What to grow for profit on 5 acres central NY

[Deerherd]

An introduced mold has nearly wiped out Hop production in California. Almost all Hops now used in US commercial beer production are grown in Australia.

Research Hops very carefully for humid New York.

Not sure where you got your information but the majority of hops used are NOT from Australia. Not even close! The US last year outproduced Germany for the first time in a long time.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

I know what it would be in my area, POT. Gotta have lots of sun and water though. I'm pretty sure it's the number one cash crop in my county and many counties around.

Small pot farmers do very well in Oregon, but it's climate dependent. Southern Oregon has a dryer climate, so the plants are less subject to mildew. I don't think it's legal in New York yet. The suggestion for medicinal elderberries is a good one. NIH has reported that black elderberry extract cuts the duration of colds and flu by 50%. I have three bottles of black elderberry extract (Sambucol) in my medicine chest right now. There are other medicinal plants that are fairly high dollar. Ginseng comes to mind, particularly if you have a shady north slope.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Not sure where you got your information but the majority of hops used are NOT from Australia. Not even close! The US last year outproduced Germany for the first time in a long time.

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Not the time to be going into hops. The US has a big glut, and prices are in the dumpster.

 

[Tifford]

I've always heard that you should love what you do. Of all the suggestions I love tomatoes, sweet corn and blackberries/blueberries the best. I'll research those 3 for next year.

Ginseng is a possibility. The neighbors have a good sloped, hardwood treed land next to mine. If they don't plan on doing anything with the land I'll see if they'll let me plant seed and sit on them for 7 years.

 

[PILOON]

Horseradish, LOL, it spreads like weeds* and no upkeep.

*probably is one actually.

 

[NorTracNY]

I have to agree that hops is a big risk. It's the fad in NY now with the governor pushing micro breweries. I believe that we are in an artificial bubble because of it.

If you're looking to make money, you should look to become an expert on growing whatever it is. It's easy to invest into something and have 1 or 2 good years, but then have something surprise you and wipe you out.

 

[PhysAssist]

My neighbor said elderberry for medicinal use, she said pretty big return per acre.

Black elderberry extract is a "cure for the Flu, and helps fight the common cold- it says so on the interweb [also on medical journal sites].

 

[PhysAssist]

I know what it would be in my area, POT. Gotta have lots of sun and water though. I'm pretty sure it's the number one cash crop in my county and many counties around.

That's another one I was going to suggest- but get the permits first.

 

[mjw]

If you want to make money you have to figure out what your local market wants and where you can sell.
I did some truck farming years ago.
There was a great local farmers market, but you were never going to get a stall, unless someone died and you were connected.
Check out local markets and see what sells out, where people are lining up before the market opens.
For the area I was in early spinach and good strawberries were 2 of the items that had long lines and sold out.
The strawberry guy was new, recently retired and grew some of the best strawberries I have ever had.
His quality of product established him fast, with people coming to market early just for him.
To the point of ignoring other strawberry vendors, waiting in a line for rick to arrive, hoping he wouldn’t sell out before they got some.
This didn’t happen by accident, he had been working, studying for years before he retired.
Took classes from the local college and ag extension.
Researched his market and keyed in on strawberries.
I don’t know how many years he grew berries to perfect his varieties and skills but it was quite a few before he retired.
His biggest issue was keeping up with demand.

I started off by growing what I knew and liked, but everyone grew the same crops.
Hard to compete with established vendors.

If I had to do it again I would go for cut flowers.
People who will haggle over $2 worth of tomatoes will drop $10 on pretty flowers without a second thought.
And keep coming back for more every week.
I didn’t grow flowers for sale, but started cutting whatever I had growing around and made more money from my tiny amount flowers at times.

Had a greenhouse operation for a neighbor who told me the same thing before I started, but I was too stubborn to listen. He had a revelation at market one day haggling with a customer over a bushel of beans, who then went and dropped a bunch of money on flowers.
They stopped growing veggies and went all flowers after that.

I liked growing veggies so that is what I did, but I really should have taken his advice. Maybe I would still be farming if I had made more money at it.

 

[nybirdman]

I know a fellow in your general area that grows sweet corn and does well in the Syracuse and Rochester areas.The trick is to have corn early.He plants on the South facing slopes as early as possible.He does sell mostly whole-sale to markets but also has a road-side stand.
In our area(up-North) the U-Pick strawberry and blueberry operations do well.Raspberry would also be a consideration.
Pumpkins also may work for you.