FROM SOIL TO SUCCESS-HOW TO START AND MONETIZE A SMALL FARM

 

From Soil to Success: How to Start and Monetize a Small Farm

The image of a quiet, self-sufficient life on a small farm continues to call out to people seeking a break from urban routines. But unlike the fantasy, building a successful small farm demands research, capital, patience, and adaptability. If you’re serious about turning this dream into a working, profitable reality, you’ll need to understand the strategic steps that come before the first seed hits the ground. From securing the land to generating diverse income streams, here’s how to set your farming venture up for long-term growth—both on the field and in your bank account.

More Than Just Soil

Before you start envisioning rows of produce or grazing animals, your first real decision is location. Not all land is created equal when it comes to farming. You’ll want to consider access to clean water, soil quality, and proximity to markets or distribution points. Local zoning laws can also impact what you’re allowed to grow or build on the property, so it’s wise to consult with a land use attorney or the local agricultural extension office. Look for areas where farming is supported both culturally and economically, as nearby cooperatives and support networks can make or break your operation.

Simplify the Complex

Handling the business side of farming can be just as challenging as the physical work. That’s where using an all-in-one platform like ZenBusiness can make a huge difference. Whether you're forming an LLC, managing compliance, creating a website, or handling finances, this type of platform can provide comprehensive services and expert support to ensure business success. Having everything under one roof reduces stress, saves time, and helps you focus on your actual work: growing your farm. Tools for invoicing, tax prep, and even domain registration are just a few of the services that can turn you from a hopeful farmer into a legit entrepreneur.

How to Finance Your Farm

Buying land isn’t cheap, but you don’t have to shoulder the burden entirely on your own. Government programs like those offered by the USDA can help first-time farmers secure loans with low interest rates and flexible terms. Some nonprofits and local agencies also offer grants or subsidized financing specifically for sustainable or organic farming initiatives. Consider leasing land as a stepping stone if purchasing outright isn’t feasible yet. Crowdfunding, local investment groups, and even land sharing arrangements with retiring farmers can be additional tools in your financial toolbox.

Market to Build Buzz and Loyalty

You might grow the most delicious strawberries in the county, but if no one knows about them, they won’t sell. Start your marketing plan early, even before your first harvest. Build a social media presence to document your journey—it adds authenticity and brings in a loyal audience. Partnering with local restaurants or farmers markets can give your products visibility and credibility. A CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) subscription model is another excellent way to create recurring revenue and connect with customers who value freshness and transparency.

Creative Monetization

One of the best parts about owning land is the array of creative ways it can make money.

Consider leasing a section to a solar energy provider or renting pasture to neighboring farmers who need extra space. Wedding venues and rustic event hosting are booming, especially for scenic properties with barns or natural beauty. Beekeeping, mushroom cultivation, or even breeding specialty animals can also offer high returns on relatively low space. If you’re in a picturesque area, think about building a few rustic cabins or pitching canvas tents for glamping—many travelers are looking for unique, off-grid experiences. A petting zoo can also attract school groups and families, turning your farm into both an educational and financial asset.

Lean Into Agritourism for Extra Visibility

If your farm is in a visually appealing or historically rich location, agritourism might be your secret weapon. Hosting farm-to-table dinners, offering seasonal activities like corn mazes or hayrides, or even creating U-pick experiences can generate income while building awareness. These experiences create emotional connections that go far beyond a simple purchase. Locals and tourists alike are increasingly interested in the source of their food and how it’s grown, which gives you the perfect opportunity to share your story while adding to your revenue stream.

Tap Into Online Sales and Delivery Models

Farmers don’t have to be limited to local buyers anymore. With online sales platforms, you can ship shelf-stable products like jams, dried herbs, or even DIY kits for home gardening to a much larger customer base. Subscription boxes are especially popular and can include a curated mix of seasonal products and personal touches. Partnering with delivery services or forming a local delivery co-op can make fresh produce accessible to customers who can’t make it to your farmstand. Just make sure to comply with local and state food regulations to keep things legal and safe.

Starting a small farm isn’t for the faint-hearted, but with careful planning, strategic investment, and a willingness to think outside the barn, you can turn a patch of dirt into a thriving enterprise. What once might have been a passion project or escape plan can grow into a legitimate source of income and fulfillment. Whether you’re growing microgreens, hosting weddings, or bottling your own honey, the key lies in treating your farm not just as a lifestyle—but as a business with potential. With the right tools, support, and mindset, that vision is more within reach than ever.

Discover the charm of rural living with the Rural KC Team-Keller Williams Partners and explore opportunities to make your dream home a reality today!

Lydia Chan

WHY BUYERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO GET CONCESSIONS RIGHT NOW

 

Why Buyers Are More Likely To Get Concessions Right Now

Especially in areas where inventory is rising, both homebuilders and sellers are sweetening the deal for buyers with things like paid closing costs, mortgage rate buy-downs, and more. In the industry, it’s called a concession or an incentive.

What Are Concessions and Incentives?

When a seller or builder gives you something extra to help with your purchase, that’s called either a concession or an incentive. 

• A concession is something a seller gives up or agrees to in order to reach a compromise and close a deal. 
• An incentive, on the other hand, is a benefit a builder or seller advertises and offers up front to attract and encourage buyers.

Today, some of the most common ones are:

• Help with closing costs
• Mortgage rate buy-downs (to temporarily lower your rate)
• Discounts or price reductions
• Upgrades or appliances
• Home warranties
• Minor repairs

For buyers, getting any of these things thrown in can be a big deal – especially if you’re working with a tight budget. As the National Association of Realtors (NAR) says: 

“. . . they can help reduce the upfront costs associated with purchasing a home.”

Builders Are Making It Easier To Buy

It’s not just one builder willing to toss in a few extras. A lot of builders are using this tactic lately. As Zonda says:

“Incentives continued to be popular in March, offered by builders on 56% of to-be-built homes and 74% of quick move-in (QMI) homes, which can likely be occupied within 90 days.”

That’s because they don’t want to sit on inventory for too long. They want it to sell. And according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), one of the strategies many builders are using to keep that inventory moving (and not just sitting) is a price adjustment (see graph below): 

Around 30% of builders lowered prices in each of the first four months of the year. While that also means most builders aren’t lowering prices, it also shows some are willing to negotiate with buyers to get a deal done.

This isn’t a sign of trouble in the market, it’s an opportunity for you. The fact that the majority of builders offer incentives and roughly 3 in 10 are lowering prices means if you're looking at a newly built home, your builder will probably try to make it easier for you to close the deal. 

Existing Home Sellers Are Offering More, Too

More existing homes (one that someone has lived in before) have been hitting the market, too – which means sellers are facing more competition. That’s why over 44% of sellers of existing homes gave concessions to buyers in March (see graph below):

And, if you look back at pre-pandemic years on this graph, you’ll see 44% is pretty much returning to normal. After years of sellers having all the power, the market is balancing again, which can work in your favor as a buyer.

But remember, concessions don’t always mean a big discount. While more sellers are compromising on price, that’s not always the lever they pull. Sometimes it’s as simple as the seller paying for repairs, leaving appliances behind for you, or helping with your closing costs.

And considering that home values have risen by more than 57% over the course of the past 5 years, small concessions are a great way for sellers to make a house more attractive to buyers while still making a profit.

Bottom Line

Whether you’re looking at a newly built home or something a little older, there’s a good chance you can benefit from concessions or incentives.

If a seller or builder offered you something extra, what would make the biggest difference to help you move forward?

Let’s talk about it and see if it’s realistic based on inventory and competition in our local market.  Give the Rural KC Team-Keller Williams Partners a call today.  913-837-0760 or 913-837-0411.

STOCKS MAY BE VOLATILE, BUT HOME VALUES AREN'T

 

Stocks May Be Volatile, but Home Values Aren’t

With all the uncertainty in the economy, the stock market has been bouncing around more than usual. And if you’ve been watching your 401(k) or investments lately, chances are you’ve felt that pit in your stomach. One day it’s up. The next day, it’s not. And that may make you feel a little worried about your finances.

But here’s the thing you need to remember if you’re a homeowner. According to Investopedia:

“Traditionally, stocks have been far more volatile than real estate. That's not to say that real estate prices aren't ever volatile—the years around the 2007 to 2008 financial crisis are just one memorable example—but stocks are more prone to large value swings.”

While your stocks or 401(k) might see a lot of highs and lows, home values are much less volatile.

A Drop in the Stock Market Doesn’t Mean a Crash in Home Prices

Take a look at the graph below. It shows what happened to home prices (the blue bars) during past stock market swings (the orange bars):

Even when the stock market falls more substantially, home prices don’t always come down with it.

Big home price drops like 2008 are the exception, not the rule. But everyone remembers that one. That stock market crash was caused by loose lending practices, subprime mortgages, and an oversupply of homes – a scenario that doesn’t exist today. That’s what made it so different.

In many cases before and after that time, home values actually went up while the stock market went down, showing that real estate is generally much more stable.

This graph shows how stock prices go up and down (the orange line), sometimes by more than 30% in a year. In contrast, home prices (the blue line) change more slowly (see graph below):

Basically, stock values jump around a lot more than home prices do. You can be way up one day and way down the next. Real estate, on the other hand, isn’t usually something that experiences such dramatic swings.

That’s why real estate can feel more stable and less risky than the stock market.

So, if you’re worried after the recent ups and downs in your stock portfolio, rest assured, your home isn’t likely to experience the same volatility.

And that’s why homeownership is generally viewed as a preferred long-term investment. Even if things feel uncertain right now, homeowners win in the long run.

Bottom Line

A lot of people are feeling nervous about their finances right now. But there’s one reason for you to feel more secure – your investment in something that’s stood the test of time: real estate.  Give the Rural KC Team-Keller Williams Partners a call for all of your rural real estate needs.  913-837-0760 or 913-837-0411. 

ARE YOU SAVING TO PURCHASE A HOME? YOUR TAX REFUND COULD HELP.

 

Are You Saving Up To Buy a Home? Your Tax Refund Can Help

You’ve been working on your savings and dreaming of that moment when you finally have keys to a place that’s truly yours. What you might not realize is that your tax return could give you a little extra cash to help you get there sooner. As Freddie Mac notes:

“ . . . your tax refund from the IRS can be a useful supplement to your homebuying budget.” 

So, if you’re getting a tax refund this year, you can use it to help you pay for some of the upfront costs that come with buying a home, like the down payment and closing costs. And here’s the best part.

On average, people are getting even more money back in their refunds than they did last year. While it’s not a big increase, the visual below uses data from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to show the average individual’s refund is 3.9% higher this year:

Of course, how much money you may get in your tax refund is going to vary. But when it comes to buying a home, any extra cash can help move things forward. Here are a few examples of how you can put that money to good use, according to Freddie Mac:

• Save for a down payment – Saving for a down payment can be one of the biggest hurdles for buyers. Setting aside your tax refund for this expense could help you get to your goal faster. Just remember, it’s typically not required to put 20% down.
• Pay for closing costs – Closing costs include fees for things like the appraisal, title insurance, and underwriting of your loan. They’re generally between 2% and 5% of the total purchase price of the home. So, putting your refund toward these costs can make things more manageable on closing day.
• Lower your mortgage rate – Your lender might give you the option to buy down your mortgage rate. If you qualify for this option, you could pay up front to have a lower rate on your mortgage. If affordability is tight for you at today’s rates and home prices, this may be worth exploring.

But you don’t have to figure it all out on your own. Working with a team of trusted real estate professionals who understand the homebuying process, what you need to save, and any resources you can tap into will help you make sure you’re ready to buy when the time comes.

Bottom Line

When it comes to saving for a home, every dollar gets you one step closer to your goal. While your tax refund may not be enough to change the game, it can help give your homebuying fund a boost.

What would having your own home mean for you or your family this year? Let’s talk about it and we’ll come up with a strategy for success

Give the Rural KC Team-Keller Williams Realty Partners a call at 913-837-0760 or 913-837-0411.   We are here to help.

PPID, ID, or Both? Diagnosing Equine Endocrine Disorders

 

While pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID, formerly known as equine Cushing’s disease) and insulin dysregulation (ID, similar to human prediabetes) are two separate equine endocrine disorders, researchers estimate a 30% average comorbidity rate, meaning horses have both. Erica Macon, MS, PAS, PhD, assistant professor of equine science at Texas A&M University, in College Station, outlined the process of testing a horse for both conditions at the 2024 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention, held Dec. 7-11, in Orlando, Florida.

What Do PPID and ID Look Like?

The phenotypes, or observable characteristics, of PPID and ID are distinct from one another, Macon said:

• For PPID, veterinarians and horse owners most often notice muscle atrophy (wasting), hypertrichosis (a long, curly coat), patchy shedding, and retained hairs.
• As for ID, they are more likely to note generalized obesity, regional fat deposits (i.e., cresty neck), and chronic or subclinical laminitis as visible—but not pathognomonic (exclusive)—indicators of the condition.

“Appearances can be deceiving, as both lean and fat horses can have neither, either, or both conditions,” Macon explained. “I have seen a morbidly obese—body condition score 9/9 on the Henneke scale—horse with regional fat deposits with insulin levels in the healthy range.” While PPID mainly affects horses 15 or older, the younger equine population is not immune. As for ID, horses of any age, sex, or breed can be affected, although overweight horses and certain breeds (such as Warmbloods and pony breeds) are predisposed.

Equine Endocrine Disorders: Diagnostic Testing for ID in Horses

Macon cautioned horse owners and practitioners against relying on resting insulin levels to diagnose ID because this number can fluctuate based on feeding status (such as a recent grain meal) and seasonality. Additionally, some ID-affected horses have normal resting insulin concentrations, creating a false negative result.

Experts now agree the oral sugar test (OST) is a better alternative. Macon reviewed the proper steps to perform this diagnostic screening:

1. Withhold grain for five to six hours before testing.
2. Administer a 0.15 mL/kg body weight dose of corn syrup (e.g., Karo syrup), which is very rich in sugar. Include an extra 5 mL to account for spillage.
3. Draw blood (in a ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, EDTA tube, which prevents clotting and preserves cells) 60 minutes after administration.
4. Check results. Blood insulin levels over 45 µIU/mL indicate ID.

Equine Endocrine Disorders: Diagnostic Testing for PPID in Horses

Veterinarians have long considered measuring resting ACTH levels the standard for diagnosing PPID in horses. Because stress, geographical region, and seasonal variations can skew results, practitioners have instead turned to the thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH, also called thyroid-releasing hormone) stimulation test, which Macon detailed:

1. Draw blood in an EDTA blood tube.
2. Inject TRH. The dose will depend on body weight. Equids weighing less than 250 kg should receive 0.5 mg TRH, and those weighing more than 250 kg should receive 1.0 mg TRH.
3. After TRH administration wait 10 minutes and take another blood sample.
4. Check results: 100-200npicograms/mL is suspect, and over 200 pg/mL is likely indicative of PPID.

Comorbidities: ID and PPID in Horses

When veterinarians suspect a horse might have both PPID and ID, the tests remain the same as they would for diagnosing either disorder separately. If testing for both endocrine diseases on the same day, Macon suggests performing the TRH test first, followed by the OST. Conducting the OST before the TRH stimulation test could result in a false positive.

Take-Home Message

Diagnosing equine endocrine disorders involves carefully evaluating clinical signs, following test protocols, and considering confounding factors. “Each endocrine case will present and react differently,” Macon said. By keeping these guidelines in mind, veterinarians can accurately diagnose and manage PPID or ID—or both—in their equine patients.

ARE YOU ASKING THESE QUESTIONS ABOUT SELLING YOUR HOME?

 Some homeowners hesitate to sell because they’ve got unanswered questions that hold them back. But a lot of times their concerns are based on misconceptions, not facts. And if they’d just talk to an agent about it, they’d see these doubts aren’t necessarily a hurdle at all.

If uncertainty is keeping you from making a move, it’s time to get the real answers. The ones you deserve. And to take the pressure off, you don’t have to ask the questions, because here’s the data that answers them.

1. Is It Even a Good Idea To Move Right Now? 

If you own a home already, you may be tempted to wait because you don’t want to sell and take on a higher mortgage rate on your next house. But your move may be a lot more feasible than you think, and that’s because of how much your house has likely grown in value.

Think about it. Do you know anyone in your neighborhood who’s sold their house recently? If so, did you hear what it sold for? With how much home values have gone up in recent years, the number may surprise you. According to Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the typical homeowner has gained $147,000 in housing wealth in the last five years alone.

That’s significant – and when you sell, that can give you what you need to fund your next move.

2. Will I Be Able To Find a Home I Like? 

If this is on your mind, it’s probably because you remember just how hard it was to find a home over the past few years. But in today’s market, it isn’t as challenging.

Data from Realtor.com shows how much inventory has increased – it's up nearly 25% compared to this time last year (see graph below): 

Even though inventory is still below more normal pre-pandemic levels, it’s improved a lot in the past year. And the best part is, experts say it’ll grow another 10 to 15% this year. That means you have more options for your move – and the best chance in years to find a home you love.

3. Are Buyers Still Buying?

And last, if you’re worried no one’s buying with rates and prices where they are right now, here’s some perspective that can help. While there weren’t as many home sales last year as there’d be in a normal market, roughly 4.24 million homes still sold (not including new construction), according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). And the expectation is that number will rise in 2025. But even if we only match how many homes sold last year, here’s what that looks like.

• 4.24 million homes ÷ 365 days in a year = 11,616 homes sell each day
• 11,616 homes ÷ 24 hours in a day = 484 homes sell per hour
• 484 homes ÷ 60 minutes = 8 homes sell every minute

Think about that. Just in the time it took you to read this, 8 homes sold. Let this reassure you – the market isn’t at a standstill. Every day, thousands of people buy, and they're looking for homes like yours.

Bottom Line

When you’re ready to walk through what’s on your mind, the Rural KC Team has the answers you need. And in the meantime, tell me: what’s holding you back from making your move?