1. Enterprise Ideas Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching Cinda Williams UI Extension 2005

2. Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching Best Centerpiece Agricultural Opportunities  Joel Salatin lists in his book, “You Can Farm: The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Start and Succeed in a Farming Enterprise.”  Based on certain criteria

3. Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching Criteria for making the list:  Low initial start-up cost relative to the ability to generate income  High gross profit margin  Relatively low maintenance requirements  High Cash flow, quick turnaround  History of high success rate

4. Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching The top eight:  Pastured Broilers  Eggs  Salad bar beef  Grass based dairy

5. Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching The top eight: (continued)  Market garden  Home bakery  Bandsaw mill  Small Fruits with U-pick operation

6. Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching Best complimentary enterprises  Criteria Use of existing infrastructure Filling low work times with cash generating jobs Evenly distributed cash flow Increased customer flow

7. Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching 10 best complimentary  Pastured turkeys  Lamb  Pork  Rabbit  Firewood

8. Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching 10 best complimentary (continued)  Agritourism/recreation  Greenhouse/Flowers  Honey and bee products  Land management – stockers  Cottage industry

9. Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching Choosing your Animal Enterprises  Consider animals that : Fit your temperament Are marketable You can raise with existing or affordable land and facilities Match your time and labor resources Are complimentary to main enterprise

10. Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching Aquaculture Requires water resources

11. Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching Goats for milk, cheese and/or meat

12. Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching Sheep for meat and/or wool

13. Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching Poultry

14. Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching Poultry Products

15. Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching Get on the bus! (Chicken run?)

16. Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching Exotic birds like Ostrich & Emus

17. Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching Pigs

18. Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching Rabbits

19. Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching Cattle and other Ruminants

20. Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching Buffalo

21. Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching Choosing your Crop Enterprises What grows in your climate What you can market Those that grow and harvest with existing or affordable equipment Crops that match your time and labor resources Complimentary to main enterprise or that can be used on the farm (feed, cover crops)

22. Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching Vegetables and melons

23. Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching Gourds and pumpkins

24. Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching Herbs (culinary or medicinal)

25. Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching Small fruits

26. Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching Fruit and nut trees

27. Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching Flowers, cut fresh or dried

28. Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching Traditional grains

29. Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching Pasture, hay and cover crops

30. Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching Timber and other tree crops

31. Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching Other potential enterprises

32. Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching Summary  Many choices and many factors to consider  At this point you should select something that is a possibility for you  The duration of the course will involve an evaluation of the feasibility of this enterprise