Shocking Truth Behind Small Farm Failures: The Top 5 Reasons (Don't Miss Out!) 

Thank you for this video. I needed advice on how to start off properly. I recently grew cucumbers and they sold sufficiently and I only put in 100 dollars to start with. Made 728 dollars.

Here's my list - 1. Debt - You gotta spend money to make money, but you gotta know what to spend the money on. If you're starting out, DO NOT drop $5k on a new walk-behind tractor or a green house. Those things can come later. Right now, borrow as much equipment as you can. Borrow Grandpa's tiller, rent land from someone, get second-hand tools off CL and garage sales. Keep your expenses to the barest minimum until you know what to spend your money on. When you do have money to spend, buy the best quality equipment you can afford. A good hoe will cost 10 times what a junk one will cost, but be worth 100 times the bad one when using it. 2. Experience - So you want to start a small farm and sell at local market. You don't have a clue on where to start, let alone how to do it. Start working for another small farmer. Take the seasonal job. Learn through doing work at his place before you jump into doing it on your own. Lotsa guys will help you get started by employing you for a couple of years. Find out what sells well, what might sell well, and how to make a sale. Get experience and make a plan. 1. Debt - Businesses fail when they have too much debt and their debtors get sick of carrying them. Having a maxed out credit card or five, a mortgage, an FSA microloan to repay, and a car payment coming due is the fastest way to make something that you would otherwise enjoy into a seriously unhappy time. Did I already go over this one....? Oh well, it's important. 3. No follow-through - You have to be able to complete a task. You're definitely not going to make money with a half-built greenhouse and a broken down tiller. Start a project and complete that project before moving on to the next one. CSA customers are going to get pretty cranky if they never see something in their boxes because you can't complete a job. 4. Pride - You know you're struggling, but you won't ask for help. You know your buddy is doing a good job, but you can't get his advice because you think you'll lose face. As you've heard so many times in the past- There's no such thing as a stupid question, only stupid answers. Ask for help when you need it, but don't ask too often or people will stop taking your calls. 1. Debt - Oh did I already say this one? Yeah, it's very important. You start out with a pile of debt, you'll always struggle, especially if the items you purchased don't help you to succeed. The lender doesn't care if the items didn't work out, they're gonna want their money back 5. Books - I see this SOOOOOO many times, people who read a book and think they have it figured out. I deal in walk-behind tractors on top of farming full-time. Until Jean Martin wrote his book, I NEVER sold a power harrow. I now have had many calls from people over the past couple years who want a power harrow. It's a great tool, BUT it's $1800! You DON'T need to be dropping that kind of money on a single attachment that is only really good at seedbed prep until you can pay cash for it from the profits from the past year. I tell everyone this, but I know I'm not convincing them. Probably because I didn't write a book and put it in there.... Did I mention debt?

Curtis me and my boyfriend are living proof that you are truly an inspiration we've been farming for at least a year now failing miserable in the beginning until we stop and start to study what crops are profitable and made adjustments into planting more greens and cut again crops. You made us pay attention to soil preparation and more organic ways to fertilize are crops now we are making lots more money and paying out less, it's only the two of us because as u said people think they are more than they are worth want to be paid and they want to do the minimum. we are all the way in Barbados and even thou it has been a challenge we are still winning.

Great video! Not to give it away, but for those with the ADHD... 1) Treat your farm like a business 2) Don't spread yourself to thin 3) Use the proper equipment 4) Don't waste time on low profit margin activities 5) Leave your ideology in your back pocket

I'm always impressed by your pragmatic business advice and your ability to deliver it clearly and concisely. At the same time, you display passion and a strong moral compass. Keep up the good work.

Curtis! Without this content and other content you put out, the world wouldn't be the same!!! You have inspired me! You will inspire change long term to billions of people that WILL help make a healthier planet FOR ALL LIFE!!!😀😀😀 THANK YOU DEEPLY FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK AND TIME!!😀

Curtis, spent 35 years growing wholesale bedding plants. Now grow for donation to the fire department. The last year in business, my wife seeded 45,000 seeds in plug trays. She used one of the seeders I developed. Farming has been good to us. Love your idea of helping young people farm.

I'm so glad I found your videos. I've been wanting to start a small farm for a while and your videos always bring up points I haven't even thought about. Every video I watch I feel even more prepared to succeed.

Thank you Curtis! I'm starting a CSA this year and your book and YT channel have been invaluable.

Very nice...Thanks. I was struggling with the equipment piece and know now I just need to pull the plug and order it now before it's too late.

Excellent! You make great videos with sound advice and information. Thank you.

You do a great job, Curtis. I'm a golf course superintendent who'll be retiring soon. I've always grown things, be it cuttings of shrubbery, and now, fine turf. Looking forward to my next career in working with the soil, especially organic farming!

Really appreciate you taking the time to share this. It's very practical, solid advice, some of which we've learned the hard way already.

I've just stumbled on your page and I'm digging your videos. Very helpful. I'm 39 and year 2 on 2 acres still learning

You have hands down the best videos with the best content in this market segment. Thanks for all that you share.

Curtis, I want to expand on your second to last reason which deals with time. Farming is a profession and many that get into farming for the first time need to realize that just like any profession it takes several years to get it all right. Giant steps are not the way to go. The element of understanding time is the issue that seems to be missed by most authors and new farmers. Expect at least 3 - 5 years to get things sorted included the farmers growing ands selling skills. Infrastructure takes time to build as well and the flow of work is not something that can be written on a piece of paper or derived on a scheduling software, it must be experienced. This takes time.at least 5 years.

Curtis you are awesome and a big help! I read your book and I am real close to starting my own farm in the netherlands. a dairy farmer offered me land and we are almost ready to start! Big thanks and keep up the good work!

Great advice. Love your passion. I'm soaking up everything you say. 😌

I absolutely Can't believe the goodness in people. You somehow runs a successful farm AND make the time to put HOURS of insanely helpful videos online FOR FREE. Thank you so much!

You're an inspiration Curtis, thanks for all the great info! Quitting my job and moving out to New Mexico in July to attempt bringing back my grandfathers ranch. 40 acres and it's all paid for, just need to start planting.

This is such a valuable video. I get overwhelmed sometimes and I've been hoping it wouldn't be the reason I get burnt out too quickly. So many values tied to why I do this. Just gonna try to keep it a little simple. Got it

Thank you. My husband and I are getting ready to start a small farm in Hawaii. I used to have an urban farm in Colorado and can't wait to get in the garden again. I appreciate your realistic approach.

I really got a lot out of this video, as it resonated with the ideas that I was trying to develop into my latest video. It helped a lot to know that I am not the only one grappling with expressing this stuff (I linked back to your video). Thanks so much for all of your work, and sharing your experience! Bruce

I'm a hobby gardener, but professionally I work as a photographer. A little over 10 years ago I started a studio with some friends. The #1 mistake in this video's list was exactly the same reason why we failed. We were excited to have our own studio and do all this awesome work, but none of us had any idea how to run a business. By year 2 we were struggling, and we hung on for 4 more years before we threw in the towel. That was probably one of the most valuable lessons I've had in my working life. And it applies to any kind of business, but is especially dangerous when you're in a business of something that you love because you're blinded by your passion. It makes you believe that things will just magically work themselves out (they won't) or it makes you cling onto something until it's past time to let go.

Hi Curtis, Im from the Philippines. Your input is really remarkable. Im into farming now and we are promoting the concept of looking at the farm as a business. We are an agricultural country and we really have to push for farmers to start looking at the spreadsheet.

great advice! thanks for staying positive and keeping it real. getting me pumped for this year

Curtis, this is some of the greatest advice you could give! So excellent, I am very grateful. Thank you, from Manitoba.

Very good tips. I will be starting extremely small, just growing for my family, then move to my neighbors, and then start thinking about the farmers market. I've said to myself that my "retirement" was to have a small farm. I need to start it now so I can be at the level I want when I reach that age. Thank you for making these videos. I've changed some of my thinking because of them.

Buy "The Urban Farmer" book, and stick with it. Curtis is giving you his experiences in one single book. Got it!! So GET IT!!!!

Right on Curtis! What you say in the first few moments of this video needs spread far and wide.

On point as always!! Thank you for taking the time out of your day to bring us amazing content!! You rock!!

Love your advice. I am mushrooming farmer and this I take your advice. I am adding greenhouse for the vegetable with your 5 best crops. Thank you.

Thank you for the encouragement and direction!

Thanks, I keep rewatching this from time to time. I find a lot of it very useful, but this must be written on a note on the door. Reminded every day... only way

All excellent points. Many apply to businesses in general. In the small grower space I see stubbornness to change or refusing to give up a failing ideas to be another big reason.

This guy knows what's he's talking about!! Walk in coolers and a seeder is what I need. Thanks Curtis

Great lesson not only about farming but about life. Thank you Curtis! It may sound strange but I am not a farmer, yet I watch every video. These are essential life lessons that go WAY beyond urban agriculture. Keep up the amazing work brother!

Love the energy, content and enthusiasm. Thank you, this has been extremely useful to me as a startup farmer.

amazing speech, really. I am glad to know I'm not the only one! good work on making your difference and setting an example. I've moved to Western Massachusetts from Queens NY to do my holistic work and have a patch of soil where I can grow a little bit. thanks!

informative. Thank you

Great top 5 and I mostly agree with their importance. My problem (as a farmer) is that small sustainable farms are great for specialty foods for restaurant but 95% of folks get their food from stores. We all can't eat lettuce, microgeens and tomatoes 24/7. We all can't afford expensive eggs or sky-high peppers. I've heard for decades that a revolution in land use is coming but frankly, I see zero evidence. There are a few more gardens and churches and schools are growing crops but the reality is that farming will ALWAYS be rare because it is tremendously hard and few are willing to expend the time, planning or energy.

I'm convincing my library to buy your book, but will be buying it myself as a thanks for your inspiration

I'm with you a 100% on your mission!! You are such a good role model. The times they are a changin'

Very good stuff indeed ! In my first year of learning a lot and doing a little bit , I hear the words in this video louder than ever.

Hey Curtis you always keep it real man and thank you for telling it like it is. One of the problems of the internet age is so much info and so little wisdom. Sometimes I feel like we just need to unhook, focus, and hunker down. Appreciate all your advice and it's so important because of how badly we need small farms and farmers again. It doesn't set much hope for the next folks if we all go broke does it now.

Well done and great advice I will listen and try some of your suggestions. Thanks

Thank you Curtis! Very helpful information!

This is Brilliant advice! Thank you for sharing. Liked and Subbed. looking forward to watching some more of your Vids. :)

You have helped this small farmer! I am one who has planted seed by hand for the last 50 years. Now I'm ready to step up and grow some good healthy food !!!!

WOW what great advice, so true. thank you for your videos they have helped me curb the cost of stress medication(??).

LETS CRUSH IT

You have the most fascinating vids. I've never farmed really never gardened, and you have me considering a career change. Very cool.

Thank you for this advice! I've been thinking like #2 that I can start on the cheap. You make a good case that such a plan is doomed to fail. Thanks!

Wonderful video! I agree with you regarding everything you said; but data gathering and analysis in particular.

I agree. Thank you for this video and for sharing you perspective. 🌱

I just want to thank you for sharing your videos and resources with all of us on RU-vid and around the world I never thought of even becoming a farmer until I saw your videos I never saw how it could be possible I used to think that I would love to plant things in other people's yards and get people to use their yards for Gardens but I never understood how her could figure out why it would just come across my mind sometimes but I'm glad to see that you do it and that you figured it out I also want to thank you that your way of thinking I believe is really saving our asses all over this world because you're making it simple to understand for everybody and because of it people have started doing it and now that all these big corporations are going to fall thank God that some people still have an idea of what to do I really think you're going to save the entire world over these kind of ideas

Liked and subscribed! Thanks for the information, it's priceless .

Thank you soooo much! Per #5, yes, sadly I experienced that by a local female urban farmer, shared vocal knowledge not hands on, was possessive of market garden areas....🥺. My middle son who also worked with me said that team was ‘virtue signaling.’ Your advice, to me sounds like common sense. Since I’m over 40 😉, I have only had experience in community gardens and small market gardens.....I am now planning a home garden and meeting at farmer’s markets, AFTER my family’s needs have been met. I’m also watching the Thriving Farmer’s summit!! My family has 121 acres....left to us by my abuelo, need to start working on again. Take care to you and your family. You ARE making a difference!! 💐💖🥰✌️🤠🌱

Greetings from far away, freezing cold land of Finland, Mr. Stone. I've been following your videos now several months and been very impressed and inspired the quality of your information and your valuable lessons and insights about running the small scale farming business. I'm not that familiar about all the abbreviations of English language and opening up the detailed meaning of "CSI" or something you're mentioning in your video would be highly appreciated. And one more question. Is it possible to order your interesting book overseas? Your videos are just getting better, deeper and more focused in time. Keep up the excellent and valuable work. We're with you.

solid gold info Curtis, thanks a lot !! I'll try not to fall into these common "new small farmer" mistakes !!

I'm lol at myself because of the boot strap approach to just growing my own food stuffs . I am seriously grateful for all of your vids and after just this day , finishing off a 60 x 12 south facing green house , planning out the 100 x 12 foot one to begin tomorrow ... and as odd as it seems , people are stopping by to ask about what crops i will be growing ... all in or nothing , I bought the land and building , went 100 % off grid with solar and wind power , and now focusing on seed purchases and soil acquisitions ... thank you so very much for all of your efforts to make the vids , and yes I will share experiences of what I am planning on growing and of course the results . I found an abandoned building with room for green houses and a shop , for a fair price and left the city to be a half hour from Calgary ... you are right about the cash needed ... and I may be able to help you with a gen set using alternative fuels ... clean and quiet ....but constant energy from almost nothing to run it for days on end ... once again ... thanks for the push...

I just got your book! Perfect timing!

I appreciate your attitude and these information-rich videos you make. Keep up the good work, it will come back to you. You are like Howard Resh brought to this day, and more. Cheers mate!

Great video! Thanks for sharing your experience and insight. I so needed to hear this right now as I’m beginning my farm. I have your book as well. It is extremely thorough and has helped me develop a solid game plan to move forward. Your passion for farmers to succeed is heartwarming!

very important topic. well put together. good job.

Dude, ya nailed me on number two. I've tried to get a handle on that, but i always regress.

Thank you! You caught me from 5 to one! Your advice is going to be an excellent starting point begining this 2023!

This year is my first year farming, and I am learning a lot from different Farmers on RU-vid and my neighbors that are farmers. I'm enjoying talking-to and learning from everyone.

Reading your book. Halfway done.

Thanks for this cool video. You were mentioning your book, where can I find it?

Thank you sir I move in a year to NC to start my own self sustaining homestead by myself lol I’ve never grown fruit or veg in my life but I’m sick to my stomach of what’s in our food so I’m looking to more educated people to help me along so I thank you for sharing!

Thank you! I really appreciate your knowledge & being so generous to sharing it - u r a fine human being!

So much love fam!

Definitely appreciate this great video. Thank you.

This 2017 video is still applicable as of this time. I know people getting stumbled to it even up to now.

Thank you for your time and information

Thanks for this, Curtis. It's just what I needed to hear right now. I'm in the planning stage currently but confess, I do get overwhelmed at times. I appreciate what you mentioned about doing what you can in the stage you're in with the experience you have. Kinda like what Covey says about our circle of influence and doing what good we can in that until our circle grows. I did need to hear about forking out the money to invest wisely and properly, being that I often try to pinch pennies and just let brute muscle do the extra to make up for it. Good advice there! I've also been watching a lot of Pat Battle's stuff lately and, although he is an amazing resource & inspiration, I get frustrated and discouraged that I'm not or won't be a really great permaculturest any time soon. SO, thanks for "giving me permission" to just do the best I can & get started. :) Lovin' all your videos! Thanks for sharing your experience and perspective.

I'm watching it twice and making notes. Bruce from Red Gardens brought me here with his Grower's Paradox video.

Curtis your last couple of videos have been totally on point. I like your emphasis on business because although you are doing a public service to people providing them great food, at the end of the day you need to pay your bills. One thing that we were talking about with a friend that could and should be a game changer for small farms producing great produce is food scanners that will hopefully be accessible/affordable for everyone in the next decade.

Thanks for the Video Curtis! I love how each video exposes us to something interesting or has a great lesson!

You’ve got my subscription just based on the expression of your philosophy at the beginning of this video. Thank you for helping others and I look forward to all that I can absorb through your video series.

This advice relates to me exactly how I need it to!

never thought I'd meet someone else who still carries a handkerchief.. I got mine in my left back pocket aswell :) when you're working outside alot like us it's great to have.. runny nose is common for working outside. anyways glad you do that too.. haha.. great info man have a wonderful day! I received your book and digital tools for my birthday, excited to dig through that :)

Thanks for this video. I feel it's important to keep all these points in mind at all time. How about team work? Was that a point you took into consideration as well? I saw some small farms failing, because the teams behind them didn't get along anymore. I'm very grateful for my 2 associates. We are very compatible and set a conflict management system in place, in order to avoid dissatisfaction and to keep unity.

Where do I buy the bags and clamper that you use in other videos?

Great advice! Thanks. All five were very relevant.

I would've 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 like a thousand times if it was possible. Thanks so much Curtis for taking the time to inspire. Worked on me since day one and now I'm pumped more than ever to go and crush it. Keep up your awesome work and be true to your WHY!

I like your connection between business and farming. You would do a better job of teaching business 2.01 than some of the teachers I had. Experience is a great teacher.

Very helpful, thanks Curtis!

Awesome Advise Brother. Thanks

Great info! I’m not looking to become a commercial farmer, but my great grandparents owned a farm, and I have always wanted to have a mini farm. Not so much to make my income, but enough to sustain family, and if I am growing enough, sell at farmers markets. My question is, because I never knew my great grandparents to ask them, where would be the best place for me to start for learning the ropes?

Great info. Very inspiring.

Thank you your sound advice. Please mention where to find one inch deep trays and 2) ? where to find the silage plastic sheeting for blocking light on the beds. The place in Ohio has 40 x 50 for about $200USD without shipping. Black on one side w white on the other. Do you get used silage bags or other good sources?

how do i buy the book on the link is only digital.

Just found your vlog and am really enjoying the content and your style of presentation. I've already learned a ton and plan to give you a donation. I encourage others to do so too!

Great advice Curtis, thanks for sharing.

Amazing advice y'all!

Lots of great tips! Thanks for sharing :)

How far apart do you plant tomatoes in the field? I know you plant them 10" apart in the hoop house or greenhouse? Can you do a hard prun in the field?

Fantastic video! Thank you.