This is a legitimate question and I'm hoping for honest feedback.
Is it possible for someone not born into farming to become a crop (not animal) farmer and make a profit?
Using myself a hypothetical example, assuming I want to be in business for myself and enjoy working hard when I directly benefit, is farming an option?
What are the chances someone could get into this line of work with no experience or agriculture connections? Do you buy land, rent it, etc? If you're new, how do you structure loans for equipment, etc. It seems incredibly daunting.
Are there programs to get young people into farming since everyone says farming has a demographic problem? Or is the learning curve just too great for someone without connections?
The odds/cards are stacked against you. Even people who are close to agriculture and have some experience, it is difficult to get started without some sort of reasonable shoe in. Not to say it doesn't happen, but with equipment costs, rent costs, land prices, etc. it all adds up so quickly that not anyone can just get into it. I know there are larger companies that tailor to try and help young farmers get started, like Farm Credit, but any details beyond that you'd have to check out those programs.
I'm sure it's been stated already, but the use of inputs, gaining the knowledge on marketing, and the learning curve on equipment use would be best learned through shadowing an aging farmer or someone who has enough capital that they wouldn't mind working with you to get you started. But right now, struggling times would make that quite difficult to find a perfect situation.
I know a few people who are on the younger side who started working for farmers on the side, along with a main job that eventually started cash renting some ground and borrowed their equipment until they started building up enough to buy a piece of land of their own. Slowly, but surely, they farm a few hundred acres and have a job tied to the industry. But again, that's a long road ahead.
Your other option is starting a business if you're seeking to be your own boss. You just have to find what you're passionate about and are good at.