How to get started with agtech and farming investments?

Sam Murphy said:I've been looking into this too, and man, if that subsidy per acre is actually legit... $26667 I'll grab half an acre and be left with 20k. 👍

80,11200 per acre... that's basically half what you'd be looking at if you were planting apples. 😢

Look, anyone with enough sense and the guts to go after it should definitely take advantage of this. I don't know how else you'd describe it other than a massive loophole or just a straight-up oversight in the system. Basically, you can stack those incentives—grab some from the local city hall, more from the county, and then hit up the federal government too. I'm not complaining, though... if the money's there, why wouldn't you grab it? 😁

The orchard covers about 70 acres, so $33we really need to figure out the density per acre... there needs to be plenty of breathing room between them, and if you ask me, I wouldn't plant more than 100 trees per acre at most...

Listen, I’ve been planting walnuts for a long time now, covering about 20 acres total. People keep claiming the subsidy is $26667 per acre, but they’re dead wrong (just go back and read this thread from the top). If that were true, 20 x $80,000 would equal $218667 🙏. That is the amount of cash I was expecting to see, and it hasn't happened. The payout is significantly lower than what people are claiming. It’s not like the US government is just handing out massive piles of cash for no reason. In fact, the USDA—or at least the inspectors—comes out to my place every single year to check the orchards, make sure everything is organized, and audit the paperwork. The government offers help, sure, but they are incredibly strict if you try to cut corners or play games 😈.
The saplings run anywhere from $70 to $33, and you really have to be careful about which variety you pick depending on which part of the country you're in. Textbooks are fine for getting a basic idea, but they’re pretty vague and don't offer much substance; real-world experience tells a completely different story. You see people plant walnut trees, sell them off after two years, and then act totally shocked when the trees dry up and die later on. They come asking why it happened, but honestly, you only learn how to prevent that through hands-on practice.

ulicar said:LOOK, I've been planting walnut orchards for a long time now—totaling about 20 acres. Everyone keeps claiming the subsidy is $26667 per acre, but that’s just not how it works (just go back and read the whole thread from the start). If that were true, 20 x $80,000 would be $218667 🙏. That's the kind of cash I was expecting, but it didn't happen. The payout is way, way smaller. It's not like the government is just handing out free money like crazy. In fact, the government—specifically the inspectors—comes out to check on you every single year (at least they do for me) to inspect the groves, make sure everything is orderly, and check all the paperwork. The government offers help, sure, but they are incredibly strict if you try to cut corners or play games...😈.
Saplings run anywhere from $70 to $33 and you really have to be careful about which variety you pick depending on which part of the US you're in. Those textbooks? They're okay for a basic foundation, but they don't tell you anything specific. Real-world experience tells a different story. People plant walnuts, sell them after two years, and then they die off, and suddenly everyone's asking why they withered away (you need actual hands-on practice to understand that stuff).

Hey everyone.
Can you tell me where exactly you planted those walnuts? Like, what part of the US are we talking about?
My dad and I actually started planting about 15 years ago too, and we've got quite a setup going now.
It's honestly great to see more people getting into this business.

Olives? 🤔

Hey everyone, I'm new here, so I figured I'd jump in and introduce myself.
Right now, I’ve got a plum orchard with about 100 trees that brought in roughly 1,700 pounds last year. Now, I'm deep in the paperwork phase of setting up my own family farm business and scouting for the best seedlings suited for our local climate. Here’s the quick rundown of my plan: I consolidated some land from about 1.7 acres up to roughly 8 acres, investing about $130,000. That covers everything from fertilizing to installing drainage (I actually picked up a $1,500 grant from the county $233). Currently, I'm debating whether to split the plot between hazelnuts and walnuts or just stick to hazelnuts. Honestly, both options are pretty profitable without requiring an insane amount of manual labor. Most of the heavy lifting is just getting them in the ground. As for the government grants, nobody really gets it right—you have to deal with agricultural extension services, and the rules change constantly. It's not just one specific grant; you can often apply for specialized or general loans under "investment support for capital expenditures." Plus, most counties will reimburse you nearly 50% of the seedling costs once you show them the receipts.

Like a few other members mentioned above, there are a ton of little details and pitfalls you have to watch out for when you first start this kind of business.

If anyone wants to dig deeper, check out http://www.armbell.com/traktori/. It’s a newer forum, but it might be worth a look if you're interested.

Best,

The farm is out near Columbus. I worked my tail off yesterday 😈 cleaning up, spraying, and painting everything in sight—it’s enough to drive you crazy, but man, things are growing like weeds 👍. Only problem is, some people have started planting stuff they really shouldn't be touching 😠. I was planning on finishing up the perimeter so I could finally get a fence around the whole plot, but then some old lady (who can barely walk) decided to plant corn just to hike up the property value. Now that corn is already about a foot high. Then you've got guys trying to raise turkeys 🤣; if they actually tried that, they wouldn't have anything left by morning, I'm telling you. Anyway, I'm currently prepping the soil.

Olives are the way to go—if you've got the land, plant them. It's a total win 👍
. If you're already running a plum orchard, stick with it. Don't go mixing things up; at least that's my take
. A buddy of mine has an orchard with about 100 trees, and he's still planting more and making a killing
. I didn't have any plums last year, but the year before, we processed about 120 gallons of pure plum brandy
.

I’m actually looking at planting about 300 plum trees, though the plots I’ve put together so far are strictly set aside for walnuts and hazelnuts.
I’m planning on picking up at least another 50 acres of land down the road.

So, where do you plan on selling your plum brandy?

alabrale said:honestly, goats are the only things worth betting on for a profit..

And don't forget the sheep, too. Especially out in coastal California where they're basically doing the work of a whole damn fire department to keep the brush from turning everything into an inferno.

fafarikul said:I was just watching some Food Network special about local farming—they were doing this whole segment on walnut and hazelnut orchards. Apparently, the biggest headache is just sitting around waiting forever for the first real harvest, like seven or eight years. But man, they’ve definitely become a huge trend lately.

to love and have time is a luxury.
You might actually see a decent return on that investment in thirty years, maybe.
Walnut groves have always been pricey, and they aren't getting any cheaper.
Personally, I think blackberries or raspberries are a better bet. Though, some people swear by just growing basic green lettuce—you can grow it all year round, harvesting one batch while you're planting the next.

Hey, I'm new here—just jumping into the conversation.
My family went all-in on fruit farming about three years ago. We started with plums and moved into cherries (specifically the Oblačinska variety, which is strictly for processing; we’ve got about 7 or 8 different plum varieties). We’re planning to expand our cherry production to about 12-15 acres, which would bring our total orchard size to around 25 acres—pretty much the standard average here in the States. The biggest headache with scaling up is that large plots are incredibly rare; everything is broken into tiny 5-acre chunks, so finding anything bigger is a struggle.

Finding decent literature in America was a nightmare because there's so little out there—most of what exists is just "General Pomology" or something equally vague. Specialized books for specific varieties are almost non-existent. If you decide to go with apples, pears, or olives, you'll probably find enough info, but for anything else... good luck.
Most of my useful resources actually came from Mexico, and honestly, I was surprised by how much more expertise they seem to have regarding fruit cultivation compared to us. I’ve visited a few plantations there and was genuinely impressed.
In my opinion, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, and cherries are the most promising crops right now. The only downside is that (except for cherries) you have to pick them by hand—which is perfect if you have a massive family helping out. Bulk prices for blackberries average around $2.25, though at the start of the season, you might see $6.00 per pound, and the harvest drags on for two months.
Apples and pears are way more profitable, provided you have a cold storage facility, which is a massive upfront investment for a beginner.
Anyway, just wanted to share my thoughts and experiences with fruit farming in America.
Cheers,
M.

Honestly, I truly believe the smartest move right now would be to put your money into organic farming—you know, focusing on things like fresh produce and all that good stuff.

Jeffrey Martinez12 said:Hi,
Could you please tell me where walnut wood is paying $1,000? Does that price refer to raw logs or processed boards? Is this firsthand information or just an assumption?
My grandfather has 15 old walnut trees behind his house, and I am wondering who to sell them to.

Regarding the original topic, I believe it is absolutely more profitable to invest money in land—even an empty field—than to put it into some investment fund that will only double your money after 20 years.
If we are talking about walnut trees intended for nut production, I absolutely support the idea and wish you the best.
Thank you for the response.

I'm thinking processed logs!

Prices fluctuate constantly, but $1,000 +/- $50 is pretty standard per cubic yard globally—though it depends on the variety. American black walnut is cheap because the quality isn't great... high-quality domestic walnut is highly valued...

The main thing for those 15 trees behind your grandad's place is their age. If they're too old, the wood rots from the inside, and you lose a ton of usable volume. Talk to an arborist about the quality and the specific breed!

@Austin Martinez7

What books have you read about saplings? I'm asking because I've got this massive stretch of land out in Montana—about 370 acres—but I'm clueless about which species can actually handle the climate there. If you've got any book recommendations, let me know...

I'm looking into large timber, like oak or walnut...specifically stuff with detailed planting guides, root structures, and info on the best soil types for growth!

A good number of you here seem to be growing walnuts and hazelnuts...
What I’m really curious about is who exactly you're selling your harvests to?
Do you tend to sell directly to the market on your own, or are you part of any cooperatives or local farmer associations? Are we talking farmers' markets, or do you mostly deal with bulk buyers from big-box retailers or processing plants?
I’ve been seriously considering getting into hazelnut farming myself, but I'm wondering—what’s the absolute minimum acreage required to make this actually worth the effort?
And if someone were starting with just a small plot, how on earth would they move those quantities, and to whom?
Does anyone happen to have an investment plan or some kind of breakdown for setting up roughly two and a half acres of hazelnuts?

slygull92 said:A good number of you here seem to be growing walnuts and hazelnuts...
What I’m really curious about is who exactly you're selling your harvests to?
Do you tend to sell directly to the market on your own, or are you part of any cooperatives or local farmer associations? Are we talking farmers' markets, or do you mostly deal with bulk buyers from big-box retailers or processing plants?
I’ve been seriously considering getting into hazelnut farming myself, but I'm wondering—what’s the absolute minimum acreage required to make this actually worth the effort?
And if someone were starting with just a small plot, how on earth would they move those quantities, and to whom?
Does anyone happen to have an investment plan or some kind of breakdown for setting up roughly two and a half acres of hazelnuts?

,

Hey. I'm not even sure many people here are actually growing walnuts or hazelnuts. Maybe they *want* to, but they aren't really doing it because there's way too much work involved. It’s not like what people say, where you just plant them and wait for them to produce. 🙂 I know from experience.

As far as specific cooperatives here in the States, I haven't heard of any, but I've read they have them in Europe and abroad. I think the biggest one is probably in the US, though that's mainly for pecans.

Hazelnuts can be profitable, but like anything else, it only makes sense if you're planting at scale. I've heard that companies like Hershey's and Kraft Heinz buy up hazelnuts, but they won't even sit down at the negotiating table unless you have at least 500 kg. I assume other chocolate manufacturers in cities like Chicago or similar places also buy them, but you've got to give them a price they can actually work with.

As for government subsidies, I wouldn't know. I think some previous posts mentioned how much you get per acre, but it depends on which grant you're looking at—the one for starting the orchard or the annual ones.

feralmaker96 said:The farm is out near Columbus. I worked my tail off yesterday 😈 cleaning up, spraying, and painting everything in sight—it’s enough to drive you crazy, but man, things are growing like weeds 👍. Only problem is, some people have started planting stuff they really shouldn't be touching 😠. I was planning on finishing up the perimeter so I could finally get a fence around the whole plot, but then some old lady (who can barely walk) decided to plant corn just to hike up the property value. Now that corn is already about a foot high. Then you've got guys trying to raise turkeys 🤣; if they actually tried that, they wouldn't have anything left by morning, I'm telling you. Anyway, I'm currently prepping the soil.

Olives are the way to go—if you've got the land, plant them. It's a total win 👍
. If you're already running a plum orchard, stick with it. Don't go mixing things up; at least that's my take
. A buddy of mine has an orchard with about 100 trees, and he's still planting more and making a killing
. I didn't have any plums last year, but the year before, we processed about 120 gallons of pure plum brandy
.

If you don't mind me asking, which specific varieties did you go with and how did you set up your planting?
I'm actually getting ready to plant about 5 acres (this coming spring) out near Des Moines. My consultants are suggesting I stick to just three types: Seival, Drenovo, and Jupiter, split roughly 20%, 30%, and 50%.

What’s your take on the variety count and the ratio? Also, where did you pick up your saplings?

By the way, do you need an irrigation setup, and are you using hydrogel or something similar?

Thanks!

I suppose I should weigh in here as well..
While I am only twenty-one, my family has always been deeply involved in every aspect of this industry..

We supply hazelnuts to local bakeries, though our volume stays modest at around two or three hundred units... yet those move quite steadily..
However, we also managed two thousand blackberry bushes because I’ve noticed there is a genuine demand for them..

Those plants are incredibly temperamental and require constant attention; I remember one seedling costing roughly $6.75 when we sourced them from an agricultural center near Chicago a few years back..
At one point, we were producing a blackberry wine that actually took third place for quality at a major trade fair in Los Angeles..
But finding a market for it proved impossible. No matter how much we advertised, the moment you mention that a 0.7 dl serving comes in a standard with proper tax stamps and all the necessary $17 the interest just evaporates... which is why we eventually had to shut down our winery operations..

I think we really ought to plant lavender now (especially for those who might actually succeed at it). The incentive would be $4333 via the USDA, and unlike something like walnuts or other crops, she won't have to wait ten years just to see any kind of initial results... The only real catch is that it has to be harvested during a very specific window—you can't just push it back two or three days if you miss the mark. But honestly, I still think it's a pretty solid idea!!

Elizabeth Thomas22 said:I suppose I should weigh in here as well..
While I am only twenty-one, my family has always been deeply involved in every aspect of this industry..

We supply hazelnuts to local bakeries, though our volume stays modest at around two or three hundred units... yet those move quite steadily..
However, we also managed two thousand blackberry bushes because I’ve noticed there is a genuine demand for them..

Those plants are incredibly temperamental and require constant attention; I remember one seedling costing roughly $6.75 when we sourced them from an agricultural center near Chicago a few years back..
At one point, we were producing a blackberry wine that actually took third place for quality at a major trade fair in Los Angeles..
But finding a market for it proved impossible. No matter how much we advertised, the moment you mention that a 0.7 dl serving comes in a standard with proper tax stamps and all the necessary $17 the interest just evaporates... which is why we eventually had to shut down our winery operations..

Age is irrelevant. What matters is having the grit and the drive. I’m 21 myself, and my old man started planting walnuts and hazelnuts when I was six, and even then I was out there trekking through the hills with him 🙂
I honestly think pecans are going to be the big thing in the future—they're selling like crazy over here in the USA...