Eco friendly farming???

Question

I have decided that I want to start a dairy farm, and I want some eco friendly options. I know about solar and organic but are there any more? do they cost much more than just a regular farm or are they cheaper??

Answer 1

There are actually a number of people going back to using draft horses to plow with, because it costs less, and the manure is valuable. It fits in with a quality of life that they are striving for, too.  The thing about dairy farming is you have to have your milk cows certified, and they are living beings that need a lot of care, so there will be vet bills. By interning on a farm you will get to experience the things you need to learn before you actually commit your own resources to it.

First thing: contact state/county agricultural extension office.

More than likely they will point you to a whole bunch of programs and info that your state land grant colleges are working on.  Organic farming and permaculture are getting accepted into the mainstream.  You would be advised to work on a farm for a while, and a great site to find out about that is:

http://attrainternships.ncat.org/

Also, another site that has plenty of info for you is:

http://attra.ncat.org/

I'm throwing this one in because there are opportunities that might be of interest:

http://www.heifer.org/

Answer 2

The initial costs would be higher but in the long run, they'll pay off big time. Thanks for doing it.

Answer 3

Solar and/or wind energy would cost more to start up, but would be cheaper over the long run, once you get the installation and equipment paid for, it will be a lot cheaper. There is also the generation of gases from animal waste that would be an efficient source of energy. As far as organic farming, it is cheaper to operate than conventional agriculture in the money that you are out, but is more labor intensive, so if you are willing to put out the extra work, go for it. You will probably be able to sell your products at a higher price than conventional farmers once you get your market established. Your costumers will have to be established with people willing to come to you and will pay more for your milk, cheese, etc, than they could get at the grocery store. A good idea would be to sell organic eggs and vegetables from your farm as well. It will be a way to increase and diversify your income. People coming to your farm to buy organic dairy products will want the organic eggs and vegetables as well. Some of your customers may come looking for eggs and start buying your dairy products. Good luck with your farm.