There are many ways to prepare yourself for launching a farming enterprise. Many sources will emphasize the importance of learning about markets and the business side of farming, while others will tell you to learn from those who came before you.
This is all sound advice–however, reading about farming is one often-overlooked method that can prove invaluable. From fiction to nonfiction to instructional literature, there are countless books available to help you dive into an agricultural career.
Crop Yields & Global Food Security by Tony Fischer, Derek Byerlee and Greg Edmeades
It may seem counterintuitive for small farmers to begin with a global perspective, but as the old saying goes: you should act locally and think globally. Modern, sustainable agriculture is a global issue, and should be treated as such.
This book is a comprehensive account about global agronomy, focusing on large monocultures as well as smaller yields.
The Art and Science of Shepherding by Michel Meuret and Fred Provenza
Shepherding is an ancient process, but that is not to say it’s outdated. In fact, shepherding has always relied on technological advancements that make the lives of the shepherds easier. This remains the case today.
The researchers behind this book prove that shepherding uses natural resources in sustainable and responsible ways: this based on the past thirty years of investigation and research within the industry.
The House on the Hill: The Transformation of Australian Farming Communities by Neil Barr
Unlike previous books in this list, this one sets a more local example, allowing you to follow a community as you learn about the industry through their experience. The book goes into great detail about the state of the farming community in 20th century Australia, and how it has changed over the years. It showcases the close relationship between agriculture and local communities, in a larger socio-economic sense.
The Murray-Darling Basin Plan by the Commonwealth of Australia
There are many resources on which a modern farm relies, but water is the most important of all. The book shows how vital water is to a farm’s success, and the environmental problems it can create. The book refers to the example of Murray-Darling Basin, which is a river basin in Australia with a long history of use in agriculture.
The decision to pull the usage of this basin towards other purposes besides farming was met with hostility from farmers, and that is what makes it an important read. You’ll gain opinions from the other side of the issue, beyond the world of farming.
Holistic Management: A New Framework for Decision Making by Allan Savory
This series of essays creates the most down-to-earth book on our list so far, and can be used by farmers to make real-life decisions for themselves and their property. The essays are separated into three main chapters, and are the result of the author’s life work.
Happy Families, Healthy Landscapes, Profitable Farms by David Pratt
This is yet another practical work produced by a working farmer, about the process of farm management from a holistic, natural angle. It’s an essay every farmer looking into holistic processes should read as a jumping point.
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