>>2248109What were they selling? Monocropping? Of course your margins are going to be pennies an acre after millions in capital investment. Monocropping popular cash crops isn't going to make anyone money unless you have hundreds of acres for the scale.
To really make money you need to be creative with your land, what, and how you grow. Here are some things you should think about. What are the under-served markets in your area? Is there anything special or peculiar about your land that lets you grow something unconventional, or perhaps utilize that land in another, non-agricultural way? Can you create a need for something that doesn't necessarily have it? Livestock? Vegetables? Organic or conventional? Lumber plot? Nuts? Plants used in essential oils? Teas? Cosmetics? Flower fields for bees?
There are lots of things you can do that are particular to your area and land. The most successful farmers I know are typically serving the growing organics/free range/pasture market in one way or another. They are organic but they are "intensive" farmers. Everything is kept under tight control to maximize production while sticking with organic/permaculture principles. They all yield more than the average per acre, for the area, for any given crop, than the farmers using a more conventional method. Another thing in common is that a lot of successful fruit farmers have a "pick your own" field, which is typical I think, HOWEVER, the really successful guys have extremely tidy and beautiful properties with stellar facilities for the public to enjoy a day out on their farm. Whether that be beautiful picnic areas, a small "resturant" where they call in a local chef to cook things with the farms ingredients, to full blown grade A wedding halls constructed out of old barns.
Your land, and your self. THAT is the business. How can you maximize your personal strengths, and the strengths of your land, to make the most money or to live the life you want.
