Every good farmer understands the importance of planning in their day to day lives. A successful farm isn’t ready in a day and requires a lot attention. With more farms for sale in Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Langley, Mission BC and other areas there are many emerging opportunities to start a farm. In this article we will take a look at the importance of planning and a few ways to set up a planning process.

Things to remember when planning a safe farm:

• Planning the small things is the start
• Nothing is complicated when we put effort
• Be aware of the potential risk factors before you start the planning process
• Right implementation is the key
• Share what you learn with others as you may get valuable inputs
• Prior planning prevents poor performance

Typically there are two major reasons to plan. First, to be aware of the potential risks and keep a contingency plan in place in case of emergency. Second, to create a communication channel for all in need of information. This planning process consists of the following:

• Systematic identification of farm work that can be a reason behind workplace injuries or health concerns and identifying means to mitigate them.
• Involving all the workers at the farm in the identification and risk management process
• Informing all the workers, visitors and managers about the potential risks at the farm site with risk management processes in check

Do not worry about having loads of jargons or fancy material to work with, simply create action plans and share the information with everyone involved at the farm. Consult the fellow workers to get all the details on the farm.

With a proper safety plan in action the risk of injuring anyone on the field is greatly diminished and the buildings, farms and animal can be provided with a safe environment. Although, buildings such as farmhouse or house with acreage will require separate risk management systems.

When we talk about farm safety, the owner has to make a decision about everything that happens. This includes:

• Investing time to bring up health and safety management parameters
• Maintain the right communication amongst the workers
• Having everyone on board when the decisions are made

How to initiate the safety management process? Everyone at the farm is equally important and thus they should all be seated and participate in a small activity. The aim of the activity is to bring up the most significant questions related to everyone. For example:

• What is the importance of having a safe environment at the farm?
• What measures can be taken to make working at the farm a safer experience?
• What steps can be taken to keep the visitors safe at the farm?

Once the questions have been established, it is time to find the answers. Everyone involved should understand the fact that these practices or measures will pay dividends in the long run and also improve the productivity at the farm. In a nutshell, advance planning is the key to running a successful farm. Healthy and safe work environment also earns you the respect of your workers and they would feel motivated to work better.

Still waiting to implement these steps? Or are you looking for a new farm? Why not implement all these measures on your new farm right from the start. Visit http://fraservalleyfarm.ca/ today and check out some of the best options in your preferred locations. Buy a new farm at the most competitive prices and live the dream of owning a farm today. It is a long term investment with many dividends to be paid in the years to come.

Farming is catching up at a steady pace in the recent times. With a wide range of farms for sale in Abbotsford, Langley, Mission, Chilliwack and other prominent areas it becomes important to do everything necessary to have a sustainable farming venture.

There are multiple areas where the farmers spend their money- machinery, saplings, location and manpower. But one prominent thing is often forgotten. Planting trees around the farm can prove to be a game changer for the farmers and can bring a wide range of benefits to the owners no matter what kind of farming they are into.

When we talk about planting trees, it doesn’t mean that you need to spare any land from your routine cultivation, it simply means planting one in the space left around your farm. Here are a few benefits of planting trees in and around your farm:

• It reduces soil erosion: We are well aware about the harmful effects of soil erosion. It erodes the top quality soil and takes away the nutrients from it. The frequency of soil erosion is more in the areas with loose soils. Trees bind the soil together and help reduce soil erosion to a great extent.
• Protect farm animals: Create a more comfortable and safe environment for the farm animals by planting trees. They help to protect them against extreme weather conditions and help maintain a stable ecosystem around them which helps them to stay healthy. They can be used as shelters and will provide space for bird nests, birds in return eat the pests in the farms and keep them disease free.
• Helps protect the crops: Weather conditions are unpredictable in case of a dry summer the crops can suffer thereby yielding low numbers. In such cases, trees offer shelter belts that protect the crops from drying out as they create a microclimate which helps trap moisture from the air. They also make for a longer growing season and can help improve crop yield significantly.
• Efficient use of water: Trees and hedges improve the infiltration of water thereby reducing the erosion by water down. This also helps the water to slow down before reaching streams further reducing the risk of a downstream flooding.
• Reduces pollution around the farms: Pollution harms the crops and farms to a great extent thus causing many losses. Trees create a physical barrier that helps in capturing pollutants, reduces spray drift from pesticides and keeps ammonia from livestock where it should be. Trees around the farm can reduce these emissions by over 50%.
• Efficient use of energy: Wood can be used as fuel and wood fuel can also be used on farms where farming is difficult. They also act as natural shelters. Woodchip can be used as bedding, it can be used alone or in combination with straw. When you have trees around the farm and livestock, buildings too experience an energy efficiency as they keep the space under shade from sun and wind alike.

Promote biodiversity: Pollinators such as bees are integral for a healthy crop. With the recent decrease in bee population it is a good idea to have trees where they can nest and help pollinate the crops quickly. Trees further promote biodiversity and protect crops from pests as well.

Therefore, planting trees will not protect the farms at large but also create more tourist attractions. You can also have your own supply of fruits by planting fruit trees. They provide a place for the wildlife to stay as they move around during climate changes. Visit http://fraservalleyfarm.ca/ today and buy your own farmland to start a new venture.

Starting a hobby is a great way to start afresh with life. With farms for sale in Surrey, Mission, BC, Langley, Chilliwack and more you can now choose your favourite location and start a new hobby farm easily. But remember to keep the following points in mind when you start your own hobby farm.

Have a humble beginning: Do not overburden yourself with the pressure of multiple farms without having the knowledge and experience of handling them on a small scale. Take up one or two projects during the first year in business and devote your time in mastering the techniques and learning more about the trade. Expansion plans should be made on a yearly basis.

Don’t expect too much profits instantly: Yes, one gets into a business to earn profits, but expecting too much in the beginning will only lead to more stress. Moreover, as a hobby farmer you cannot expect huge amount of money from selling your small produce.

Avoid having any debts to start with: Do not spend more than you can afford. Since you’re starting a hobby farm, the key to success is not having any debts in the beginning. Once you save enough, then look towards expansion whether it is land or equipment.

Never stop learning: There is a large amount of knowledge in books related to farming. Try to get your hands on as many as possible and gain in-depth knowledge about the farming business to improve your hobby farms. Never stop learning and keep growing as a farmer.

Learn from the experience of others: While reading will help you grow a lot. There is no denying the fact that getting practical knowledge from experienced farmers will help you get that competitive edge that would be required to expand your hobby farm into a big venture later. Spend some time with them and learn all you can.

Make an effort to do it yourself: Try and learn to do everything yourself when starting a hobby farm. This will help you grow as an active farmer and help you develop a passionate bond with what you do. It also keeps the costs down and you can indulge more into hobby farming.

Keep an eye out expert opinion when required: Yes, learning to complete most tasks by yourself is a great idea. But that doesn’t eliminate the need for expert advice completely. Keep in touch with them and call them in whenever you are in doubt or overwhelmed by the issues on your farm.

Level of commitment matters: Farming requires your time and commitment, it is a full time relationship and would require you to endure the test of time through varying phases and seasons. Once you’re into it you’ll develop a special bond with farming, make sure you use it in the right manner to make things go smoothly in the future.

Be open to new ideas: It isn’t necessary that you will get desired results at the very first attempt. Maybe there will be crops you don’t want to grow after a while, or maybe you want to raise cattle. Be open to experimentation and the let farmer inside you speak out.

All work and no play won’t help much: Though farming is a serious affair, it isn’t entirely about being too serious all the time. Take some time out with your friends and family, let the hobby farm take a back seat once in a while and have fun with life.

To get best deals on hobby farms visit http://fraservalleyfarm.ca/ today. Choose from a wide range of listings in your desired locations at the most competitive prices. 

When you buy a farm from a list of farms for sale in Mission for a farming venture, a major challenge is to prevent pests from harming the crops. Plant diseases, weeds and insects are of two types- harmful and not harmful. However, if these pests are present in significant numbers then there is a good chance that they will damage the crops.

One of the best ways to tackle this issue it to be prepared with an IPM- Integrated Pest Management system to the keep the crop invading pests at bay. IPM systems are cheap and easy to manage programs which can be conducted by farmers themselves.

Getting an IPM in action: The required information to start an IPM can be collected during the winters when the farmers are not farming extensively. Your plan would be a subject to your plantation history. Some additional information required to prepare an IPM includes:

• Growing plants that will help to keep the pests out of the crops
• Monitoring the crops regularly to make sure they maintain their health
• Identifying the pest problem affecting the farm
• Having an action plan to remove pests naturally
• Final action plan using pesticides

Pest Prevention: One of the best ways to avoid pests is to grow the right crops. Some crops are naturally pest resistant and can grow whilst withstanding substantial pest damage. Another way is to grow different crops in the area or have a gap of four years before repeating the same crop on same land.

Other way to prevent pests is to take care of the crops right from the start. Maintaining right distance between the plants helps the leaves to be dry, which is prevents pest damage. Additionally mulching helps the soil to maintain the required moisture whilst mitigating the risk of insects, diseases and weeds on the crops.

Watching out for pests: Observing the crops regularly will help you keep a track of any pests and allow you to take timely action if you observe any. The growing phase needs the most observation. Here are a list of things that one can maintain when keeping a check on pests:

• Careful eye during the plant’s growth stages
• Note down the number of insects, weeds or unnecessary plants
• Total crop area affected by pests
• Cause of the ongoing problem
• Extent of damage caused by the pests
• Observe if problem is expanding or contracting

With the aforementioned knowledge at our disposal you can use different methods to get rid of pests. Some of them are listed in the points below:

Natural Methods:

• Grow the plants that keep pests away around the crops
• Incinerate any diseased crops to prevent he pest from growing and spreading to healthy crops
• Use natural insect enemies in case the pests are insects. A pest eating insect won’t harm the crops
• Regularly mulch the crops

Using Pesticides:

• Pesticides are basically poison and that is why they are the last resort when trying to get rid of pests. Use them if all else fails. Here are ways to use them:
• Use it carefully so that they don’t cause damage to soil, animals, family or crops
• Read the instructions and label of the pesticide carefully. Always take some expert advice before using them
• Use pesticides for specific crops on the label and only for the problems mentioned on the label.
• Do not overuse the pesticides and always keep within the prescribes limits

Therefore, plan your venture carefully and take good care of the crops from the beginning. Visit http://fraservalleyfarm.ca/ today and find the best land for your farming venture.

Looking at farms for sale in Abbotsford, Mission, Chilliwack and more? Consider community farming as your new venture and reap the wide range of benefits by practicing sustainable agriculture practices. Earn well and give back to the community as well. Let’s take a look at benefits of community farming and farm diversification in the following lines:

• It paves way for prospering local economies: Community farms are owned and operated by locals which give them democratic control and the income from the produce is circulated among the community members instead of benefiting some unknown owners. These benefits in turn help the local businesses and improves the local market.
• Better for the environment: Farming can have good and bad effects on the environment and the overall ecological system. However, in case of community farming the farmers take the responsibility on their shoulders to protect the environment and attain sustainability through their practices. With a range of sustainable practices in community farming the environment is protected and threats to farmland are reduced.
• Provides food security for locals: As the point suggests, community farming reduces the chances food shortage within a community and more farmers can produce variety of food products together rather than mass producing same crop.
• It stabilizes the market: Community farming is done with an aim to attain food security via farms. Farmers can thus benefit from market and have a market stability with the support of farming communities. It can be improved with agriculture programs, local markets and better distribution.
• A means to improve capital and amenities for the community: One of the major purposes of community farming is to build up some social capital for the farmers, members and individuals involved. The idea is to bring them and other organizations together to help create a set of amenities apart from food security as well. These amenities can include education, environmental programs, nature conservation and recreational avenues.

Community farming can benefit greatly from farm diversification. Diversifying farms turn them into rural enterprises and it comes with its own set of benefits over a traditional farm. Have a look:

• Revenue generation: With diversification comes new activities which help the families get more income and attain a better standard of living in the long run.
• It promotes adaptability: This improves the willingness of the owners to change and explore new horizons. With new activities on farm the farmers improve their skills and take on new changes in the future whilst responding positively to new opportunities.
• Provides the families with security: When new activities occur on a farm the families are able t provide for themselves better with a better future and stability in the view. Branching out allows more revenue sources to come up and ensures that there will be income even if one source suffers due to any reason.
• A new way to tradition: Diversification will help improve the tradition of farming and encourage young ones to join in passionately. Along with revenue generation and improved incomes it also helps create a better future whilst giving an option to still enjoy traditional practices.
• Training and development: The participants getting into the phenomenon are bound to increase their existing skill set to a new level with specialized training. New managers and marketing teams can help them grow substantially in the agriculture business.

Plan your budget methodically and do your homework before buying a new farm. Visit http://fraservalleyfarm.ca/ for a wide range of options in farms, houses with acreage and more to find the land best suited for your needs today and in the future.

The Direct Impact of Biodiversity on the Farming Business and How to Leverage It

With a rising population the demand for food is ever increasing and farmers are looking for farms for sale in Mission. Many efforts have been made in the agriculture industry to increase the produce and improve the state of various agricultural activities. Farmland habitat or commonly known as biodiversity refers to the wildlife diversity that exists around the farm. In the wake of increasing demand, farmers have neglected the importance of biodiversity and in this article we will try to understand how biodiversity is extremely important.

Biodiversity plays a major role in maintaining the system’s stability and makes the environment strong against climate changes. This leads to the question=- how biodiversity can be useful at farm scale productions.

The increased use of fertilizers and mowing on the farms drives way for biodiversity decline, which not only leads to environmental loss, but also to the loss of various habitats at the farm. Artificially adding nutrients to the farm has become a standard practice to manage good crop yield each season. It can affect the soils and have adverse effect on the species living as a part of biodiversity. Managing nutrient inputs can help slow down the loss of biodiversity and protect the natural habitat which is beneficial for the environment and farm.

How to manage biodiversity at the farm?

In the current scenario there are two major ways for managing biodiversity. Both of them have been discussed in the lines below:

Wildlife oriented farming practices: In this approach a more wildlife oriented farming environment is create for the crops and these particular environments are tailored to promote wildlife growth.

The practice of land sparing: In this approach the overall land is utilized in a way that a fixed portion of land is intensively cultivated while the reamineder is left in a semi natural state to allow the biodiversity to bloom.

Both of these methods can be mutually benefical and conducted simultaneously on the farm lands. Along with these methods farmers can utilize the landscapes and topography to boost biodiversity in their system which turns out to be a good way for sustained farming.

Will an increase in the wildlife populations have any benefits in the overall farm management process?

Farm management is greatly benefited from the flora and fauna in the system. A farming approach which supports wildlife is advantageous for the agricultural activities as it eases the process of pollination and protects the crops from pests and insects. This amplifies the overall production.

According to some field based studies it was observed that major crops such as wheat, oil seed and beans experienced a rise in the yield when about 8% of the land was set aside from the cultivation land. This directly indicates the positive effect of wildlife oriented approach on the farms.

This increase in the production naturally occurs due to transmission of natural services from the wildlife itself. Pest control through predators like spiders, easier pollination thanks to bee population and more. Naturally growing trees, hedges utilize the resources which otherwise would have been used by pests. Maintaining biodiversity will also serve as a great method to protect the constantly declining bee population which is integral in plant’s growth.

The effects of biodiversity might not be instant but, they have their influence on the ecosystem even in the long run. Having tailored farming approach will benefit and promote wildlife which adds to the stability of the ecosystem and helps protect against environmental changes.

If you are also looking forward to start a farm, find the right land at www.fraservalleyfarm.ca at the most competitive prices. 

Biodiversity plays a major role in maintaining the system’s stability and makes the environment strong against climate changes. This leads to the question=- how biodiversity can be useful at farm scale productions.

The increased use of fertilizers and mowing on the farms drives way for biodiversity decline, which not only leads to environmental loss, but also to the loss of various habitats at the farm. Artificially adding nutrients to the farm has become a standard practice to manage good crop yield each season. It can affect the soils and have adverse effect on the species living as a part of biodiversity. Managing nutrient inputs can help slow down the loss of biodiversity and protect the natural habitat which is beneficial for the environment and farm.

How to manage biodiversity at the farm?

In the current scenario there are two major ways for managing biodiversity. Both of them have been discussed in the lines below:

Wildlife oriented farming practices: In this approach a more wildlife oriented farming environment is create for the crops and these particular environments are tailored to promote wildlife growth.

The practice of land sparing: In this approach the overall land is utilized in a way that a fixed portion of land is intensively cultivated while the reamineder is left in a semi natural state to allow the biodiversity to bloom.

Both of these methods can be mutually benefical and conducted simultaneously on the farm lands. Along with these methods farmers can utilize the landscapes and topography to boost biodiversity in their system which turns out to be a good way for sustained farming.

Will an increase in the wildlife populations have any benefits in the overall farm management process?

Farm management is greatly benefited from the flora and fauna in the system. A farming approach which supports wildlife is advantageous for the agricultural activities as it eases the process of pollination and protects the crops from pests and insects. This amplifies the overall production.

According to some field based studies it was observed that major crops such as wheat, oil seed and beans experienced a rise in the yield when about 8% of the land was set aside from the cultivation land. This directly indicates the positive effect of wildlife oriented approach on the farms.

This increase in the production naturally occurs due to transmission of natural services from the wildlife itself. Pest control through predators like spiders, easier pollination thanks to bee population and more. Naturally growing trees, hedges utilize the resources which otherwise would have been used by pests. Maintaining biodiversity will also serve as a great method to protect the constantly declining bee population which is integral in plant’s growth.

The effects of biodiversity might not be instant but, they have their influence on the ecosystem even in the long run. Having tailored farming approach will benefit and promote wildlife which adds to the stability of the ecosystem and helps protect against environmental changes.

If you are also looking forward to start a farm, find the right land at www.fraservalleyfarm.ca at the most competitive prices. 

Hobby farming can be very challenging sometimes and the constantly changing factors in the field of farming add on to it. When looking for farms for sale in Mission you must be aware of the factors that can affect the various areas of a rural lifestyle. 

Here are a few factors that affect hobby farming on a substantial level:

Access to healthy foods: With the rising super markets and farming communities undergoing a certain decline there are challenges when trying to provide the healthy foods to the locals. Often, it is observed that the residents are more likely to go out and purchase from a supermarket, maybe due to low prices or easy availability than some local freelance sellers.

Contamination of water levels: Industries often inject the water sources with harmful chemicals in order to get some natural gas. This hydraulic fracturing process is better termed as fracking. It is a major reason for contaminated water which is further used to feed livestock and causes a wide range of problems for the livestock- which include neurological problems, reproductive problems and more. The issue still remains and is expected to be sorted out soon via multiple state’s preservation programs.

Lack of funding options for farmers: A significant number of farmers will go into retirement soon and although there are many aspiring farmers who are looking to take up the reigns and bring in new and improved methods of farming into the mix. There are a few hurdles that one must go through when starting a new farm.

One of the biggest challenge is the capital requirements for new farmers. It is often observed that most of the farmers under 30 years of age, farm on rented lands and are not able to afford lands. Efforts are being made in the direction to make more funding available to the young farmers so that they can buy land from the funds that they receive.

This assistance can prove to be a means for sustainable agriculture mechanism in the years to come. Along with that related services can improve the access to land for farmers, provide them with easier credit and provide crop insurance for rookies or new farmers whilst providing them with the relevant mentoring and constant training in the field of agriculture.

Rising prices of land: Land is limited and with the increasing demand for food in the world, farmland operations are bound to be restricted by the unavailability of land. This puts pressure on the land prices when players plan about expanding in the trade.

It is no mystery that the prices of lands have been rising constantly. If we watch carefully then the prices have soared substantially over the past decade making it difficult for the farmers to acquire more land. Then there is the issue of lack of funding assistance for new farmers that adds to the mix.

As time progresses, the regional bodies have improved their efforts in order to achieve better results and get improved facilities for farm land financing. Easy purchasing, expansion of leasing options and creating affordable solutions for the farmers to expand their acquisitions is the key to success.

The future of farming be it hobby farming, commercial farming or organic farming is a bright one. Considering the wide range of efforts being put into the industry things are only going to improve. Visit http://fraservalleyfarm.ca/ to see a wide range of farms in your preferred locations at the most competitive prices. With their expert advice and a full fledge evaluation services you can get the best advice for your purchase. 

When buying a farm for sale in Mission it is essential to the right amount of fertilizer in the crops in order to maintain the nutrient content of the soil. It is thus absolutely critical to have the best fertilizer in the field. Right amount fertilizers whether chemical or organic help greatly to maintain the nutrient levels in the right quantity. Important nutrients consist of nitrogen phosphorous, sulphur, nitrogen and calcium, all these are important in promoting plant growth in their own respective ways.

Apart from chemical fertilizers farmers can also opt for natural or organic fertilizers such as compost, bone meal, animal waste manures. However, organic fertilizers tend to have a considerable amount of benefits when it comes to farming and in the following lines we will discuss the advantages of using the same. Have a look at some prominent benefits:

• High level of fertility in the soils: Organic fertilizers not only add nutrients to the soil but also enhance the overall quality and composition of the soil present. This gives the famers long term benefits and added advantages such as retaining water and improved drainage in the soil. Natural fertilizers also make use of wood ash and other organic matter to add to the humus in the soil, giving it an edge over synthetic fertilizers. Microorganisms find a way to sustain themselves in the soil with the help of organic fertilizers and this in turn reduces the chemical levels in the soil.
• Reduced level of processing: Synthetic fertilizers require the farmers to go through a lot of processing but organic fertilizers greatly reduce the effort and related by products such as materials from plants and animal or minerals are also used in the full capacity. Evidently plant based organic fertilizers make use of fish emulsion, worms, manures and even these can be purchased commercially. In order to get the best produce it is advised to get naturally organic labelled fertilizers for your farm.
• Reduced risk of crop failure: Synthetic fertilizers have a huge amount o concentrated doses of nutrient which are injected directly into the soil creating dangerous situations for the plants and their roots. Therefore, organic fertilizers are a better option since they do not pose such threat to the plants and break down the nutrients in the right consistency to be absorbed by the roots. This is a slow process, but its absolutely beneficial for the plants in the long run. The only plausible risk is from the fresh manures which can easily be tackled using compost manure when applying to your farm.
• Benefits to the environment: Not only do organic fertilizers give advantages to the farmers but to the environment as a whole. Chemical fertilizers can get dissolved in the water table and create harmful situation for the consumers when used in large quantities over a long period of time. Thus using organic fertilizers can eliminate this risk and avoid such issues.
• Reduced number of risks: Organic fertilizers reduce the number or risk involved as compared to chemical fertilizers. Chemical fertilizers can be very harmful for children and animal on the farm as well. Therefore, using well processed organic fertilizers is considered to be a good alternative to chemical fertilizers on the whole.

Therefore, if you are also looking forward to start your own commercial farm, blueberry farm or even a hobby farm, then utilizing organic fertilizers can be of great value to you not just in terms of better farming but also helps you get economic benefits. Visit www.fraservalleyfarm.com today to see all available farm listings in your area. 

Organic farming appears to be one of the most promising career options at this point of time. Although, contrary to the belief that organic farming cannot help you build a career, young and dynamic farmers have been paving way for their careers in the trade. 

You can find a range of farms for sale in Abbotsford but it is important to take a few things under keen observation before moving forward. Thus, in this article we will take a look at some important considerations that need to be taken care of when starting organic farming.

Defining goals: First and foremost you should have definitive goals for your organic farming processes. As yourself a few questions before going through with any sort of plan. Some of these questions can include:

• What is your belief system behind going organic?
• Are you doing it out of passion is it just a means to satisfy financial goals?
• Do you care about the environment? And if yes, what all can you achieve with organic farming?
• What is the size of the project going to be? Will it be a family operated business or are you going to do it on a large scale?
• Have well defined financial goals. Have a clear figure as to how much you want to make from this type of farming. Are you looking forward for a sustainable income or do you want to earn huge profits?

Once you have answers to these questions, chalk out a one year plan and concentrate on creating a positive start with modest expectations.

Focussed approach towards organic farming: It is a good idea to go from a diverging approach to a narrowed focused approach when it comes to organic farming. When beginning new operations on a farm, please take the following points into consideration.

• Be clear about the kind of crops, vegetables or fruits your want to produce on your farmland.
• Will there be any sort of livestock involved in you farming operations.
• Does the idea of being outdoors entice your and help you focus on your passion for organic farming.
• Are you a keen observer of the upcoming and seasonal plants, herbs, flowers or trees?
• Do you want to go for a large selling crop, or do you want to grow a niche crop on your farm.
• Do you have any alternative career plans or are you going to focus completely on organic farming business.
• Do you intend to create sub products using your produce, for example- blueberry based products with your blueberry produce.
• Are you well versed with the farming skills or do you still need to gain some experience?

Whenever a question arises in your mind, take some expert advice or note them down to get answers for the same later. This is one of the best ways to grow as a farmer.

Evaluate your strengths: Do an analysis to determine your strengths as an organic farmer. When you indulge in any business it is important to be aware of your weakeness and strengths alike. Some of the prominent benefits for organic farmers include:

• Healthy lifestyle
• Improved analytical skills
• Stress free environment
• Organizing and management skills
• Open to business savvy techniques
• Passion to learn new things
• Accountability

If you keep the aforementioned points in mind then you can set towards a fruitful journey in the trade of organic farming. Visit http://fraservalleyfarm.ca/ today and find yourself the right land to start your venture.

When buying a farm for sale in Mission, you might ask yourself- What farming technique should I use? In this article we will explain a new form of farming- hydroponics. It is considered a thing of the future for agriculture. Let us try to understand how. Have a look.

Hydroponics is a rapidly growing farming industry measure and hasn’t been made optimal use of by the users even today. It opens up a whole new unexplored area of farming that has the ability to utilize small spaces to create rich crops without using a lot of resources and without the need of specific environmental conditions.

With a wide range of benefits offered by hydroponics, it is still in a beginner stage and doesn’t have much documented or observed proofs to show its sheer value to the commercial industry which has kept it from becoming a mainstream phenomenon. With the passage of time and the depreciating land reserves for farming hydroponics is surely to catch up in a few years’ time. Hydroponic farms will become the new trend and thrive in the current global scenario.

Hydroponic farming refers to growing the regular crops using nothing but water. The plants are placed in a medium which is filled with nutrients running in the water. This nutrient filled water is supplied directly to the roots of the plants. Some people seem surprised when they hear that plants can be cultivated without even using soil.

Contrary to the popular belief farming in soil will soon be obsolete and in many cases soil has proven to be inefficient in more than one way. When the plants are cultivated in the soil they require a lot of nutrients which are sourced from the soil thus leaving the readily available nutrients levels in the soils depleted. Hydroponics on the other hand are ready nutrition for plants and because they nutrients are supplied directly to the roots, they grow 50% faster.

Here are some of the most notable benefits of hydroponic farming:

• As farmers you have precise control over the nutrients that need to be added.
• This farming type can be done in small spaces to produce large quantities.
• It reuses the water that carries the nutrients thereby using 2/3 less water.
• It is productive due to lower resources and speedy growth of plants.
• It doesn’t require huge investments in terms of lands, infrastructure and more.
• You can grow the crops throughout the year without having to worry about crop rotation or anything.
• The plants grown taste better and have the perfect nutritional content.
• It is a success assured and relaxing way to farm while involving family members together.

Apart from being advantageous to the farmers’ at large, hydroponics also benefit the environment in several ways. Let us take a look at some of them.

Win-Win Situation: It alleviates the property and it does so without damaging the environment in a stressful manner. These systems can be set up easily and use minimal resources like- recycled water containing nutrients which mitigates the costs as compared to traditional farming.

Reduced costs and efforts: Hydroponic systems utilize very little water as compared to traditional farming practices. It utilizes about 10% of water when recycling and reduces the water requirement for irrigation. It also eliminates the needs for pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals as the farmers supply the nutrient straight to the roots and only us 1/4^th of the fertilizer. Not only do they save water they also eliminate the need of large pieces of land to produce crops.

To find the right space to start your own hydroponic or farming venture visit http://fraservalleyfarm.ca/ .

Simply going out and looking at farms for sale in Mission, Abbotsford, Chilliwack and more is not going to make you a successful and skilled farmer. All great agricultural ventures are built on a lot of hard work and the owners always take care of the essentials in their agricultural production methods. In this article we will discuss some of the most important ways to have a sustained venture. Have a look.

Soil protection and preservation: The main idea behind this is to mitigate the soil erosion that occurs on the ground. Erosion is very difficult to fix and thus the only way to protect the soil is to use ways such as crop residues, reduced tillage and fixing any compaction on the land as it is a major reason for soil erosion.

Using water efficiently: Sources of water suitable for irrigation are limited and thus we must take steps to make optimum use of it and take steps to replenish the supplies as well. Some ways to mitigate unwanted water loss include:

• Reduce evaporation of water from soil by keeping it covered. Not only does it leave more water in the soil but improves infiltration of water and minimizes erosion. Also, minimizing tillage keeps the water inside the soil and avoids evaporation that occurs when soil is moved.
• Better irrigation facilities should be taken advantage of with responsibility and using eco-friendly irrigation methods should be used more often.

Preserving the fertility of soil: The food industry has a keen focus on exporting the food and this practice has led to exporting not just food but the nutrients in the solid as well. It is thus essential to preserve the soil’s fertility. Replenishing nitrogen in the soil using legumes, or nitrogen from the air is common, while there must be actions taken to replenish other nutrients in the soil. Two common way to replenish these nutrients include:

• Using fertilizers- these can be either synthetic or organic in origin and are a viable way to replenish the nutrients in the soil.
• Increase the efficiency of the overall nutrient usage. Cover crops whenever required, release the fertilizers slowly into the soil and follow precision based farming practices. Methods like crop rotation are natural ways to replenish soil nutrients and also mitigate soil erosion.

Crop protection is important: No crop will help you reap benefits if it is not protected properly. Whether it is from weather conditions, or weeds, insects, pets or other farm diseases. Having proper protection mechanisms for various factors threatening the crop is essential. Some practices that can be put to use include:

• Rotate the crops the regularly to replenish the nutrients and give back to the eco-system. While some crops grow slowly, it is a good idea to grow some crops that are quick and use optimum resources whilst improving soil fertility.
• Use methods like tillage to kill of the unwanted weeds on the farm. Along with herbicides tillage can be used to advantage. Herbicides on the other hands also have significant benefits to control the growth of weeds.
• Use pesticides as and when required while taking care of the farmland’s sanitation. You can also protect the crops using seeds or plants that are resistant to diseases and help you increase crop production.

Therefore, pay close attention to the aforementioned details whenever you start your own farm or buy a house with acreage along with a hobby farm in a location of your choosing. Visit http://fraservalleyfarm.ca/ and build your very own agriculture business that help your reap several benefits and has a sustained growth for many years to come. 

Want to buy a farmhouse or house with acreage in Mission? Go ahead! Also, let us take a close look at the most significant benefits of living on a farm. Here are seven prominent reasons for living on a farm.

• For the sake of a better immune system: Life on a farm is healthier and gives you a better immune system which is essential to maintain long term health. Farm living can help you reduce your body’s immune system response towards various kinds of food proteins. As a result you are less likely to develop any allergies or allergic diseases to the food and environment. Farm living promotes the growth of regulatory T-lymphocytes in your system, these cells reduce inflammations and sooth the responses triggered by the immune systems.
• It prevents asthma and reduces risk of aerial allergies: Millions of children suffer from asthma, and it has been observed that the children living in farms, and areas connected to nature have a better chance at avoiding asthma or other related allergies. The city environment contains multiple harmful particles which when breathed in can trigger asthma and other related allergies via a response from the immune system. The overall health of the children benefits when subjected to a farm environment giving them higher resistance towards allergies and asthma. 
• It significantly improves the mental health: Various researched across the globe have shown that problems such as depression, personality disorders, schizophrenia and more can be countered in farm like environments with animals on the farm. It is observed that interaction with animals on the farm gives the patients a chance to cope with their conditions naturally and it improves their mental health significantly. Therefore, being in such an environment regularly can give you the best mental health for years to come.
• Great way to maintain fitness: Nothing beats the benefits of a fit body that you can get when working on a farm for several hours every day. Farm living encourages a physically active lifestyle and you can also imbibe the quality of fitness in your young ones while staying on the farm.
• Natural and organic produce for a healthy lifestyle: Fresh produce at your house with acreage or at your little hobby farm at your farmhouse is a great way to start that healthy lifestyle you’ve always dreamt of. The food you grow is more nutritious than packaged produce and you can relish on your favourite foods every day.
• Achieve that early to bed & early to rise routine: Farm life brings with it a more active routine and inculcates the habit of early to bed, early to rise. Yes, the early start would mean that you end your day early as well, but it is worth the effort and it helps you catch up on your precious sleep that is required to replenish the body’s energy. Having this schedule is extremely beneficial for all in the long run.
• Rejuvenate your body completely: Get kissed by the sun and get your dose of vitamin D regularly that is extremely important for the body. Not only do you get enough vitamin D to keep your body rejuvenated but you also have access to the fresh air which is clean and improves the oxygen levels in your body. All these factors combined keep you healthy, relieves stress and encourages you to exercise more.

Visit http://fraservalleyfarm.ca/ today and see the best options for farm houses, houses with acreage and more at your preferred location.

Agriculture never goes out of fashion and the farms for sale in Mission show the scope of farming in the future. With a lot of competition in the trade farmers today can become responsible members of the fraternity using organic farming. It is a great way to produce healthier crops and also offers sustenance to the business.

First, let us take a look at some prominent benefits of organic farming: 

Going GMO free with organic farming: Organic farming is done is done without using genetically modified seeds. In fact, all the food produced organically is free from genetic engineering. It is interesting to observe that all genetically modified crops have been subjected to glyphosate pesticides as their genetic makeover resists the herbicides.

Cost efficient approach: Organic farming is cost effective and it makes the farmer’s life easier by not using chemicals on their crops. It does require the farmers to identify the crops well suited for in their region along with the right growing techniques. It also helps the farmers get a better understanding of the overall organic farming practices.

It is more sustainable: Organic farming produces better results over a longer period of time. Apart from a healthy produce, it also improves the overall land productivity and using crop rotation the farmers can maintain the soil quality.

It is environment friendly and healthy: There is no denying the fact that the food produced organically does not contain harmful chemicals and thus it is healthier than the traditionally produced crops. Pesticides exposure not only harms the land and crops, it also has an adverse effect on the biodiversity and people consuming the food.

A relationship with nature: Nature itself has a healing process and given time it replenishes itself. Adding outside content like chemicals damages the ecosystem and can have adverse effects on the consumers in the future.

Therefore, organic farming can help fix this issue and also provides a lot of scope for creativity.

However, organic farming does come with its own set of challenges. Some of the prominent challenges have been listed in the following lines:

Quality standards: A little blemish in the appearance is often taken as a sign of low quality, whereas the consumers tend to ignore the fact that to achieve that perfect appearance a wide range of chemicals are used. Organic farmers have a tough time convincing people that food grown naturally is healthier.

Low profits: The land prices are expensive and organic crops take a significant time to produce. Along with that, the commercially produced crops are lower in prices which give the organic farmers less scope for earning more profits. There has been a paradigm shift recently and it is expected to flourish in the times to come.

Scale of production:  Organic crops cannot mass quantities like that of commercial crops and the organic methods are well suited for small and medium scale enterprises, but with things changing it is expected to catch up with the speed of conventional farming methods.  

Meaning of organic farming: When big brands like Wal-Mart begin producing their own organic product it is taken up by the masses anyway. But at times it comes down to a question of ethic. Is the organic produce actually pure? Maybe a farm-direct business model will help fill the gap and make for better meaning of organic.

Standardization needs to be streamlined: Organic certifications are exclusive and often the farmers producing the best produce don’t get the certification. Therefore, things need to be improved on this end as well.

Regardless of the challenges posed by organic farming, it is a catching field and holds a bright future. If you are also planning to start an organic farm then visit http://fraservalleyfarm.ca/ to find the best options.

Finding the right blueberry farms for sale in Mission is challenging enough, but if you are entering the blueberry business, there are things that you should be aware about when starting your venture. In the following lines we will discuss the planting techniques, maintenance and harvesting methods for blueberry crops. Take a look.

The right planting techniques:

• The soil should be acidic with a pH level between 4 or 5. Adding more organic matter into the soil will increase the blueberry’s tolerance to the underlying acidity. The soil should be capable of holding moisture whilst having draining capability to support these shallow rooted plants.

• Prior to setting the blueberry bushes, you should add additional organic matter into the soil. The right time for planting the bushes is early spring and 1 to 3 year plants from a well reputed nursery are the ideal choice for the process.

• The holes should be 20 inches in depth and about 18 inches in width, which is about twice the width and depth of the plant’s roots. The bushes should be placed in a row about five feet apart and approximately 8 feet apart between different rows. The planting mixture should consist of oak leaf mould (one part), loam (two parts), sawdust (aged), peat moss, compost, which should be placed in layers at the bottom.

• The bush should be set with its roots spread out and the depth should an inch more as compared to the one grown in the nursery in order to hold it tight with the soil. The fertilizer should not applied immediately but approximately one month after planting.

The right way to take care of the plantations:

• In order to keep the roots moist you should mulch them with two or four inch layer consisting of saw dust, woodchips and pine needles if required. This should be supplied by one or two inches every week.

• Protect your crops from the bird with drape nettings. These keep your crops safe and don’t let birds wreck your work. Apply the fertilizer regularly and manage the rate as per the expert advice. In order to get the best results do not let the crop fruit during the first two years of planting. You can pinch the upcoming blossoms to promote additional growth.

• Pruning the blueberry crops isn’t really necessary for the first 5 years. However, after that it has to be done regularly to improve the growth from the plants as new season begins. Ideal time for pruning should be either late in the winter or prior to the early spring before new growth breaks out. For best results get rid of short, spindly, weak and broken shoots.

• In case of high bush type plants always cut and remove the wood which stand older than six years or is crowding the bush’s centre or has dropped to the ground. Additionally you can get rid of branches growing low to avoid fruit touching ground along with removing spindly twigs.

• For Low Bush blueberries all stems should cut from the ground level. However, take note that there will be no fruit for a season after the pruning is done. To avoid losing all produce prune one portion at a time every three years.

Harvesting the fruit in the right manner:

• Typically the blueberry crops are ready around the middle of August. But do not haste in picking up the fruits. Just because they are blue doesn’t mean they are ready to pluck, wait for the right time and you will see how easily they are falling in your hand.

• In case of two year old plants, the blueberry crops bear he fruits in just one a couple of years if you pick the flowers the right way. In order to reach a full potential the plants require a period of six years. Once done harvesting, you can easily freeze them and enjoy them during the whole winter season.

Therefore, if you wish to start a blueberry farm today, visit http://fraservalleyfarm.ca/ to see a list of all blueberry farms up for grabs in your preferred locations.

When buying farms for sale in Mission,  and running a farming business, there is always a chance for a famer to make some buying mistakes. In the following lines we will discuss some of the most common purchase errors that farmers make in their business.

• Being influenced by others: One common mistake that farmers make is buyin what the supplier intends to recommend. It is obvious that they are always concerned about the profit. If you let your fertilizer vendor decide what will be put in your farm then  other vendors will continue to influenece your decisions. The way to stay clear of this is to be well informed and make decisions smartly.
• Incomplete equipment purchase: There is no logical explanation for not buying complete set of equipments together. However, may farmers tend to skip buying some equipments and leave the remainder for a later date. Usually this 'later' time never arrives and often leaves the farmers high and dry whenever they need a specific component at a certain point of time. Also, unbalanced buying practices and habbit of leaving out parts will also cost you more. Therefore, also plan out what you need in a sequence and make sure that you don't leave anything behind.
• Being a control freak: Often farmers make errors in their purchasing out of the fear of losing control on their land holdings. This fear controls them and leads to excessive purchasing of land during an expansion phase. They begin lacking in paying the rents or lease money just so they can have more land and mitigate their custom hiring costs.  Thus, it is important to have a control on the spending and create a balance between all grounds of the prospect. As the saying goes- 'Excess of everything is dangerous'.
• Having a closed approach: There are all sorts of vendors in the market and it isn't necessary that only the big ones will have the products you need. Contrary to the belief you might be surprised with the economical deals being offered by new or relatively smaller players. Therefore, always stay open to all the vendors and don't restrict yourself to buying from just the top players.
• Too much lag time: Waiting too long to do something isn't such a good idea. Be it land, or the seeds or the fertilizers. If you wait too long to buy something there can unforeseen occasions. What if you wanted to buy a land but you waited for another year and the land prices shot up dramatically, or you wanted to buy certain seeds sold by a company, but by the time you were waiting the company closed or merged  with someone making the seeds you need unavailable.
• Insufficient information: Another error made by farmers is buying stuff without having the right information about it. There is a lack of data collection or information gathering and this leads to some very bad purchase decisions. Before you go out to buy something make sure you have the right information from reliable resources.
• Decisions based on price alone: Yes, price is an important factor, but making it the only grounds for decision making will not serve well everytime. Not every expensive product is of high quality, nor is it neccessary that all the good options  will come at  a higer price. To avoid this price based decision making, educate yourself constantly and be aware of all the developments in you related trade.

Therefore, get all the details about product before buying and have a successful farming career ahead. Visit http://fraservalleyfarm.ca/ today and find the land of your dreams.

Looking at farms for sale in Mission? Farming ventures are always a great idea but sometimes farmers tend to do things the wrong way. Therefore, in this article we will take a look at sustainable agriculture and how it can be instrumental for a farming venture.

Before we move to ways of implementing sustainable agriculture in your practices, we will try to understand what sustainable farming is all about. Have a look.

• Difference between organic and sustainable farming: Remember, that sustainable farming is not the same as organic farming by any means. While organic farming only refers to food which is grown naturally without using  synthetic chemicals. Although both of them aim to encourage ecological practices, they are not the same. Sustainable agriculture mitigates the potential risks of organic farming such as damaged ecosystems, loss of nutrients in soil etc.

• Understanding the meaning of sustainable farming: Sustainable farming is a practice to produce an indefinite amount of food while avoiding any drastic changes to the land, utilizing resources like water optimally and generating a steady flow of income whilst focusing on the overall infrastructure development.

• Resource management practices: Sustainable farming aims at using resources in such a way that they are replenished at the same pace as consumption. Analyse your resource inputs such as soil, water and energy being used to feed livestock. Along with that we also need to focus on long term productivity and capital investments.

Now that we understand what sustainable farming is all about, it is time to look at ways that will help you in incorporating this practice with your farming schedule. In the following points we will take a look at some simple ways that will help you follow a sustained farming venture.

• Elimination of waste: Implement the ‘three R’ practice, which helps segregate everything on the farm into three main categories mainly reduce, reuse and recycle. This practice is sustainable and also gives economic benefits to in the long run. Be creative and use the resources to their optimal potential and incase there is something you don’t really need, sell it or give it away to someone who can use it.

• Promote biodiversity on your farm land: It is a good idea to use polyculture on your farm as it produces less waste and reduces the consumption of fuels. Use breeds which are well suited with the environmental settings in your area in order to yield the best results. Crop rotation is another great way to keep the soil rich in nutrients. A combination of both crops and livestock can be a game changer in your farming business.

• Take care of your farm’s surroundings: The surroundings of the farm are often ignored. They should be taken care of diligently, having trees around the farms will help in making the place more airy and will also protect crops from winds. With enough green cover natural predators like spiders will rise and eat any bugs that can damage your crops.
• Having the right people on the farm: Always hire people who are committed to work hard on the farm and get things done in the right way. You can reduce use of fossil fuels by increasing manpower on the farm. Skilled labor knows the complexity of sustainable agriculture and will also give the right advice when needed.

Farming is a lot of work and thus must have a sustained operational mechanism. To find the right farm for your venture visit http://fraservalleyfarm.ca/ and create a farming business that is sustained and will help you reap benefits for years to come.

Do you wish to buy a farm for sale in Mission, Abbotsford, Chilliwack and other nearby areas? You are just a click away from realizing that dream. But before we move forward, we would like to shed some light on a few mistakes that farmers often make when starting their own farm. Let's take a look at some mistakes that you should certainly avoid:

• Assuming a lot of things at the start: Whenever the farmers set out on a new farming venture they tend to lose their acts and assume a lot of things right from the start. There are instances when they ignore certain details which they believe are not important from farming point of view. Things such as testing out the soil, creating a fence etc. are considered to be more of an expense rather than a smart investment. Assuming such activities to be unimportant can lead to significant losses in the long run.
• Gathering data from unreliable resources:  Farming is a very intricate process and takes a lot of time to produce a single crop. In many cases it happens that the farmers ignored the signs of weak growth in their crops at the start. They consulted unreliable resources to get a solution to the problem, maybe someone suggested that they should add more nitrogen to the soil, in turn the crops declined even further due to excessive nitrogen content. Therefore, whenever you are going into the farming business, only consult the experts and gather information from reliable sources only.
• Not taking proper care of the produce: No matter what crop you are growing on your farm land, it is important to have each and every detail under check during the entirety of the cultivation process. At times the farmers might ignore certain details and avoid spraying the crops on time, this can be the start of a deteriorating crop that would be full of infections. A little effort everyday will help the farmers get the most out of their crops.
• Putting all eggs in one basket: With a lot of media exposure and multiple success stories in farming being aired on TV one is often tempted to make the most of their investment. As a new farmer you must remember that  each journey will begin from the bottom and then make a way up the ladder. Enough land and adequate water supply is enough to start a successful farming venture, provided you play all the cards right and sow the seeds for the right crops depending upon your soil.  Always avoid putting in all your money into huge machinery and avoid unnecessary practices that will be an expense and not an investment. 
• Overestimating the potential: Who doesn't like to dream big? We all do, but there needs to be a strong connect to the reality. Having dreams of becoming a millionaire with minimal effort in farming isn't a good idea. Do no scale up your projection or put more money into extra land that you can't control just because you have dreams. With more land, you will need to do additional work and this will soak you dry physically, mentally and economically. In many cases farmers have ended up in hefty losses due to lack of control on their own business.

Therefore, start small and build your way to success gradually. The most amazing teacher of them all- experience will show you new possibilities and you will become a successful farmer in no time.  Be committed to your work and take the aforementioned points into keen consideration. To see a list of best farms in the region, visit http://fraservalleyfarm.ca/

Every farmer wants to get the most out of their crop and looks forward for ways to increase their overall agricultural productivity. Farms for sale in Mission are a great place to invest and start a new farming venture. Let’s take a look at some of the most important ways that can help improve productivity in the field:

1.    Logistics Support: In order to have higher productivity and allow the farmers to sell their produce in more markets across various cities it is important to have a well-developed logistics system in place. This will allow them to work with new technologies and help them attain a respectable income as well.

2.    Right Irrigation Measures: There is no denying the fact that the overall productivity of the crop will be directly proportional to the irrigation it receives. Thus, it is very important to have tube wells and canals created in the right manner for improved crop production. Along with this, measures should be in place to curb any damages caused due to natural calamities.

3.    Marketing Strategy: Farmers should be well informed with the concepts of marketing as well. Their views widened and their beliefs strengthened will make for better selling of products with more profits to the farmers. Also, the minimum prices for produce should be regulated by the authorities.

4.    High Quality Inputs: In order to have bountiful crops farmers must use the inputs of highest quality in their farming practices. They need to stay informed about the latest farming techniques, developed seeds for increased production and use quality fertilizers to help raise crops.

5.    Training & Development: There is no age or time to learn. In fact, the farming industry today requires the farmers to constantly improve their skills. They need to adopt new advancements and make share that they share their skills with the team to help them grow and work proficiently in the field. This will create synergy among all members involved and help the farmers to take good care of their crops whilst enhancing the overall productivity.

6.    Optimal Use Of Land: While manual farming techniques used to have a random pattern of plantation, today with the help right tools and machinery it is possible for the farmers to make optimal use of the land at their disposal. Seeders, harvesters and other farming equipment can help in sowing the seeds at optimum distances and this creates a right measure to get the most production out of the available land. It reduces wastage and improves the time taken to actually do the tasks.

7.    Understand Local Land Reforms: Another important thing for farmers is to learn about the rules and regulations regarding the land in their area. Every state might have different rules concerning taxes, water laws and more. They must be fully aware of the lay of the land both physically and economically. They must make sure that all the regulations are taken into proper consideration before starting any crop farming.

8.    Land Evaluation: Not every piece of land is suitable for all kinds of crops. The farmers must check their soil type and take a look at their resources. This will help them identify the right kind of crop based on the nature of the land and thus help them cultivate and optimal produce that can be sold for a higher profit. In case of absence of these measures, they might end up cultivating a low quality crop that was never suitable for their land in the first place. Therefore, having this knowledge is a big boon for the farmers.

Visit http://fraservalleyfarm.ca/ and find the finest farmlands to start your very own farming project today. 

8 Imperative Ways for Improving Overall Agricultural Productivity

Ever wondered what is the sustainable future for the farming industry? If you want to look at farms for sale in Mission or wish to get a house with acreage, it is a good idea to look into a sustainable form of farming now. Organic farming is the right future for farming and in the following we will understand how. 

Organic farming first came into light during the early 1940s in Britain. The whole approach of organic farming revolved around creating a rich and bountiful crop by making use of natural practices like crop rotation to restore the soil’s nutrition in a natural way without any use of pesticides, weedicides or chemical fertilizers. 

This idealistic approach has always been challenged by the likes of more commercially sound chemical based agricultural practices. However, in the present day scenario there is a constant debate as to why the chemical based cultivation should take a step back and way should be paved for a healthier alternative in the form of organic farming. 

Agronomists across the globe have shown serious concern towards the practice of using chemical fertilizers. The approach isn’t considered viable for a sustainable future as it affects the soil integrity adversely and this makes organic farming all the way more important in the present day scenario.

Although a lot many farmers use low tillage methods to keep their soil quality up to the mark, they are yet to adopt the organic methods completely. Like any other change, this one will also take its time, but having an understanding of the various benefits can be an added motivation for new and experienced farmers alike. 

Very intensive farming affects the biodiversity negatively and leads to soil erosion which also takes away the necessary nutrients from the soil. To combat this situation the farmers can use a cover crop like rye that can help fix the nitrogen levels from the atmosphere itself. These crops are good at keeping down the weeds and helps the soil to regain its nutrients whilst adding to the nitrogen content without the use of harmful chemicals. 

Let’s take a closer look at some more environmental benefits of organic farming in the following lines:

• It helps in building a healthier soil: Organic farming improves the soil quality naturally and has even proved to work better than no till farming. This adds to the fact that treating the soil with harmful chemicals will only spoil it in the future.

• A way to supress global warming: Organic farming also helps in dealing with the greatest environmental threat today- global warming. It is estimated that if about 10,000 medium sized farms switch to organic farming the amount of carbon stored in the soil would be equal to that of over a million cars taken off from the road. This practice makes soil sustainable which makes it more susceptible to climate change. 

• It helps to conserve water: Wavering water supplies can be a possibility and are often perceived as a genuine threat. In order to protect water health and reserves it is suggested to switch to organic farming. Organic farming conserves water in more than one way and even the crops grown naturally require less water for irrigation.
• Prevents growth of toxic plants: Some toxic plants like algal blooms can have an adverse effect on the people’s health. These plants can be a roadblock in the regional economies. One of the primary causes for these are chemical based fertilizers and these can be avoided easily by going organic. 

Create your very own organic farm today. Find the right piece of land here at http://fraservalleyfarm.ca/ and get the best of options at competitive prices.

Hydroponics is the future of farming and is set to meet the ever growing of food in the future. It is a practice that means producing crops which are rich in nutrients by using a nutrient rich water solution to deliver the desired minerals straight into the roots. When talking about starting the process to buy a farm for sale in Mission, considering hydroponics is a good move.

Despite not being popular the practice is being implemented by some in the farming industry today to produce better crops with less efforts and come with a solution for the ever increasing food demand.

In case you are wondering how crops can be grown without soil, then here is the answer. Hydroponics uses artificial supports to hold the plants upright whose roots are introduced with the water solution that provides all the nutrients, mineral and ionic compounds required. This practice ensures that the farmers will put in the right amount of everything and thus have total control on the growing environment.

There are multiple ways to deliver the solution to the roots:

• Take an inert substance like rock wool, or volcanic glass perlite to have the roots flooded with a solution periodically
• The inert substance can be supported with rainwater using a solution dripper
• Spraying the plants with their roots in the air
• Using a slight slope film that lets the solution trickle down to the targeted roots.

There is a certain level of mechanisation in all the systems mentioned above and it is usually done with the help of a pump. The whole solution is aerated so that there is no dearth of oxygen for the roots and they can flourish while absorbing the energy and proper respiration.

This brings up the question that what are the pros of this form of farming. Some of the most notable ones have been mentioned in the points below:

Produce crops in increased numbers: With the help of a wide range of nutrient solutions, greenhouses, adequate and artificial lighting along with heaters and wide range of added equipment the crops can be developed faster. This can help you yield a far better crop than the traditional practices at any time of the year.

An eco-friendly approach in the trade: The biggest advantage of opting for hydroponics is that you can recycle the water being put in the system. If we denote in numbers then hydroponics only make use of 10% of water as compared to traditional farms. Thanks to the closed system of the practice the nutrients are retained and not leached away. This reduces the fertilizer usage down by 75% as compared to the traditional farming approach. Another major benefit is minimal use of pesticides due to the absence of soil based pests and any existing ones in a controlled environment can be dealt easily.

Opportunity to expand in areas not suited for traditional farming: The efficient use of water can help you venture into unexplored territory. This can be a boon to create farming reserves in areas with scarce amount of water and more plants can be grown side-by-side as compared to farming in soil making it space efficient as well. The environment inside the farming areas can be controlled artificially, therefore abandoned locations like unused railway tunnels can be put to good use.

Reduced transportation costs: These crops can be cultivated near the areas they are required and can play a major role in reducing vehicle emissions whilst providing fresh produce to locals.

Thanks to the versatility of the technique farmers can grow same crops without having to worry about loss in soil nutrients or crop rotation. Do you also have an idea to start your farm? Visit http://fraservalleyfarm.ca/ today to find the land best suited for your needs.