How to get started with agtech and farming investments?

Sarah Cooper said:I honestly don't think agriculture is something you can just dabble in on the side—I mean, sure, there might be niche areas where you aren't breaking a sweat or pouring in massive capital (think growing Christmas trees, walnuts, or hazelnuts), but the turnaround on your investment takes forever...
I’ve met plenty of people who tried to jump into farming as a little side hustle only to get absolutely burned—mostly because they lacked the necessary expertise, got a bit lazy, or just completely botched their initial profit projections...

After fourteen years in the workforce, I KNOW you can't rely on a single source of income, let alone wait around for Social Security... especially out here in the Midwest. I’m well aware that working the land is grueling; my own experience tells me that much. But when things get tough, you just dig in. There’s no such thing as a "secure" job. And besides, how am I supposed to find some "guaranteed" odd job? My backyard garden will always be waiting for me, and I haven't left it untended once...
As for failing... if you aren't falling, you aren't rising either.
Jokes aside, that’s exactly why I’m asking questions and learning from everyone. I don't want to fly blindly into this and end up completely lost. Constructive criticism—even if it's blunt—is always welcome. If anyone is willing to walk me through an orchard, I'd love to see it in person; photos, forums, and books are one thing, but seeing it firsthand is something else entirely...😁

I’ve been working in agriculture for ten years now, and honestly, I still find myself having to reinvest every single cent of profit back into production—because if you don't, you just can't scale up or stay competitive. Anyone involved in serious large-scale farming knows exactly what I'm talking about...
The biggest mistake you can make is relying entirely on one buyer—someone who seems solid today, but might go bankrupt tomorrow or decide to blow their profits on a new yacht, leaving you high and dry when they can't pay for the goods you already delivered...
We live in a country where the system feels completely backwards—everything is disorganized and nothing seems to function quite right, especially in the agricultural sector. And frankly, once we fully integrate further into those larger international trade blocs, things are likely going to get even more complicated...
That’s why, no matter what niche you enter, the most vital thing you can do is secure your own direct market. Ideally, you want cash payments upfront so you aren't left wandering the streets looking for your money—much like how fruit and vegetable growers in Memphis have to deal with standing outside companies like Turnaround waiting for checks...

I’ve got about 250 acres of arable land ready to go, but I’m honestly stuck on what crops to plant and how to actually manage the operation. Would it be a smart move to bring in some professionals to run the show instead of trying to do it all myself?

Nicole Jackson8 said:I’ve got about 250 acres of arable land ready to go, but I’m honestly stuck on what crops to plant and how to actually manage the operation. Would it be a smart move to bring in some professionals to run the show instead of trying to do it all myself?

Where are you located?

Sarah Cooper said:I’ve been working in agriculture for ten years now, and honestly, I still find myself having to reinvest every single cent of profit back into production—because if you don't, you just can't scale up or stay competitive. Anyone involved in serious large-scale farming knows exactly what I'm talking about...
The biggest mistake you can make is relying entirely on one buyer—someone who seems solid today, but might go bankrupt tomorrow or decide to blow their profits on a new yacht, leaving you high and dry when they can't pay for the goods you already delivered...
We live in a country where the system feels completely backwards—everything is disorganized and nothing seems to function quite right, especially in the agricultural sector. And frankly, once we fully integrate further into those larger international trade blocs, things are likely going to get even more complicated...
That’s why, no matter what niche you enter, the most vital thing you can do is secure your own direct market. Ideally, you want cash payments upfront so you aren't left wandering the streets looking for your money—much like how fruit and vegetable growers in Memphis have to deal with standing outside companies like Turnaround waiting for checks...

I completely agree with these conclusions. My caution stems from my view on the current state of our country and our economy. But then again, what am I supposed to do? You’re saying there isn't much of a life to be made in farming, though things aren't much better in any other industry either. Welfare? That isn't an option as long as I still have a pulse...
Thanks for the advice and the warnings. I think I’ll still give it a shot, slowly, and see where it leads...😁

Linda Sullivan37 said:I completely agree with these conclusions. My caution stems from my view on the current state of our country and our economy. But then again, what am I supposed to do? You’re saying there isn't much of a life to be made in farming, though things aren't much better in any other industry either. Welfare? That isn't an option as long as I still have a pulse...
Thanks for the advice and the warnings. I think I’ll still give it a shot, slowly, and see where it leads...😁

Have you ever considered planting walnut trees for the timber industry? High-end furniture makers are always looking for quality walnut. It's true that you won't see a return for about 10 to 12 years, but you can always plant secondary crops in the rows between the trees while they grow.

If it only took ten to twelve years to see a return on investment, nobody else would be planting anything besides walnut trees right now.

Taylor Reyes3 said:Have you ever considered planting walnut trees for the timber industry? High-end furniture makers are always looking for quality walnut. It's true that you won't see a return for about 10 to 12 years, but you can always plant secondary crops in the rows between the trees while they grow.

Actually, nothing grows between those walnut rows—not even grass—because the properties in the walnut leaves pretty much kill off everything else.

Hey everyone, just joined the group and I could really use some perspective here. I’ve got this 2.3-acre plot of farmland right off the main road, and there’s a state highway slated to be built about 30 yards down the line from my property. It’s a long, narrow strip—roughly 115 by 885 feet—and I’ve already had the soil tested and treated specifically for an apple orchard. Because of some personal drama, I haven't been able to plant anything myself, so I let a local guy use it for corn in exchange for a tiny bit of cash. The catch is that I live in Washington, D.C., and the land is all the way out in 25 miles. Since I can't exactly be out there every day, and growing apples is a massive, hands-on commitment, I’m looking for advice on what actually makes sense to plant. There’s also this possibility that the government might buy me out since the zoning puts it right in the path of the new highway construction, and I’m thinking if there’s an established orchard on it, the valuation would be significantly higher. I figured this out while trying to get the zoning changed to residential so I could take fruit farming more seriously. Honestly, I’m just trying to navigate this mess and would appreciate any insight you guys have. Thanks in advance.🙏

I’ve got two massive headaches to start things off here.

1. When you're out there scouting for farmland, you're supposed to be looking at the specific soil quality based on what you actually intend to plant, right? If that’s the case, why on earth does nobody in the classified ads ever bother to specify the soil type? It’s like they expect you to just guess!
2. And while we're at it—is it even legal to build a residential house on agricultural land? 😁 Because if it isn't, how the hell are people supposed to get to their farmhouse or whatever else they're building out there?

(Look, I know I probably sound like a total idiot right now. 🥳)

1.NE
2. That depends entirely on what you plan to build on that acreage.

Why not? Does it even matter?

I mean, it all depends on what kind of project we’re talking about here. Are we looking at a massive apartment complex, or just some little single-family house out in the suburbs?

northerncanyon16 said:Why not? Does it even matter?

I mean, it all depends on what kind of project we’re talking about here. Are we looking at a massive apartment complex, or just some little single-family house out in the suburbs?

If you want to put a residential house on agricultural land, you have to go through the rezoning process. Naturally, there's a fee for that too.

Agricultural land is categorized by soil quality classes. They run from Class I up to higher numbers. Basically, the higher the number, the worse the soil is—less fertile than the lower-numbered classes.

Anything else?

northerncanyon16 said:I’ve got two massive headaches to start things off here.

1. When you're out there scouting for farmland, you're supposed to be looking at the specific soil quality based on what you actually intend to plant, right? If that’s the case, why on earth does nobody in the classified ads ever bother to specify the soil type? It’s like they expect you to just guess!
2. And while we're at it—is it even legal to build a residential house on agricultural land? 😁 Because if it isn't, how the hell are people supposed to get to their farmhouse or whatever else they're building out there?

(Look, I know I probably sound like a total idiot right now. 🥳)

Respectfully,

just a bit of advice.
Don't go out and buy land—it just doesn't make financial sense.
Around here, people get way too sentimental about "family legacy," which drives the price per square foot up to ridiculous levels—sometimes even $5 or $6, which is frankly absurd.

Leasing is a much smarter move, and you shouldn't have any trouble securing a lease for 10 or 20 years.

In fact, I've already started my own production line, and I plan to expand it further.
I only grow things like peach orchards—crops with a lifespan of maybe 15 years—on my own property, even though I don't strictly need to.

For instance, leasing an acre near a place like Des Moines might run you $2,500 a year, whereas trying to buy land would cost you something like 10-$5.00

Chris Newman4 said:Respectfully,

just a bit of advice.
Don't go out and buy land—it just doesn't make financial sense.
Around here, people get way too sentimental about "family legacy," which drives the price per square foot up to ridiculous levels—sometimes even $5 or $6, which is frankly absurd.

Leasing is a much smarter move, and you shouldn't have any trouble securing a lease for 10 or 20 years.

In fact, I've already started my own production line, and I plan to expand it further.
I only grow things like peach orchards—crops with a lifespan of maybe 15 years—on my own property, even though I don't strictly need to.

For instance, leasing an acre near a place like Des Moines might run you $2,500 a year, whereas trying to buy land would cost you something like 10-$5.00

Only descendants who have no clue what their heritage actually meant to their grandfathers end up selling it off. To them, it’s just some sentimental attachment they inherited, nothing more. They'll sell it all just to go out and buy some flashy Ford or whatever else they think looks cool. Personally, I don't have enough money to make me consider selling my family's legacy. If there's ever an opportunity to buy more land, take it.

The only real safe bet is buying land.

Man, where I live, they won't let you go any lower than $10 per square foot. What am I even supposed to buy at those prices? Every lot I look at is some massive 200 to 500 acre stretch. You tell me, what's the move here?

Does anyone know where I could find some black walnut saplings for sale?

Charles Howard74 said:Man, where I live, they won't let you go any lower than $10 per square foot. What am I even supposed to buy at those prices? Every lot I look at is some massive 200 to 500 acre stretch. You tell me, what's the move here?

Honestly, that sounds like a steal. I know this absolute moron who was asking for $70 a square foot just a stone's throw away from me, while someone else just down the road wants $90 for nothing but a patch of weeds! And the best part? They claim it's zoned for residential building, but the second a little rain hits, you can't even set foot on the property. The soil is useless—just barren, neglected dirt—but hey, that's just how those Dalmatians are. Anyway, folks, stay healthy and well-fed through these holidays... truly, from the bottom of my heart, HAPPY AND BLESSED EASTER!!!
p.s. have you guys dyed your EGGS yet???

Hey everyone,
just joined the group...

I was wondering if anyone here is actually involved in horseradish production?
I’m looking to pick some brains on what it's really like to run that side of the agriculture business.

Thanks in advance!