Rona Amiss:
Be adaptable, have a plan, but be prepared to change it often. And always remember things look better in the morning. Listen to the wise, but ignore anyone who tells you it's easy. It's not, but it can be a lot of fun achieving your dreams.
Our Cow Molly:
Build a brand for your product, do everything you can to not be selling a commodity. Don't skimp on your brand logo, eye catching branding can save lots of work. Sell your products direct if you can, a vending machine on the farm in a shed or container is great for that.
Helen Parr
Every farmer has their own opinion and advice. I've learnt that you should go with your gut feeling. They might not like it, but do what you want to do. Don't be a sheep.
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Floss Styles
Conversation is key; there's power in making friends locally in your agricultural community - whether that's going to markets, leaving notes on gates asking about land. Every conversation has value, even if you didn't get what you thought you wanted from it.
Sarah Clulow
However small you start, I would definitely write a business plan and review it regularly. Having a plan and steps with how we were going to achieve our goal (which for us ,as first generation farmers, was securing a Farm Business Tenancy) kept us focused when stuck in the day-to-day slog of farm life. Initially, I think we were a bit broad and spread ourselves a too thin, and have since tweaked using our experiences and applied some realism.
Starting a farm from scratch and keeping it a s a viable business has been a challenge, with cash flow being the hardest. I've always kept records of costs and incomings, and invested in kit carefully, making use of eBay, farm sales and used items wherever possible. When we got our farm tenancy, another female tenant farmer wisely said to me: "Try and get through the first six months without any additional spending."
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Chloe Lucas
Remember you aren't going to know everything. It's all a learning curve and we have to start somewhere. Get as much practical experience as you can and ask for support. You'll be surprised how much help you'll receive.
Reach out to other farmers.
Everyone is just at different stages of their experiences so learn, grow and enjoy the journey.
