If you are new to Farming Simulator 2025 or even a returning player trying to optimize your farm, this detailed guide will walk you through everything you need to know. From buying your first tractor and learning the basics of plowing to advanced crop rotation, animal husbandry, and efficient money-making strategies, this Farming Simulator guide covers it all.
Whether you want to run a small, sustainable farm or manage a massive farming empire, understanding the step-by-step processes will help you maximize profits and enjoy realistic farming gameplay.
Step 1: Getting Started – Choosing the Right Game Mode
When you launch Farming Simulator 2025, you’ll be asked to pick a game mode. Each mode caters to a different experience:
- New Farmer (Beginner-Friendly Mode): You start with land, basic machinery, and some fields already planted. Ideal for players who want to learn without worrying about money at first.
- Farm Manager (Intermediate Mode): You get a bigger budget but no land or equipment. Great for players who want control over their starting setup.
- Start From Scratch (Hard Mode): You begin with minimal funds, no land, and no vehicles. Best for experienced players who enjoy the challenge of building a farm from nothing.
Tip: Beginners should start with New Farmer mode to familiarize themselves with mechanics before attempting more complex modes.
Step 2: Understanding the Farming Simulator Interface
Before you start plowing your fields, it’s crucial to learn the interface:
- Map (PDA): Shows your owned land, contracts, and locations of shops.
- Finances Tab: Monitor your expenses, income, and loans.
- Vehicle Menu: Allows you to reset, customize, or sell vehicles.
- Time Control: Speed up or slow down time depending on your farming schedule.
Pro Tip: Keep time at real-time speed (x1) when learning, and later adjust to higher speeds (x5, x15, x60) when waiting for crops to grow.
Step 3: Preparing Your Land – Plowing, Cultivating, and Fertilizing
To grow crops in Farming Simulator, you need to follow several important steps. Skipping one may lead to reduced yield or even crop failure.
- Plowing or Cultivating the Field Use a plow (deep tillage) if the field requires it. Otherwise, a cultivator is enough for preparing soil.
- Fertilizing Before Planting Fertilizer doubles your yield. You can use slurry, manure, or artificial fertilizer. Apply once before planting and once after planting.
- Seeding the Field Use a seeder or planter depending on your chosen crop. Ensure you have seeds loaded in your equipment.
- Weeding and Herbicide Use Weeds lower crop yield if left unattended. Use mechanical weeders in the early stage or herbicide sprayers later.
- Second Fertilization Round Apply fertilizer again after crops start growing. Two fertilizer applications give maximum yield.
Step 4: Choosing the Best Crops for Profit
Not all crops are equally profitable in Farming Simulator. Here are the best ones for beginners and advanced players:
- Wheat & Barley: Easy to grow, low maintenance, good for making straw.
- Canola: High selling price, reliable for early money-making.
- Corn: Requires a planter, but can be used for silage (very profitable).
- Soybeans: High-value crop, good for maximizing profits with little extra work.
- Sugar Beets & Potatoes: High yield but require specialized, expensive machinery.
- Grapes & Olives: Advanced crops that require vineyard equipment and precise care.
Money-Making Strategy: Start with wheat or canola, then transition to soybeans or corn silage once you have stronger machinery.
Step 5: Animal Husbandry – Raising Livestock for Extra Income
Farming Simulator 2025 includes detailed animal farming. Animals require investment but provide excellent long-term profits.
- Chickens (Best for Beginners): Cheap to buy and maintain. Produce eggs, which can be sold for steady income.
- Cows (Intermediate): Require food mixtures (TMR – Total Mixed Ration). Produce milk (daily income) and manure/slurry (used as free fertilizer).
- Pigs (High Maintenance): Require multiple food types (corn, wheat, soybeans, etc.). Produce manure but are less profitable unless managed carefully.
- Sheep (Easy & Profitable): Require grass or hay. Produce wool, which sells for a high price.
- Horses (Unique Mechanic): Must be trained daily by riding them. Can be sold for a big profit after reaching full training.
Tip: Start with chickens or sheep before expanding to cows or horses.
Step 6: Vehicles and Equipment – Choosing the Right Tools
Buying the right machinery is crucial in Farming Simulator. Overspending on massive tractors early on can ruin your finances.
Essential Beginner Equipment:
- Tractor (Medium Power): For pulling cultivators, planters, and trailers.
- Seeder/Planter: To plant different crop types.
- Fertilizer Spreader: To maximize yield.
- Harvester: To gather your crops.
- Trailer: To transport goods to the market.
Advanced Equipment (After Expansion):
- Plow (Heavy Duty): For deep tillage.
- Slurry Tanker/Manure Spreader: To fertilize fields naturally.
- Sprayer: To control weeds.
- Forage Harvester & Baler: For making silage and hay bales.
Pro Tip: Lease expensive machines like potato or beet harvesters instead of buying them early.
Step 7: Managing Money and Loans
Money management is key to building a successful farm.
- Avoid unnecessary spending on luxury tractors.
- Lease equipment for specialized crops.
- Take contracts from other farmers to earn extra income.
- Use silage and animal products for higher profits than basic crops.
- Repay loans quickly to avoid high interest.
Best Money-Making Method: Grass → Mow, bale, and sell silage. It requires basic equipment and generates high profit.
Step 8: Advanced Farming Techniques
Once you master the basics, these advanced strategies will help you maximize efficiency:
- Crop Rotation Alternate between crops (e.g., wheat → soybeans → canola) to balance soil nutrients.
- Precision Farming DLC Features Use sensors and soil analysis for maximum efficiency. Save money by applying the exact amount of fertilizer needed.
- Seasonal Cycles (If Enabled) Plant crops according to real seasonal growth cycles. Plan for winter months by storing animal feed and silage.
- Automation with Workers Hire AI workers to handle repetitive tasks. Focus on money-making activities while they manage fieldwork.
Step 9: Selling Products at the Right Time
Prices fluctuate in Farming Simulator, so selling at the right moment can double your profits.
- Check the market menu for price trends.
- Store crops in silos until demand rises.
- Sell directly to production chains (like mills or factories) for higher income.
Example: Selling soybeans during peak demand can give 40% more profit than average.
Step 10: Long-Term Farm Expansion
After stabilizing your finances, you can expand your farm:
- Buy more land to increase crop production.
- Invest in greenhouses for passive income.
- Build production chains (flour mill, bakery, dairy factory) to process raw goods into high-value products.
- Upgrade machinery to handle bigger fields efficiently.
Conclusion – Mastering Farming Simulator 2025
Farming Simulator is not just about growing crops; it’s about managing time, money, and resources effectively. By following this step-by-step Farming Simulator guide, you’ll learn how to prepare fields, choose profitable crops, raise animals, and use vehicles wisely.
For beginners, focus on simple crops and chickens. For advanced players, crop rotation, silage production, and production chains are the keys to building a farming empire.
Whether you want a relaxing farming experience or a full agricultural empire, mastering these Farming Simulator tips and strategies will ensure long-term success.
