Starting a vertical farm may be one of the best moves you can make for your farm, as you save money and space on the long run. However, there are a lot of costs that you need to plan for when starting a vertical farm. Here are some basic tips for estimating vertical farming costs when you’re first starting out and planning your farm.
System Choice
The first big thing that’ll influence your costs is the style and system you use for your vertical farm. Decisions regarding the plants you grow and the type of plant bed systems can hold large sway over the costs. Additionally, simple choices like outdoor or indoor systems can vastly change your costs and resource requirements.
Technology Choices
Not only do you need to pick your systems, but the amount you invest in technology for your farm is something else you need to consider. Temperature control and watering systems can cost various amounts depending on your needs and wants for your final farm design. You can also look into warehouse farming systems for some other options to consider for your technology.
Start-Up Costs
Vertical farms, just like all projects, have a lot of start-up costs you need to consider when planning. From the costs for your initial location to the price of your equipment, there’s a lot you need to plan for when starting up. However, once you finish setting up, you can start using your farm as you want—though you’ll still have operating costs.
Operating Costs
It costs money to keep a vertical farm operational, and that’s something you should plan for well in advance. From rent payments to utilities to employee payroll, you’ll regularly spend money to keep these services going. Plus, you’ll need to make regular investments in your farming stock for things like seeds and potential upgrades as demand increases.
These are just a few ways you can estimate vertical farming costs and how you should break it down so you can budget correctly. In general, you can expect a lot of upfront costs and smaller recurring costs until you start growing larger as a farm.
