As farmers start their farming journey they often ask, “What type of land do I need to produce the crops I want to grow?” Or if they have land, “What kind of crops are best suited for the land I have?” The answers to these questions are not as straightforward as you may suspect.
When considering what type of land to look for or what will grow best, it is important to remember that farming does not exist in ideals. Soil, location, climate and weather, and property are often far from ideal for new farmers, especially early in their career. Land access for beginning farmers has become increasingly difficult and more expensive, since capital is scarce, and production goals vary from producer to producer. Therefore, producers need to be prepared to make the best of their situation. This means executing their season as best as they can considering factors outside their control that will inevitably affect their farming season.
To aid farmers in matching land with their intended vegetable production, Michigan State University Extension has released a new bulletin, E-3512 Turn Soil into Profit (Vegetable Edition). The publication outlines soil and land considerations in Michigan with potential vegetable crops. It also provides some additional considerations on marketing the intended crops being raised.
Source : msu.edu