Five tips on how to improve your farm
Farming is a tough job. With early starts and long hours of physical labour, it can be frustrating if things don’t turn out the way you want them to. Unfortunately, there are times when nature simply decides to work against you.
However, if you’re struggling to achieve quality produce time and time again, think about what you can do to improve your farming methods.
Here are five tips to get you started.
Fertiliser
Obviously, every farmer needs fertiliser if you don’t want your fields to remain barren. Whether you’re using organic fertilising methods or otherwise, consider how well your chosen fertiliser is working for you. If you think you could be getting more produce each year, then do some research into what other products are available to you.
Today, a lot of people are opting to use organic fertilising methods, therefore it might be a good place to start. In any case, if you are using chemically enhanced products, ensure that they’re safe to use.
Test Your Soil
If you think your fertiliser isn’t the problem, get your soil tested. If the ground is tainted or simply the wrong terrain for your crops, you’ve got a problem. There may well be ways in which you can treat the earth and create a nutritious environment for your crops, but this will take time and a lot of work.
If you’re concerned about the quality of your soil, hire a professional to come in and test it. They will be able to advise you on what you should do next if there is a problem.
Introduce New Produce
Adding new crops to your list of produce can help increase your sales margins if you are a trading farm. Consider what would grow well in the space that you have and will complement your current list of products for your customers. Even if you only farm for yourself, adding new crops could be a fun new project for you.
Expand
If you would like to add new crops or livestock to your farm, think about whether or not you need to expand your space. You might need to construct new agricultural buildings to house or store these new additions to your farm. Consider your budget before you do this, as adding new stores can be costly.
Check Drainage
If you are concerned about crops that aren’t growing the way they should be, think about what your drainage system is like on the fields. If there are any blockages, or simply insufficient systems in place this could very well be the cause of poor growth. If the fields are getting water-logged, your crops will be drowning. If there are problems, consider how you can improve your drainage systems in your farm. You might be able to do this yourself, but if you’re unsure get professionals in to help you.
Whether you’re farming for personal reasons or you’re operating as a trading farm, if you want to make improvements then start with these five tips.