4 side businesses for farmers

Shiitake mushrooms

If you’re looking for ways to maximize profits or stay busy during the off-season, here are some ideas for farm side businesses.

1. Grow mushrooms. Selling specialty mushrooms can be very lucrative, and with a bit of equipment, you can grow them all year long. Focus on varieties that aren’t available in supermarkets and sell them at local farmers markets.

Additionally, you can reach out to restaurant owners who are often happy to pay a premium for specific varieties.

Another option is to sell your harvest as medicinal mushrooms, but make sure to familiarize yourself with municipal, state and federal laws so you don’t violate any regulations.

2. Sell farm byproducts. If you raise animals, you can bag and sell manure to customers or local garden centers.

Alternatively, if your farm gathers a lot of feathers from either wild or domesticated birds, instead of throwing them out, clean and sell them to arts and crafts stores and local artisans.

3. Agro-tourism. Consider setting up a fruit stand or welcoming visitors to your farm. A growing number of people are interested in learning about the food they eat and how it’s produced. Thanks to this, agro-tourism is on the rise.

Additionally, farm visits make great field trips, so contact local schools to see if they’re interested in a tour of your establishment.

4. Put your fields to work. If you have a piece of land that isn’t being used, consider turning it into a campground, especially if you live near a tourist destination.

You’ll need to install basic facilities like showers and restrooms, but this is a small investment to make considering the potential profits.

You can also organize a gear swap and charge vendors for the use of your property.

Expanding your business can be easy and more lucrative than you think. It’s also a great way to build stronger links with your community.