Starting a $188K/year Pig Farm Business (from Scratch)

How much can you make with a pig farm? Alluvial farms earned $188K in revenue in 2020—a massive growth from where they started in 2016. We’ll get the owners’ insights into modern pig farming in this video.

Katie Pencke and Matthew McDermott had extensive farming experience before buying Alluvial Farms, but they still had to learn how to raise pigs. They started a small pig farm in 2016 with 10 animals, growing to 120 animals once they’d perfected their technique to raise hogs.

Today, we’ll hear Matthew and Katie’s advice on pig farming for beginners. They’ll talk through their initial costs, what equipment is necessary for indoor pig farming, and how much land you’ll need for outdoor pig farming.

Alluvial farms has their own breeding program, but not all pig farms do. We’ll hear the pros and cons of breeding on site and what it takes to put that infrastructure in place.

Along with pig farming, Alluvial Farms grows feed grain and other crops on their land. We’ll learn the advantages of this diversified approach and what kind of costs and labor that adds.

Along with that, we’ll get the inside scoop on how to start pig farming, including the types of organizations to reach out to for funding and support and what day-to-day life really looks like for a modern farmer.

If you want more info on farming for beginners after watching this video, check out our other video on starting a farm.

Resources:

Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
1:45 Meeting Pig, Grape and Hemp Farmers Matt and Katie
3:08 Initial Investments
4:53 Farm Land Needed
6:10 Feeding and Advertising
7:45 Farm Expenses
9:04 Monthly Farm Budget
11:20 Expected Revenue and Growing Revenue
12:27 Community, Conservation and The Environment
13:22 Sampling The Product and Meat Processing
14:39 Animal Numbers Overview
15:40 Farm Product Breakdown
16:43 Hemp and Grap Industries
18:44 Day To Day Farm Life & Future Expansion Plans
20:51 Farm Equipment
22:03 Farming Revenue Numbers, Finishing and Harvesting
23:44 Growing Certified Organic Grain and Feed
24:42 Detailed Equipment Review
27:41 Farming Skills, Knowledge and Training
29:45 Social Media
31:14 Why Do Small Farms Fail
33:07 Website, Sales, COVID-19 Pandemic, & Custom Shares
34:54 Farming Challenges
36:22 Advice
38:18 Outro

[smtwnor]

It's nice to hear from someone else in the Pacific Northwest. I just bought 88 acres of sagebrush and cheatgrass in eastern Oregon to raise pigs and just be me. I have dreamed of owning my own property for my whole life. The acreage is paid for and I have 1 pregnant pig. Stay tuned to see how Pleasant Valley Pork evolves.

[Iamlegend]

I remember when I graduated from hs and told my friends and family I wanted a farm and everyone laughed and made fun of me. Glad to see I wasn’t crazy.

[evilmotorsports]

So 35 minutes to say "we're half a million in debt and have razor thin margins"

[Gzus]

$500K for 46 acres is insane! Acreage is going for ~$3-5K/acre where I live.

[terencehoulihan]

as a 65 yo in London UK jelous city slicker, I was thrilled and excited with this most excellent pig farm, full of good hard honest work and a wealth of knowledge and untold inspiration, hats off to these 2 rich farmers and a bunch of positive comment

[michaelshanehelton]

I truly appreciate how you actually talk some basic
numbers. 90+% of social media hypes up the earnings but never discusses expenses. Good stuff.

[edwardobreymarunda]

Am from Tanzania, A state resides in Eastern part of Africa..

You guys Oooh made my day. Everyone who wants to start livestock farming should see this interview. Very helpful. I think everyone should learn to start small

GOD BLESS YOU

[gonzalobenavente]

My family doing the same, starting last year with 10 pigs, we learned alot about the feeding and care. This year we started with 2 breeders and another 15 pigs, we appling all we learned the last year, and our goal is to takecare of them until 6 months and reach 90 - 100 kg. per pig. We have 20 hectares and is kinda difficult to us to expand or grow because we don't have the machinery but we doing it.

[Funksultan]

Wow, this is SO informative. Although the title is "OMG $188k pig farming!" it doesn't quite come across how their pig business is still operating at a loss, and that's with very significant amounts of grants. There is definitely a market for artisan pork products (at 5 to 8 times the cost of standard supermarket prices), but gauging the market is crucial part of the process. Their transition into 3 or 4 other businesses doesn't exactly strike confidence in the viability of the farm. Still, it's an excellent dive by UpFlip.

[AarrenDieok]

This is sensational video. I enjoyed the farm tour and listen to your experiences and challenges. May your hard work pay off sooner than you think.

[georgeopiyo]

Really really amazing.. watching from Kenya, Africa. Looking forward to create mine using the ideas. Thank you guys!

[kuysreacts]

I'm starting to have my own small pig farm that's why i'm here. 😊 All the way from Philippines 🤗

[shwa]

I really wish that you had asked them what the annual figures saved would be if they processed the pigs, and harvested the grain themselves. Crucial and obvious questions, but oh well. Overall, great video, and thanks to all for contributing! Alluvial Farms is inspiring, and it is fairly easy to apply their model/history to your own vision and road map. Some obvious places to save money, but awesome little farm!

[thepersonaljo]

I LOVE their vision to KEEP their farm in farming and land use instead of taking the development check to retire on. That is so indescribably admirable and important

[desertspectre]

Love her vision and dedication This lady seems serious they both do but she sounds very optimistic and it’s contagious I can’t wait to buy my land idk how or when but they gave me the hope I needed!

[artszabo]

Absolutely excellent video, I wish this family the absolute best of everything!!

[KC-jqkw]

I am raise registered Red Wattled hogs. I live on a 1880's homestead that I bought. My hogs run out of the old bank barn onto pasture. I registered the best out of each litter, sell feeder pigs, and then feed out the rest to whole, halves, and then cuts in vacuum packs. We also have chickens and a large garden. You have an awesome farm and business and I love the growth into the diversity.

[rookiefloridasportsman]

I love there vision. I love the lack of buzz words it’s really refreshing.

[tension-ieik]

I love the drive and ambition you guys have but there is no way I'm going into any debt for any reason. 1/2 a million is beyond brain damage to me. Thank you for being open and honest about this type of business.

[McRod-]

Good video. Just a few suggestions on the business side. Consider investments that reduce your cost rather than create added costs and risks.. Maybe instead of expanding to a restaurant (that can be forced to close to the public), maybe that could be your own onsite processing facility. Instead of feeding a boar year round consider artificial insemination. Or sell your boars semen for others AI. If your doing the farrowing shoot for a litter each month vs every other month. The more you can manage in house the more efficient your operation can be. Why aren't you growing the peas you add to your feed too? Instead of grapes? Large businesses have two key elements that your small business won't have, which is leverage and economies of scale. So you have to be smarter to continue to grow. The facility you are building can do double duty as a housing solution and your processing or restaurant facility. I fail to see how growing hemp helps your swine business? Venturing off into another business model is not advisable until your profitable. Your only on 46 acres of which 10 is riparian? You be better off just letting campers on your riparian as an Airbnb. You already own the land - no infrastructure costs.