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Farming Simulator 20 Beginner’s Guide: Tips, Tricks & Strategies to Grow Your Farm Fast

There may still be people inclined to think that video games can influence violent behavior in people. In opposition to such assumptions, however, there are a plethora of games that are totally devoid of any sort of violence but are nonetheless fun and addictive as any video game can be, at least to those who can immerse themselves well enough into it.

Farming Simulator 20 from GIANTS Software is one of those type of games coming from a long line of Farming Simulator titles dating back to 2008 and spans across PC, console, and mobile gaming platforms. The Farming Simulator franchise has always made its mark as among the top farming simulation games of all time.

Delimiting the long list of farming games to those with a focus on realism and quality of graphics, though, Farming Simulator 20 certainly is in a league of its own. Farming Simulator 20 is paid game but is certainly worth its tag price. If the quality of graphics is not enough to impress you, then the quality and depth of gameplay it provides should, at the very least encourage you enough to peek into it.

At first glance, it may appear that Farming Simulator 20 is largely focused on the wide array of machineries you can employ to tend to your farm’s every need, making it seem like collecting different farming vehicles as your ultimate goal.

farming simulator 20 guide

Farming Simulator 20, however, goes more than merely having the best machines for every step of crop management. With various crops to grow, livestock you can invest in, as well as shifting supply and demand conditions in the market, Farming Simulator 20 is sure to test your decision-making and strategic skills in every aspect of the farming business cycle.

Farming Simulator 20 is not at all comparable to idle business simulation games that make it impossible for you to actually incur losses as a result of neglect or poor decisions. As you can actually lose some investment and even go bankrupt as a result of bad choices, careful analysis, patience, and strategic thinking are all vital to your venture’s success.

In case you have just started diving into the world of Farming Simulator 20 and want a steady and surefire way of growing your farm, we have you covered as our beginner’s guide comes with numerous tips, tricks and strategies!

 1. Be Sure To Take The Tutorial Session

Whether you are a complete beginner in the Farming Simulator series of games or an experienced one who have spent some time on any of the game’s incarnations, it is always a better idea to proceed with tutorials, despite having a strong inclination to actually start doing things on your own. The tutorial session takes only a few minutes and serves as an excellent refresher for returning virtual farmers. For absolute newbies, though, the quick session is vital to running all the basic operations within the farm.

farming simulator 20 tutorial

The tutorial session takes you through a basic farming cycle, in a sense, and introduces you to some of the most essential farming vehicles you will need to operate to cultivate the farm, harvest some crops, and take them all the way to selling in the market. The tutorial session also gives you a glimpse of how huge the entire scope of responsibility is within the farm, recommending you to hire some help operating some machineries as you simultaneously tend to other aspects of the farming operations.

As can be expected, the tutorial session in Farming Simulator 20 is just the tip of the iceberg. It may have its share of complexities for total beginners but there are plenty more in store for everyone as you make progress in your virtual farming career. Although there are in-game help options you can regularly visit when you get lost in the process, it is recommended to pay close attention to each task within the tutorial session.

farming simulator 20 gameplay

Beyond controls and general machinery operations, it is important to keep tabs on important locations on the map as well. You will find yourself multitasking and shifting from one machine to another, overseeing or doing actual work on different plots of land. Even for starters, 3 separate and distinct plots of land can push multitasking skills to its limits and you can expect the challenge to grow bigger once you have purchased additional farms later on.

2. Master The Basics First Before Expanding

Farming Simulator 20 is a lot bigger than what it initially appears to be and while the tutorial session is a big help to start you off in your virtual farming career, there are plenty more to learn and experience. Once you are done with the tutorial session and are free to explore everything else that Farming Simulator 20 has to offer, you are likely to be inclined to consider options for expansion. Expansion, in this sense, is not limited to purchasing additional plots of land but any and all improvements like more crop varieties, livestock, and even additional machineries.

storing crops in farming simulator 20

For starters, new plots of land costs a lot of cash and it will take a lot of time and successful profit generation to come up with cash for an expansion. Keep in mind that just because you have as much cash as the cost of new land means you can buy it. There are regular operational costs that you need to have extra cash for as well as a contingency fund in case of emergencies.

The reason why it is best to hold off on expansion relative to additional land is the bigger responsibility and multitasking that comes with it. Managing 3 plots of land should already be a challenge that will take time to fully master as you will consistently need to keep tabs on the status of each land and the stage in the farming cycle they are in. Of course, having the ability to hire helpers eases down on your responsibilities but there are plenty of activities in Farming Simulator 20 that you can only do on your own.

farming simulator 20 map

Cultivating the soil, seeding, harvesting, storing, and selling your crops seems like a simple linear process that you can easily master in a short time. With Farming Simulator 20 starting you off with 3 plots of land to tend to, however, you should be very well occupied monitoring each one’s status all the time.

You will find yourself constantly doing something while peeking into each machine working the fields. There will be instances when all the ongoing work can be performed by helpers and these instances are your opportunities to explore and increase your familiarity with the entire map.

3. Prepare Well Before Starting A Livestock Business

Your crops stand as your primary source of income in Farming Simulator 20 and with a long line of expansions as far as additional farm purchases are concerned, you definitely have a long way to go before you are able to manage all available lands efficiently. Beyond crops, though, you can generate extra income from having a livestock business on the side. You will start off with cows being the most basic of the bunch, and there are several other animals you can invest in as you progress.

On top of the patience and perseverance required to be able to efficiently manage your crops without fail, taking on livestock essentially contends with other opportunities for expansion, such as having more plots of land or having more farming equipment to tend to different plots more efficiently as well as perform additional tasks.

farming simulator 20 livestock

Choosing livestock appears to be the cheapest option with cows selling at $2,500 per piece. There is much to learn and prepare for before starting a livestock business, though, so be sure to be absolutely ready before purchasing your first cow.

Cows will constantly need water and food to stay healthy, productive, and reproductive. You will need additional equipment to be able to collect hay and grass from your fields to feed to the cows as well as straws you need to prepare clean beddings for them.

You will need a mower attached to a tractor to cut down grass and a tedder to turn the cut grass over and dry them to become hay. A windrower makes collecting grass and hay easier as dried hay can be arranged in rows. These can then be collected with a loading wagon or converted into bales using a baler.

farming simulator 20 cow

If you drop by a local farm to purchase animals, there will be an extra cost for transportation. You will only spend for the cost of the actual animal you purchase if you transfer them to your farm yourself and to do so, you will need to purchase an animal trailer, perhaps a truck to go with it as well. This is definitely not among the priority investments but something to look forward to once your livestock business has grown enough.

Cows can benefit you with milk, slurry, manure, as well as potential baby calves if they reproduce. Beyond water and hay as sustenance, you need to consistently change and cleanup their bedding using a straw blower. You will need to purchase a milk tank and park it close to your barn to collect milk and then sell it to the market.

Slurry and manure work as fertilizers, ensuring better yields for your crops. An additional set of equipment is needed for you to be able to collect these from the barn and spread it onto your fields. Beyond the additional investment costs, squeezing the extra steps in on your basic farming cycle also poses its own set of challenges.

4. Stay With Wheat Until You Are An Expert

Wheat is just a starting ground for your virtual career as a farmer in Farming Simulator 20 and if 9 other different crops seem to leave you wanting for more as far as options go, you should know that it takes a long while before you can consider yourself an expert in growing even the most basic of crops.

There are different growth cycles and nurturing styles attributable to each type of crop but beyond all that, some crops like cotton, potatoes and sugar beet require special machinery you need to invest in.

harvesting wheat in farming simulator 20

Root crops like potatoes and sugar beet require unique sowing equipment as well as different harvesters beyond what you have. Before diving into these types of crops, you should very well identify every equipment you need as well as have enough cash to invest.

Cotton also has a unique kind of harvester needed for you to obtain the product. There is also a trailer you need to acquire especially designed for the transfer of cotton from your farm to any selling point.

It is not enough to go through a mere couple of cycles to claim expertise in growing and selling any specific type of crop. Additionally, being a wheat expert does not also mean completely foregoing a particular type of crop and focusing exclusively on any other.

farming simulator 20 cultivation

While only tending to one kind of crop will definitely be the simpler and easier way to go, your profitability is more secured if you cater to a wider variety of crops given different demands for each type.

You should also keep in mind that Farming Simulator 20 further adds to realism with night and day shifts and randomized weather conditions. Experiencing all these different conditions as you go from one cycle to the next will lead to better handling any deviation from the usual routine attributable to any farming cycle. At some point, you will be able to identify better the best opportunities to work in the farm as well as take quick vacations off it if needed.

5. Exercise Business Strategies In Dealing With The Market

There are numerous factors that affect your profitability in Farming Simulator 20 and each one should be kept in mind regularly as you aim to more efficiently grow your farming business. Proper nurturing of each plot of land and timely harvests are just the basic ways of increasing yields that lead to more profits. Investing in livestock and utilizing slurry and manure as fertilizer can tremendously boost your yields as well.

Although it costs a lot, investments in machinery and various farming equipment also contributes to performing tasks more efficiently, not to mention adding more capabilities to tend to your crops and livestock better as well as empower you to do more. Beyond all that, one important aspect of running a farm comes with being able to play its smart in the market.

The last stretch of the tutorial in Farming Simulator 20 actually deals with taking your harvested crops down to a selling point. You might actually be convinced at that point that there is only one selling point in the entirety of Farming Simulator 20’s huge map. There are, however, multiple selling points that offer unique and fluctuating prices for various types of crops.

farming simulator 20 prices

Keeping yourself apprised with the selling price of crops you have is important so be sure to always check prices before making a sale. You can easily monitor prices via the “price” tab under the main menu, which you can access via its button on the upper right side of the screen. Price increases and decreases are also indicated in the list.

It is important for you to realize that you are not merely a voiceless observer when it comes to the prices of crops and other goods. In basic economics, the law of supply and demand heavily impacts prices of items even while all other variables remain constant.

This simply means that demand tend to grow higher as supply goes shorter and prices directly relate to demand so it follows that less supply means more demand and higher prices. As you are a supplier of goods in the market, you can very much influence how prices can change.

This is one of the reasons why it is more advisable to produce different crops instead of just focusing on one. Selling those that have a high demand for it is expectedly the ideal scenario. Banking on just one type of crop would make this scenario a lot challenging especially when you are in dire need of cash immediately. This also relates to keeping a good supply of idle cash that you can readily use to be able to hold off on sales.

6. Keep Your Farms Organized

As basic as it sounds, keeping everything in order in Farming Simulator 20 can be a very challenging feat. It seems so simple and straightforward in the early cycles especially if you have yet to make additional purchases as far as machinery and equipment goes. As you pursue various expansions across every aspect of Farming Simulator 20, it can become more and more challenging to keep track of every vehicle and every equipment you can attach to it.

Although switching from one machine to another is made easy with a touch of a button, discovering them scattered across different locations can be a cause for headache. It can be an acceptable exception if the specific vehicle is where it needs to be but should be with its necessary attachments as well.

You will ultimately have several farms to tend to simultaneously and while you can always have your tractors and harvesters travel to each one wherever it is needed, efficiency will eventually have you setting up assigned locations for your machineries.

farming simulator 20 vehicles

If you have more vehicles but have yet to expand to other plots of land, having a central location where you can park them after use is a good idea. Leaving them where they last worked is an option but you know that you will need them elsewhere at some points in your farming. As for the plethora of equipment you can attach to each vehicle, it is best to leave them close to where you need them to be.

Players who are not as familiar with farming in real life will certainly be confused easily with what each attachment does. Although checking back at the shop to see what a specific attachment looks like is helpful, keeping them in specific places can help you memorize more easily what each one is for.

Note that while some vehicles and equipment are absolutely necessary, some are merely for added convenience. Towards the peak of your farming career in Farming Simulator 20, it can become necessary for you to purchase more than 1 unit of some equipment.

You will most certainly have more than enough to use simultaneously even with all the helpers in hand and organizing them will be almost as challenging as tending to your crops and livestock. To ensure that you can embed a habit of keeping everything organized regardless of how far your farm has grown, it is best to start at it right from the get-go.

farming simulator 20 tractor

Farming Simulator 20 is honestly not a game for everyone but if you played and enjoyed what it has to offer on the first hour of gameplay, then chances are that it becomes a lifestyle game you will regularly spend time on.

Progression can be felt with every harvest and sale but there is a lot patience and hard work needed to afford all the expansions and improvements available. Though there is an in-game option to purchase money using real cash, you actually do not need to do so as you can almost just as easily earn money with some time spent on farming.

There certainly is a long way to go for us to completely cover everything there is in Farming Simulator 20 but this is where we will end our beginner’s guide. We are fairly certain that the tips and strategies we shared with you are more than sufficient to cover a speedy and efficient growth and progression in your virtual farming career. If you have likewise invested a good number of hours in Farming Simulator 20 and have something unique to share with us, feel free to do so and drop us one or a couple down in the comment area!

Ciotlos teofil

Monday 29th of January 2024

I don't understand why example: When I want to eat bales of straw, it is not indicated where and in addition I do not know where to unload (with grains it is simple but with bales regardless of what kind it is complicated and I have no guidance anywhere) I believe that the game should have a guide so that when something comes I know where Also, when I want to buy a piece of land, it doesn't tell me how much it costs, but tells me that I don't have enough money There is another command that is difficult for me to understand (I am 68 years old), can't there be another command?! If there are players who can guide me, I'm looking forward to it