What is the best type of land for growing fruit orchards, vineyards, and vegetables?

Question

If I want to buy farmland and start a farm in Missourri, where should i look? I would love some specific properties that have land suitable for growing the things listed.

Answer 1

It's not as much about the piece of property as it is the soil. Before you buy, get soil samples from the property and take them to your land grant college, possibly Kansas State (they have a great program for high tunnels)  and get the soil analyzed.

That will help you understand what your soil has too much of or what it is lacking to be goo growing soil. You will probably need to work hard to build your soil back up - but this can be done with proper composting, crop rotations, etc. You will need to learn a lot about what you want to grow.

But you can change your soil, and it takes time, but you can make healthy soil. What you can't really change is climate.  So look at zone maps and then look at what you want to grow and see if it is suitable in your zone. You won't be successful growing things outside of your zone. You CAN create a microclimate by building a greenhouse and possibly extending your growing capability to one more zone south of you.

You can be successful growing a lot of things in Missouri, or anywhere in the US. But you need to understand soil science, you need to have access to water (either municiple, irrigation, or natural) and you need to know what you can grow in your climate.

Answer 2

Eng-land

Answer 3

One answer for all three of your questions. Contact your County Extension Agent He can not only answer all of your questions but can advise you The best area of the state to look in. Next contact a good realtor in the area.

Answer 4

In response to all your questions, you need to figure out what you want to grow given your level of experience and education. You may do best to purchase an established farm or land if your experience is limited but your desire is great. There is a lot out there. If you look at a farm you would do best to let the owner give you their "sell" and keep your eyes open. If you want to go organic then keep watch for materials that are not accepted and ask to see if they have certifications (and from whom). If you let your desires be known early then the "sell" will be presented in such a way that it will seem too good to be true and important aspects will be glossed over. Ask a knowledgeable friend to help with the meetings. If your profit margin determines that you must do well quickly but you are light on knowledge and unsure, you need to take great care. A lender will want a detailed plan with a workable time line. We spent a great deal of time at the university doing a detailed plan that covered a 10 year period and it was critiqued by those who have a great deal of knowledge and experience, and best laid plans were dissected with a cold hard eye. It is a hard thing to spend a lot of time and energy and investment only to not make payments and "loose the farm". What is the REAL reason it is on the market? Ask the bank. It is a great market to buy but the bank will not carry you because the market to them is not in their favor. You are just a dead beat if you can't make payments and equipment / supply loans will not happen. Your farm is your home so you need a plan. I'm not sure that is best addressed in this form of forum but for the basics, you'll understand the process is quite a huge undertaking and not taken on lightly. This is a great place for an idea or two.