Want to be a farmer

Want to be a farmer?

October 29, 2007
Santa Rosa Chronicle staff reports

Hydroponics testing facilities at the University of Florida/IFAS Jay Research Center

Small-scale, specialized ‘niche’ farming returns higher profits per acre; and could potentially bolster Santa Rosa agriculture and help conserve existing farmland.

That’s the message County extension agents presented during a recent forum at the Jay Research Center.

Santa Rosa encompasses the most Class 1 farmland in the state; netting $60 million, annually. But, say Extension officials, about 70,000 acres per year are being lost. The County’s Alternative Agriculture Program kicked off in 2005, to explore new options for area farmland owners.

“We’re trying to keep farmers on the land,” University of Florida Jay Research and Education Center Director John Mullahey remarked. “We think the central and southern part of the state are looking at more urban sprawl problems, but we all know it’s coming this way.”

Potential Panhandle alternative agriculture ranges from the horticultural: cut flowers, herbs, blueberries and cantaloupes; to animal-based industries like vermiculture and exotic livestock.

It includes specialty industries like cheesemaking, wine, fish farming, soap making, beekeeping, fee fishing and hunting, gourds and landscaping.

Agritourism “farm vacation” and bed and breakfast operations also represent untapped potential industry for area landowners.

“Families are craving to get out and get a touch of the rural life,” Extension agent Dan Mullins notes. “They just crave coming out and seeing what a farm really does. There’s money in that.”

Suburbanites with an extra ¼ acre and a green thumb could even get into the act: some alternative crops have especially low land to production needs; or can be grown vertically. Mullins cautions residents to check zoning and traffic restrictions before starting a neighborhood business.

Extension agents are also researching hydroponics – the science of soilless growing – at the Jay facility.

“There are niche markets out there that are grossing a lot of money,” notes Mullins.

Specialized agriculture needs more intensive capital investment and work, per acre.

“It’s not something you do on the side,” says Mullins. “It’s intensive. You’re grossing more per acre, but you’re investing a lot of time and labor.”

Lower volume production means marketing and promotion are key to turning a profit.

“If you can’t sell it for profit, no matter how good a crop you grow, it’s not worth doing,” Mullins notes.

“The old saying if you build a better mousetrap people will beat a path to your door – that’s no longer true. There’s a lot of mousetraps out there.”

TEAM Santa Rosa, has information on marketing and selling produce to regional suppliers like Sysco and WalMart. Contact them at 623-0174.