you live, maybe check in with the Department of Agriculture or even hit up a local agricultural extension service... you should be able to get some really solid, helpful answers there if you ask the right people.
Joseph Gomez39 Joseph Gomez39 Member
34 messages
joined Aug 2004
#25 ·
Check out these local agricultural grants in the Midwest... For apples and pears, the subsidies reach $6.50 per acre, while cherries get $3.50, peaches get $4.50, plums get $3.00, and hazelnuts bring in $2.50. ...
www.midwestagri.com/?V=2366os08 - 14k - Related Pages - Saved - Similar pages

How can you say you can't find it? This was the very first thing that popped up on Google when I searched for it, and it gives you all the info right away. I'm wondering what kind of search methods you're actually using...
urbanranger18 urbanranger18 Member
20 messages
joined Apr 2007
#26 ·
gentlecanyon65 said:THE THREE OF US ARE DIVING STRAIGHT INTO THIS BUSINESS AND WE'RE AIMING TO SCALE UP TO ABOUT 75-100 ACRES RIGHT FROM THE GET-GO!!!

That’s adorable, really—the three of you jumping into an industry you clearly know nothing about. 😁 And then, when things inevitably go south, you’ll probably end up blaming the government for your own lack of preparation.
Do any of you actually have a plan for who’s going to buy your hazelnuts? What kind of market price are you banking on? Have you even crunched the numbers on overhead and operating costs to see if there's a profit margin at all? What happens if those federal agricultural subsidies dry up for some reason? Honestly, do you even have a grasp on the actual technology required for production, storage, or processing?
Gregory Brown4 Gregory Brown4 Newcomer
2 messages
joined Mar 2006
#27 ·
19. Planting new perennial orchards in
fruit farming:

1) apples:

a - standard regions $6467 per acre

b - strategic regions $8617 per acre

2) pears:

a - standard regions $6467 per acre

b - strategic regions $8617 per acre

3) cherries:

a - standard regions $3600 per acre

b - strategic regions $4783 per acre

4) peaches:

a - standard regions $4533 per acre

b - strategic regions $6033 per acre

5) plums:

a - standard regions $3000 per acre

b - strategic regions $4000 per acre

6) mandarins:

a - standard regions $7200 per acre

b - strategic regions $9567 per acre

7) almonds:

a - standard regions $2433 per acre

b - strategic regions $3250 per acre

8) walnuts:

a - standard regions $3733 per acre

b - strategic regions $4967 per acre

9) hazelnuts:

a - standard regions $2433 per acre

b - strategic regions $3250 per acre

10) olives:

a - standard regions $6000 per acre

b - strategic regions $7967 per acre

11) sweet cherries:

a - standard regions $4883 per acre

b - strategic regions $6500 per acre

20. Planting new vineyards:

1) in strategic regions $13333 per acre

2) rest of the US $9333 per acre

http://www.nytimes.com/official/gazette/index.asp
Grabbed this from The New York Times. I guess there's about 10 more updates or tweaks to look through too.
Gregory Brown4 Gregory Brown4 Newcomer
2 messages
joined Mar 2006
#28 ·
NERAST,

I guess you could tell me what you paid per acre for the land?
A Anonymous Veteran
3.6K messages
joined May 2005
#29 ·
You can snag an incentive of $22 to help get your walnut orchard started, plus there’s a production subsidy that lets you pull in $0.83 per hectare every single year once things are established.
When it comes to the waiting game, standard walnut trees usually take about 10 years to start producing, though if you go with grafted varieties, you could see a harvest in as little as 8 years. A tree really hits its stride and reaches full maturity after about 20 to 25 years. As for the market value,
shelled walnuts can fetch up to $20 per kilogram, while the price for walnuts still in the shell goes up to $3.25.
If you have a single mature tree in full production, you could potentially harvest up to 30 kg of shelled nuts. On a one-hectare plot with 200 trees, that works out to 200 trees * 30 kg * $20/kg, which equals a yearly revenue of $120000.
Joshua Scott2 Joshua Scott2 Newcomer
4 messages
joined Mar 2006
#30 ·
M$RIN said:The grant for planting walnut orchards is $22, plus there's an annual production incentive where you can get up to $0.83 per hectare after they're established.
Regarding the harvest timing, walnuts usually start producing after about 10 years, though grafted varieties might kick in after 8... full production typically hits around the 20 to 25-year mark, and as for market prices,
shelled walnuts can go for as much as $20, while the price for them still in the shell reaches up to $3.25.
With one mature tree yielding up to 30 kg of shelled nuts, if you have 200 trees on a single hectare, that would mean 200 trees * 30 kg * $20/kg = $120000 in annual revenue...

you sure know how to run the numbers😍
if everything worked out exactly like that, we wouldn't see a single open meadow or empty field left in America, because everyone would have planted nothing but walnut trees by now... 😉
also, why does your math show the planting grant at 65TK when others are saying it's more like 10-15TK?
if someone really wants to get into nut farming and owns land out in California or Arizona, the smartest move would probably be planting Jojoba, since a liter of Jojoba oil goes for about $50...
casualtrucker17 casualtrucker17 Member
10 messages
joined May 2005
#31 ·
Look, gentlemen... I see the enthusiasm, and honestly, it’s great... 🙂
But you’re all overlooking one glaring reality... and that is that here in the American market, we don't exactly live by the "laissez-faire" mantra! 😉

I mean, if our Secretary of the Treasury—and let me be clear, he's speaking as a politician, not just a man—says he wants to tax even the tiny little side hustles you pick up, like charging people for building access, then why wouldn't they come after you too?
To even qualify for those government grants everyone is dreaming about, you have to officially register your business... which makes sense, I suppose. But once you do that, just be ready for the IRS to come knocking on your door demanding their cut... so much for those "handouts."
You can't just plant something in the ground and expect it to grow without interference. 😁

And I suspect there are more traps waiting. For instance, the local water authorities will likely demand fees, not to mention all the other regulatory hurdles... and heaven knows what happens when you try to buy land in federally protected zones.

Nobody gives you anything for free in this country. The only thing you get is whatever crumbs the unemployment office tosses your way, and even then, you have to earn that healthcare by walking around town looking for work.
(I actually knew a guy who was handed a referral card and had to spend his days wandering from office to office in his field, just begging them to hire him or even just give him the time of day!)

As I was saying, the government takes a massive slice of the pie while offering very little in return... do yourself a favor and look into that sector before you dive in headfirst.
Joshua Scott2 Joshua Scott2 Newcomer
4 messages
joined Mar 2006
#32 ·
Of course the government isn't going to just sit back and watch you pull in $500k in revenue from a 10-acre plot without trying to take a massive bite out of your profits...😉
even if I have to say that Microsoft's forecast (estimating 1 acre of walnuts at $50k) seems a bit too optimistic to me 😁
...
urbanranger18 urbanranger18 Member
20 messages
joined Apr 2007
#33 ·
M$RIN said:... and when you look at walnut prices,
one pound of shelled walnuts can go for up to $20, while the price for them still in the shell reaches about $3.25.
If you have a single tree in peak production, you could pull in as much as 30 lbs of shelled nuts, which means on just one acre with 200 trees—that’s 200 trees * 30 lbs * $20/lb = $120000 in annual earnings.

Honestly, I'd toss that math right out the window because you aren't going to hit those numbers in the real world. First off, you won't see those prices at the store; shelled walnuts at a place like Whole Foods are closer to $13 once you factor in all the sales tax and the retailer's markup. Plus, you can't count on pulling 6 tons of shelled product off an acre every single year—nature doesn't work like that, and some years you might end up with absolutely nothing due to weather or pests. You also aren't going to be selling these by the handful on a street corner; you'll have to deal with wholesalers or big grocery chains. Don't forget to subtract the heavy lifting, too—everything from tilling the soil and harvesting to the cleaning process. If you actually walk away with even 10% of what was calculated above, you're looking at a tiny little pile of cash 😁
A Anonymous Veteran
3.6K messages
joined May 2005
#34 ·
I think the incentive is roughly $5.50 for walnut orchards, but I might have miscalculated. Don't come at me with useless comments—unless you're actually planting at least two acres of walnuts, then we can talk!🙂
Nicholas Murphy70 Nicholas Murphy70 Member
10 messages
joined Aug 2007
#35 ·
milbo said:I've got about ten mature walnut trees. I waited forever for them to actually produce, but now it's great. When work gets insane in the fall, escaping to the orchard to gather them is my go-to. It's basically my stress relief program. Then in the winter, when things slow down at the office, I spend my time cleaning up. Though, you have to clean a massive amount just to net 1 kg of walnuts, which is $13 max. Still, it feels good to be productive. But making a living off it? That's a stretch.

As for whether you can make a living from it... who knows. In my own case, I know that with my fourteen (mature)🙂 plus some smaller ones (maybe 10-12 years old), I make a decent profit. (Not sure how old your trees are, but mine are mostly between 35-50 years old, plus three that are probably twice that age). Selling them isn't an issue.
In years when supply is low—which will likely be this year—prices easily climb above $13 if you find the right market and build long-term connections. It's not my main job, but anyone willing to deal with the cleanup and pull in maybe 400-450kg annually can see a nice return compared to an hourly wage. Of course, the market needs to recognize these aren't the junk sold in grocery stores (sorry, but those store-bought nuts smell off and show their poor quality through a hundred different traits and bad storage) that Walmart, Visa, and others sell for $17... or similar prices.
Most of the labor goes into the cleaning... the rest is negligible...
Will the USA need this once they finally impose their regulations on us? I don't know.😕
I just know my djed wasn't wrong to plant this many trees.
Interesting topic. Caught my attention.👍
Steven White4 Steven White4 Newcomer
2 messages
joined Jun 2006
#36 ·
Nicholas Murphy70 said:As for whether you could actually make a living off this... I honestly can't say for sure. But looking at my own situation, I know that from my fourteen (mature) 🙂 plus some smaller trees (around 10-12 years old), I pull in a pretty decent profit. (I’m not sure how old your walnut trees are, but mine range from 35 to 50 years old, with three outliers that are probably twice that age.) And frankly, finding a buyer isn't an issue at all.
In years when the walnut supply is low (which will likely be the case this year), prices jump up by more than $13 without any trouble; you just have to find the right market and establish some long-term connections. This isn't my primary occupation, but anyone willing to put in the work to clean the walnuts and harvest roughly 400-450kg every year can make a great return compared to an hourly wage. Of course, the market has to recognize that this isn't that garbage you see in grocery stores (I have to use that term because those walnuts, besides smelling off, have about a hundred other flaws that scream poor quality and terrible storage) that Walmart, Visa, and others sell for $17... or similar prices.
Most of the labor goes into cleaning them; everything else is negligible...
Hmm... whether the USA will need this once they finally tighten the screws on us... I don't know... 😕
all I know is that my djed was absolutely right to plant this many walnut trees...
Anyway, it's an interesting topic that's caught my attention now. 👍

Your djed was incredibly smart, and so are you.

Nobody ever accounts for the exit value when leaving a business. We're talking about walnuts here—do you even realize the volume of walnut wood per cubic meter?

If you don't know, go ask at a local sawmill.
There's a massive price difference between dry and wet wood.

With 3 acres, you'll definitely be sitting on a million when you exit the business. Now, what can you really expect from pears or hazelnuts when you retire?
Nicholas Murphy70 Nicholas Murphy70 Member
10 messages
joined Aug 2007
#37 ·
Forbes 30 Under 30 said:Your Grandpa was smart, and clearly you are too.

Nobody calculates the exit strategy here. We’re talking about walnut trees—do you have any idea what a cubic meter of walnut timber actually goes for?

If you don't know, go ask someone at a local sawmill.
There’s a massive price gap between seasoned wood and green wood.

With 3 acres of walnut, you're looking at a million-dollar payout upon exit. Who cares about some measly pears or hazelnuts when that's the endgame?

Regarding the timber, it definitely holds value—that's a fact. I've already received offers for it, though I'll wait a bit longer before pulling the trigger... if someone actually owned 3 acres of walnut... hm... I won't even try to wrap my head around how much lumber that is.🙂
Bottom line, I know it was a solid investment that paid for my college tuition, and it always pays off. There’s never been a time when you couldn't sell walnut—there’s always someone looking for high-quality wood.
Nicholas Murphy70 Nicholas Murphy70 Member
10 messages
joined Aug 2007
#38 ·
NERAST said:...... DOES ANYONE ACTUALLY KNOW THE EXACT FIGURE FOR HAZELNUT SUBSIDIES? .....

OR AT LEAST WHERE I CAN FIND THAT INFO? I'VE BEEN SEARCHING THE ENTIRE WEB UNTIL I DROPPED DEAD.....

btw.... THANKS FOR THE CONSTRUCTIVE ANSWERS AND SUPPORT

I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED ON HOW THINGS ARE GOING

hehe HERE'S A LITTLE NEWS

THE THREE OF US ARE LAUNCHING THIS BUSINESS AND WE'RE JUMPING STRAIGHT INTO 75-100 ACRES RIGHT FROM THE STARTUP!!!

jupiiiiiiiii

PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP IF ANYONE HAS THE Quincy DATA]

Enthusiasm is good.. just needs some balance with common sense...🙂 just don't get carried away...😉
personally, I've had great luck with walnuts.. but even though I have a massive plot right behind my house.. I wouldn't dive in like that.. planting everything and just hoping for the best..😕
I think it’s smart to do way more research first. Just one thing to consider:
A while back, I offered walnuts to a major retail chain (just wanted to check their buyback prices).. and when they gave me their quote, I almost bit my tongue to keep from telling them the truth about their product.😠
In their stores, they sell walnuts that they clearly don't know how to store properly (for example... at these temperatures, the walnuts are sitting out in the open in grocery stores rather than being frozen or vacuum-sealed.. they can last maybe 10 days if they aren't frozen.. if they are—which I'm certain they are—then you get 5-7 days before they lose quality), and there's this unpleasant smell.
They likely weren't dried or cleaned properly; they were probably just processed and flash-frozen.. then once they thaw on the grocery store shelves, the color shifts from yellow to black, etc.
If you're going big, you need a huge market.. so look into that first. I've had reliable partners for a long time who actually care about quality and are always ready to deal.
As for the subsidy amount, I believe it's around $11,000-$4000 per acre...
Keep me updated on your progress.. cheers!😁
fadedhound30 fadedhound30 Newcomer
3 messages
joined Jun 2006
#39 ·
So, I was falling down a rabbit hole earlier reading about this study on how much sense using biodiesel actually makes for cars, and it got me thinking—why isn't anyone jumping into rapeseed oil production for fuel? Like, seriously, why aren't more people trying to make this happen?
From what I can tell, there’s maybe one outfit out here doing anything remotely related to it, and they basically just ship everything straight out of the country to places like Canada or Germany, which makes me wonder if there’s even any local interest in getting into the game at all...
Nobody seems to be talking about it, but honestly, I feel like it could be a massive goldmine once you get past the initial growing pains and really find your rhythm in the industry.
Rachel Ruiz39 Rachel Ruiz39 Member
21 messages
joined Jun 2008
#40 ·
Shaolin said:I was just reading an interesting study today regarding the benefits of using biodiesel in vehicles, and as I stumbled upon this topic, I started wondering why nobody seems to be jumping into rapeseed production for biofuel here in the States.
As far as I know, there’s basically one major firm doing it, and they seem to export their entire yield over to Europe—is there just no domestic interest in this at all?
Nobody really talks about it, but I honestly feel like it could be such a lucrative venture, maybe not right out of the gate, but once you get your footing in the industry...

The reality is that growing rapeseed requires massive amounts of acreage and incredibly expensive heavy machinery, so most farmers find it much more profitable to stick to smaller plots where they can plant specialty crops that command a higher price per pound.

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