Best States to Start a Farm or Ranch

Some of the best states to start a farm or ranch are Montana, Kansas, North Dakota, Texas and Oklahoma, to name a few. Though farming or ranching are not considered glamorous, it is still one of the most rewarding and essential professions in the world. However, we all wonder where the highest chances of successfully starting a farm or ranch are. 

To help you make the right decision, we have listed the top best states to start a farm or ranch in this article. We evaluated all 50 states using 42 metrics and ranked the top states to be a farmer or ranch-owner in. the key metrics we focused on were viability, infrastructure quality and suitable climate. 

Best States of Start a Farm or Ranch in 2022

These are our pick for the best state to start a farm or ranch in:

Montana 

The Big Sky state has the top rank on our list of the best states to start a farm or ranch. Agriculture is the biggest industry in Montana, so it is not so surprising that it ranks first on our list. 

Montana is second to only Wyoming when it comes to average farm size, with an average 2,156 acres, also having the lowest cost of an acre. Though ranching is interlinked with the state’s culture, farming contributes considerably to the state’s economy. Montana remains the top supplier of beef, and also leads the country’s production or organic certified wheat, flax, dry peas, lentils and honey. 

Montana offers the perfect spot to start your own ranch or farm. 

Great Plains

Majority of the top 10 states on our list are situated in the Great Plains region, including several in the famous Corn Belt. These are significantly high-yield states and perfect for farming. 

Kansas and Texas rank 2nd and 4th on our list, respectively. Besides this, Oklahoma at no. 5 and Iowa at no. 7, along with North Dakota at no. 3, Colorado at no. 9 and Wyoming at no. 10 make up the best states to start a farm or ranch in the Great Plains region. 

Most of these states, including Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma have cheaper land rates, huge established farming communities for support and a highly developed infrastructure that supports agriculture and ranching. 

The Last Frontier

Alaska ranks the lowest in our list of the best states to start a farm or ranch. Despite being the largest state by area, less than a quarter of the state’s 365 million acres are viable for farming. The state generally has a climate which is unsuited for farming, has a brief growing season and mostly infertile soils. In short, you won’t be able to grow much in Alaska, however the crops that do grow here tend to break records for production size, such as the biggest carrot or cabbage. 

FAQs for Farming experts

It is challenging to start a new farm or ranch, especially if you are new to the industry. To make things easier and more convenient, we consulted a panel of agriculture and animal husbandry experts. 

Here are some tips to determine the best-suited state to start a farm or ranch:

What are the top reasons to start a farm or ranch today?

The demand for locally-grown produce is constantly increasing. A few years earlier, around 82% of the total population in the US lived in cities and urban areas. It is predicted this percentage will continue to increase. Increasing urbanization tends to result in decline in ratio of farmers to food consumers. This means that the need for more farmers is inevitable as the existing farmers will be pressured to meet the increasing food production demand. 

What type of person is best suited for a career in agriculture?

A person who prefers to stay outside, close to nature and does not mind getting their hands dirty, besides wanting to be an entrepreneur is best-suited for a career in agriculture. 

What are the biggest obstacles that a new farmer or rancher will need to overcome?

Finding the right customer base is always challenging, including targeting markets when launching a new business. The competition from retailers is also intense because large-scale food production has many advantages as far as competitive pricing and efficient distribution is concerned. 

Understanding the consumer’s requirements and wants is another major obstacle that new farmers and ranchers need to solve. The consumers’ needs are dynamic and filled with numerous uncertainties and variable factors, such as changing population structure. Hence it is extremely important to understand the current consumer’s needs and predict future requirements too. 

Conclusion

The top best states to start a farm or ranch in the US are Montana, Kansas, North Dakota, Texas, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Iowa, Kentucky, Colorado and Wyoming. The access to high-quality agriculture-friendly infrastructure, good soil quality and friendly climate are the major factors that make these states rank high on our list of the best states to start a farm or ranch in the United States in 2022.