Know anything about a career in farming?

Question

Some people are telling me I'd be a good farmer, so I'm looking into it as a possible career choice. There are a few reasons why I'd be good at it:

-I'm very resourceful

-I'm good with plants

-I don't mind country

-I don't mind working alone

-I don't get freaked out easily

-I speak spanish

Would this make me a good farmer? What kind of education do you need? If I was educated, how much money could I make in a year?

I'm only 15 I know it's too young to think about it i'm just interested.

Answer 1

it does seem like you can be a farmer. i used to work for a farmer that had about 10 workers and 15 farms ten years ago. now he has over 60 farms and about 40 workers. it is a very good business. you probably won't need a degree. think about it. if you grow corn, you have to know everything about corn, which is not rocket science. you need to learn about pesticides and herbicides, farm equipment, etc. you will learn a lot as you work.  but you will really need some capital to get stared and rent the land and or equipment. what i believe is that you won't need a degree to start growing some crops. it would help a lot, though.

Answer 2

There's as many different kinds of "farming" as there are hair styles. You mention plants so I assume you are looking at a crop production farm over a livestock production one. Even then, what crop? Corn? Hay? Milo? Wheat? Cotton? Peanuts? Fruit? Gourmet veggies for the restaurant trade? Organic co-op for partnership purchases? Each one has it's own ins and outs, each one differently suited for different areas.

As far as education, there are a LOT of different courses you can take, but you should really take some agri-business ones in addition to range management stuff. You'll also have to get a license for spraying. The best education you can get is to actually work on the sort of farm you want to run.

One thing I think will make or break farmers in the next few generations is how they run things. I don't think the average person can even BEGIN to think about competing with the big boys, so you have to be willing to do things differently. I've talked with folks who've taken 4-5 acres and turned that into a million dollar a year fruit & veggie production marketing to high end restaurants and foodies. I also know folks who have 1000+ acres and can't figure out how to produce half that much.

How much money? It's up to you, pests, sunshine, heat, rain, hail, etc. We had a hailstorm here back in June that leveled every piece of vegetation for 50 miles around. No one is baling wheat hay this year because of it. Poof, there goes your money. There's no predicting what you'll make.

Answer 3

    lol I'm 15 years also :D,  I think it is a perfect time to start learning about careers, our school had us researching careers since 6-7th grade



   my dad is a farmer, we used to have dairy cows, but we switched to raising beef cattle ( had to be on the farm everyday, to milk at 6 am. and 6 pm.)   We grow soybeans and corn.  

    One thing I didn't see on your reasons is

                        - hard worker

                        - doesn't mind hard work

                        - doesn't cry for every animal that dies/ or is sold (for meat most of the time  :S )

                        - isn't afraid of getting hurt!!!!!!! ( there is a lot of dangers of working on a farm,  like just the other day, I tipped the bobcat carrying the bale to low ( thank goodness it went forward not backward)          -  can fix tractors and machines  ( or know how to build machines)

                        - and is willing to work long days

   My family doesn't speak spainish (except me)  i don't think you would really need a different language but......

       As for the money a year, it really varies,  if you get a good harvest , you might make more that year.  but if you crops die........ you better have insurence for them.  Another problem  (we are going through it right now) is if corn goes up, you can't have as many beef cattle or cows , because you wouldn't be able to afford to feed them.  Even if you have hay, it will only keep them alive, not "fatten" them up.  And with the price of seed, and equipment,ect, you may not make much at times :S

     I think the best education you could get is experience working on a farm,  if you live in a big city it might be hard to get experience needed, and then I would take courses at the collage.    Be sure to take some machanical courses.    i know my dad took some courses, in mechanics.  My Grandpa learned everything from his dad.  

         It may be tough at times, but you won't get bored :D

                      good luck

Answer 4

First of all there are many different parts to agriculture.here are hte different parts below:

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1)animal farming

2)field farming

3)seed companies

4)nitrogen spraying(fields.ex.someone from the county comes to spray some of the farmers fields to help them grow

5)hauling animals in semis

6)grass cutting businesses

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there are many advantages and disadvantages to agriculture

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advanantages:

1)you can earn good income with anything in agriculture.

2)you can learn a lot more about anything after someone tells you.

3)you can drive new equipment at a local tractor dealership.

4)field farmers can give you test plots in fields.

=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=...

disadvantages:

1)price of fuel.

2)you would have to work long hours even on holidays.

~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+...

there are many advantages with any type of agriculture.on the other side,there really aren't that many disadvantages.

======================================...

Also The Money Factor Is About  850,000 A Year But Take Out Costs Of Gas,And If You Share The Farm,And Costs Of Seeds,And Spray, It Would Probably Be 450,000

I HOPE THIS HELPS YOU OUT..................................

Answer 5

I am interested in farming too. But if I were you, I'd at least get a masters degree in agriculture. But with your skills, you would probably make a great farmer. (Make sure not to get dairy cows! There a big hassle!)