INDUSTRIES

Your Guide to Hobby Farming

From the best livestock to invest in to agriculture equipment, this is your guide to hobby farming.

CAITLIN MADDOCK-BAHR | Social Media & Digital Strategy Manager

From raising livestock to protecting the land, farming takes lots of time and dedication. It doesn’t have to be a career, though. Check out this guide to hobby farming to help you get started.

What Is Hobby Farming?

It’s actually exactly as the name implies. A hobby farm is a farm that acts as a hobby, not a business. They’re not meant to make lots of money and are usually less than 50 acres in size. Hobby farms make up 43% of total farms in the United States, and farms less than 10 acres large are some of the only ones increasing in the country.

The COVID-19 pandemic has opened a window of opportunity for hobby farming growth. In 2020, vegetable seeds hit record sales, and universities began offering free gardening courses. It’s clear to see that now more than ever, people are interested in growing their own food.

Who is Hobby Farming?

Hobby farming is popular with retired career farmers as well as those just getting started in agriculture. For people with careers in other industries, hobby farming is an escape from their day-to-day work and a way to explore a passion for plants and animals.

Best Practices for Hobby Farming

Before you start farming, it’s important to know the size of your hobby farm. If you have a smaller farm, you’ll need to stick to smaller tools and livestock. Of course, you can always get creative to make the most of your land. Things like vertical farming can help you grow more crops and take up less space.

Get Tips
From the Pros

Our experts share the best farming tips and tricks you need to succeed.

Hobby farms can be home to any of the usual animals that come to mind when you think of farming. Some of the most common livestock are goats, sheep, pigs, and even cattle. Since they’ll have less space to roam around, miniature breeds of these animals will work best.

As you begin hobby farming, you’ll want to make sure that you have agriculture equipment like a tractor, wagon, and truck at the ready. Skid steer loaders and compact track loaders are also good starters that help with many different jobs. As you grow your farm, adding equipment like a backhoe loader will make tasks like digging faster and easier.

At the end of the day, hobby farming isn’t a full-time job, so it’s worth looking into all your options when it comes to using equipment, including rentals and used machines. Reach out to your local Cat® dealer for help guiding you through machine purchases and rentals as you start your farm.

Sustainability in Farming

Learn how to build your farm sustainably.

of

CAITLIN MADDOCK-BAHR

Social Media & Digital Strategy Manager

Caitlin Maddock-Bahr exercises her storytelling expertise as a social media & digital strategy manager. In this role, she not only helps Caterpillar connect with their audience, but helps customers connect with the brand.

STAY CURRENT WITH ENEWS

We send industry knowledge, useful tips and special offers right to your inbox.

Sign Up