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What is it

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Title: What is it

1
Specialty Agriculture

Also known as Alternative Agriculture
It is a way to use small acreages of land to
produce enough income from a specialty enterprise
for it to become a viable and profitable business
venture.

3
Can Include

Animals
beefalo, rabbits, sheep and goats, ratites, deer,
quail and camelids.
Plants
medicinal herbs, kenaf, culinary herbs, organic
vegetables, shitake mushrooms and many more.

4
Specialty Agriculture
5
Advantages

Land or resources not suited for conventional
agriculture can be utilized.
Specialty livestock and plant production are
specifically suited to niche or specialty
markets.
Because of niche marketing, a higher price can be
secured for your product when marketed properly.
Specialty agricultural production provides an
opportunity to stimulate local economies through
use of labor and resources not commonly used.
This type of enterprise provides employment for
one or more members of the family thus allowing
on-farm employment for one or more people.

6
Disadvantages

All specialty enterprises are labor intensive.
All have high initial input costs.
Specialty agricultural production requires more
intensive and higher levels of management than do
conventional enterprises.
A different approach to marketing is required
with specialty agricultural production.
Most specialty enterprises are high risk.
Proper location, site selection, and enterprises
suited to an area are required for successful
farming.
Odor and noise produced by the animals may be
offensive to neighbors.
Several years may be required before production
of specialty livestock or crops become
profitable.

7
Production

The production of specialty animals requires
learning animal husbandry techniques unique to
the type or types of animal being produced. The
same is true for production of specialty crops.
New methods must be learned on production and
marketing. Information is available from local
Cooperative Extension Service offices,
universities and colleges, associations and other
producers.
Before deciding to go into the specialty
agriculture business, talk with several producers
concerning what to produce, how much, what the
potential problems are, and how to market your
products.

8
Marketing

9
Summary

Specialty agricultural products can be and are
profitably grown by small producers all over the
United States and other parts of the world. There
are specific advantages and disadvantages to be
considered when planning a specialty enterprise.
Production practices will be specific for a given
animal or group of animals. Production
information is available from a variety of
sources including other producers. This
information should be obtained and considered
before beginning an enterprise.
Marketing specialty animals is different from
marketing conventional commodities. Know your
animals, grow what you like, and know your
markets. This will insure a more profitable
enterprise.
Remember, however, there is much hard work
involved in specialty animal production and very
few things will sell themselves.