For those of us who were born to farm but, alas, not born on a farm, the ache to have your own land can be so intense you feel it in your belly. I thought it could never happen for me.
But now, after 20 years of farming and 15 years of interviewing farmers, I’m pretty sure that almost anyone can find and buy farmland by doing four things:
1. Be clear and realistic about the budget you’ll need to support yourself and your farm, and about how you’ll get the income you need.
2. Do your homework on the neighborhood and the land you’re looking at to make sure it suits you and the type of farming you want to do.
3. Think outside the box: Be open to different options and timetables for buying land.
4. If you apply for a loan, find out what mortgage lenders require from borrowers and get those requirements in order.