However, just because your father was a banker does not mean that you do not have enough love of agriculture to become a farmer. If you have a love for the land and a love for animals, then you might just make it as a farmer. Remember though, this is a job that never ends and you will work harder than you have ever worked in your life. Of course, the rewards are worth it.
One thing that you need to consider is getting the right education for this line of work. Even though most people assume that farmers do not have a higher education, they are wrong. Many farmers become certified through obtaining college degrees in agriculture. You might even run into a farmer or two that has an advanced degree. Of course, having a degree is not required and there are farmers out there without the advanced schooling, but they find other ways to stay up to date with the current trends in the world of agriculture.
Your first step to becoming a farmer might be to become certified or maybe not. Either way, you are going to need land and the right tools for the job, otherwise you will not be able to call yourself a farmer. You can purchase the land or rent it and the same goes for the equipment. Whether you need a little or a lot of equipment, you need to be prepared for a big expense. The equipment that it takes to run even a small farm can cost thousands of dollars. Large farms may have a few hundred thousand dollars wrapped up in farming equipment. Then of course, if your farm is going to focus on livestock, you have the expense of buying some animals.
Those who become a farmer and take over the family farm have the benefit of having everything handed down to him. If you are not so lucky, then you are looking at having to finance everything. This means that you want to be prepared as a farmer to take on an incredible amount of debt. Learning how to budget your income is essential too, unless you have someone in the household, such as a wife, that works off the farm in order to bring in a monthly income.
It is also important to make sure that you stay current with agriculture and technological trends. Many farmers out there will make use of the Internet to set contracts for their goods and many now have GPS systems on their tractors. The more up to date you are with everything, the more efficient your entire farm will be. In addition, when your farm is efficient, you will make more money.
Even if you start your farm now, there is nothing stopping you from going back to school later in order to become certified. Of course, finding time for school while running a farm may be next to impossible unless you have family or employees on the farm working for you. There is the possible option of online schooling. You can earn a certificate or a degree in agriculture online and work from the convenience of you home around the hours that you set. This may be the best way for you to attend school so that you really do not have to be away from the farm so much.
Just make sure that you are really researching becoming a farmer as much as possible before you simply dive right in. There is a lot to take into consideration. This is more than just a job, as being a farmer is more of a way of life. Talk it over with the entire family as well because most likely you will need to rely on them for some of the help around the farm.
