Do Farmers Need a Website?

Do farms need to market themselves online by having a website or a social media plan or both?

Some do. Some don’t. If you are strictly a row crop farmer who takes his harvest every year directly to the grain terminal, sell no other products and are not interested in educating others about your farm, you probably do not need a website or social media plan.
 
Lets examine some instances that it would benefits farmers to have a web presence:
 

1. If you are a custom hay operator.
2. If you are in the cattle business.
3. If you also sell seed or machines.
4. If you want to educate the public.
5. If you are looking for ground to rent.

If you are a custom hay operator. If you cut and bale or wrap hay as a business, having a web presence can attract more business to you. You can put video of you baling, explain your method, machines you use and why and even offer pricing. It is also a good way to sell hay if you have extra via facebook groups like Hay For Sale Missouri. ​. If you run into someone interested in your custom hay business you can tell them to visit your website for more info. If someone in your area is searching on google for what you do, you could show up on google if you have taken part in Google My Business. Here is a custom hay operation that is taking advantage of social media:
​https://www.facebook.com/brandenburghaycattle/

​If you are in the cattle business. Anyone who buys and sells cattle can benefit from having a website and social media presence. You can get cattle sold and bought faster. If you also process meat and sell steaks, for instance, you can market these online and even perhaps sell online to people outside your area all via the internet. Here is a local producer who does a great job of getting her product out into the world: ​https://www.savannahsfarmfresh.com/

If you sell seed or machines. Lots of farmers these days find a seed or machine that has been useful to them on their farm and they decide to be a dealer for them. In this case, if you are selling anything you should have a website and be on social media promoting said products. Social media will allow you to reach people within the radius of your territory you are allowed to sell in, and you can get very specific as to who sees yours ads. You can gain a following and get loyal customers. Check out Dammann Farms on how their social media and web presence has helped them sell machines and other services. 

If you want to educate the public. Everyone is aware that there seems to be a disconnect between producers and consumers in regards to agriculture. There are many farms that are changing the game and using social media to be transparent about their operations and educate the public on what they do on their farm, how they do it and why. Here are some farms that are doing a great job: 

How Farms Work. https://www.howfarmswork.com/

http://hillfarmsnewmexico.com/  Hill Farms New Mexico

​https://tillamookdairyfarmer.com/ Tillamook Dairy Farmer

​https://twitter.com/DerrickJosi

​If you are looking for ground to rent. If you are always open to taking on more ground, having a website that showcases what you do and who you are is a great way to find farm ground. You can put your website on business cards and give them to people, then they can go to your website and see about your operation. Meduna Farms does a great job at this on their farm page: 

​http://www.medunafamilyfarms.com/grain-crops.html

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