Organic farm profitability keynote planned at Small Farms event

A farmer for 35 years, Richard Wiswall runs a certified organic farm in Vermont and wrote “The Organic Farmer’s Business Handbook.” Looking at the business side can be hard for growers who choose this path to be with nature, but as Richard says “Ultimately, a farmer’s only job is to make sure that the farm survives; if you can’t make payroll then it’s over.” When Wiswall started he owned only 5% of the land he farmed, and he decided to take a dive into the reality of his business. He had to overcome the fear that many small, diversified farmers have: Is my farm profitable or am I losing money here? He collected data from his operation and used off-season time to analyze it. He learned that some crops were profitable and others were losers. He adjusted his planting to focus on more profitable crops, but realizes this might not be the right answer for everyone. One could, for example, choose to grow some nonprofitable crops and treat this as a promotional expense. Ultimately, it’s about understanding where the money is coming and going and making fully informed decisions.

Read full UF IFAS interview with Wiswall.

Wiswall will be the keynote speaker at the Panhandle Fruit and Vegetable Conference Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016, at Jackson County Agricultural Complex, Marianna, Florida.