Farm Concept Development Program rev1

I am still working on the farm. As of right now I am still researching land and markets around the Rochester, NY area. I currently am living in Penfield, NY a suburb of Rochester, NY. I am looking for some property to build a farm on. Other details I am still trying work out is what will the farm be. Certainly more than the average farm. It will be based on sustainability, that is certain. I am looking at the potential of local marketability as I strongly believe that is the direction of survival for agricultural and society in general for the future.

Specifically, if the farm can not find sufficient market locally to support its own survival, it is therefore not sustainable, and therefore not viable.

I am focussed on dairy as the basis of the market of the farm, as this is the primary function of the farm, but not the exclusive product of the farm. Also in this is that I do not consider dairy to be only the basic dairy cows common to dairy production. I am looking into other breeds of cattle (especially endangered and rare breeds), goats, sheep, lama, and perhaps other breeds of animals. The concept is diversity to some degree insures against potential loss due to variations in the market and the climate as well. However the basis also considers that the basic income of the farm is due to daily revenue generated through direct marketing of products produced on the farm to the local community.

My basis is that the well managed and organized sustainable farm can provide not only a few basic products, but most of the products needed by the community, and that if such a farm were to make connections to other local agricultural operations the entire needs of the community can be met by the agricultural operations, including the basis for employment.

My concept includes processing of finished goods on the farm (or in near vicinity) to provide many processed goods usually purchased in stores sourced most often from foreign sources. That is not to say that all needs can be satisfied by the farm (or farms), but that most could be. Also the farm manager can source many other materials that would be used in processing through trade links, thereby suppling a greater diversity to the offerings they provide.

One key service that the farm should provide is personal service. My concept includes a delivery service, that takes the burden off consumers and customers of the farm products. Each customer in the community will be able to receive products produced by the farm (some will be provided daily) delivered to their homes. I am currently working out the details of how this program would work, and how it can be facilitated in a profitable manor. Included in this research is a method that this can be facilitated in a sustainable manor. Some considerations that I am considering is a bio-diesel powered delivery service, and other forms of alternative energy transportation.

Important to this research is location. I am looking for a location that is convenient to water, specifically a lake, which would provide a larger seasonal population providing a spike in demand during the peak season of the farm.