These fungi are considered some of the easiest to grow as they thrive both indoors and out. Perfect crops for beginning farmers are specialty mushrooms, such as oyster mushrooms. He estimated that an acre of bamboo can bring in $25,000 in the current market. According to a citrus farmer who entered the bamboo business, caretaking costs for a mature bamboo farm are about $5,000 per acre. While this might seem like a large upfront investment, the cost of caring for bamboo is relatively low and the profits can be quite large. Bamboo Garden, a national bamboo nursery, sells young bamboo in containers for anywhere from around $35-60 per plant, depending on the species. While start-up costs are relatively high for bamboo, it yields great returns. In colder climates, bamboo should be in the ground in early spring to give it enough time to grow and strengthen before the next winter. In warmer climates, it may be best to plant bamboo in the cooler months of fall or spring.

This makes bamboo great for the environment and farmers’ bank accounts.īamboo can be planted year-round, though your local climate may determine when the best time to plant is. Bamboo produces significantly more fiber than trees, regrows annually and captures much more carbon than a comparable timber. One reason that bamboo can be a great cash crop for small farm operators is that it is a renewable resource. According to Grand View Research, the global bamboo market is worth almost $69 billion, and the demand for it has made it appealing to small farm owners in the U.S. BambooĪlready popular in Asia, bamboo is gaining popularity around the world for its variety of uses, such as fencing material, fabric and food.

That small farm operators can grow in the U.S. In this section, we’ll explore some of the best cash crops While occupying little acreage on a farm. Select crops, such as bamboo, lavenderĪnd garlic, are being cultivated across the nation to meet a sizeable demand Just because those farms are small doesn’t mean they don’t meetĪ significant need and turn a large profit. Instead, they are considered small farms if the operator works part-time, the “annual gross income” is below $349,000 per year or the owner is retired. The designation doesn’t refer to size, though. Eighty-eight percent of farms in the United States are designated as small farms, according to the U.S.

Hobby farm ideas to make money