Tuesday, 7 July 2015

Starting A Christmas Tree Farm

By Jana Serrano


The world is not short of business ideas. Every day, there seems to be new ideas cropping up related to earning from farming. Cash crop farming is a big hit nowadays. For those who are interested in tilling the earth for profits, Christmas tree farm is something that is affordable to start and has prospects for good returns. However, good management is needed if returns are desired. Of course, everything is carried out from a land. Other necessities are the usual farming equipments and seedlings. Having a budget is a wise idea so that to avoid overspending.

The project can be started on a small piece of land or a huge chunk. It all depends on whether someone wants to do small scale or large scale. Location of land in question is an important factor. Somewhere that has access to water is ideal since the crop needs water so that to grow.

After establishing the location from where the whole affair will be carried out, planting activity will take place. This can take a considerable amount of time depending on the number of seedlings that have to be planted. If a huge swath has to be covered with this crop, the best thing will be to contract labor.

In any type of farm, labor costs are unavoidable. Therefore, when planning to start this kind of business, one needs to budget for labor. There is need to keep overheads as low as possible so that to be able to maximize profits. Labor costs for this kind of farming are not high but they should still be budgeted for.

Passion has its rightful place when it comes to farming. However, it should not be forgotten that zeal has to be combined with a good dose of management competencies and entrepreneurial skills. Being organized is the key to success in any venture. Any cost incurred should be jotted down in a book dedicated to the project. Activities to be carried out should be planned for and documented for future reference.

For individuals starting out, some capital is needed. This does not have to be an exorbitant sum but it should be sufficient. The capital invested will facilitate good returns because there is a market for the produce. Capital raised will be used to buy farm equipment and seedlings among other items.

A starter needs to acquaint himself with the highly marketable Christmas trees and how to plant and raise these varieties. These are Scottish Pine, Balsam and Douglas fir. It is advisable to acquire any of the options just listed.

Trees to be planted can be purchased as seedlings or transplants. The cost of seedlings are low. Once grown, it will take 2 years for them to reach full height of 5-7 feet. After reaching that level, they are ready to be sold.

One of the most profitable cash crops is Christmas tree. The cost of entry into this farming activity is quite reasonable. With a piece of land, only a few items need to be purchased.




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