So, you’ve just completed the Farming Simulator 25 campaign tutorial, but you’re not sure where to start next? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Whether you’re a newcomer to farming sims or just feeling a little overwhelmed by the possibilities, I’ve got your back. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the essential steps to get your farm off the ground. We’ll cover how to grow and sell your first crops, take care of your animals, and everything you need to know to get started!
What To Do First After Tutorial | New Player Guide
First things first—let’s make sure you’re playing at your own pace. Head to your ‘Settings’ and reduce the Timescale to 0.5x. This gives you plenty of time to get familiar with the game without feeling rushed, and it prevents your crops from withering too quickly. Trust me, you’ll appreciate the extra time!
Listen to Grandpa!
When you first start, make sure you listen to Grandpa in the opening moments of the game. He offers valuable tips and guidance on cultivation, planting, and harvesting that will lay the foundation for your farming experience.
It’s tempting to skip the intro, but this tutorial will save you a lot of frustration later on. If you’re playing on a default map, definitely choose the “Start Farm” and “Guided Intro-Tour” options to trigger Grandpa’s help!
But just in case you did skip Grandpa’s guidance, you can proceed further into my guide for everything you’ve missed!
Checking Your Fields & Harvesting Your Crop
Once that’s done, open the map by pressing the pause button. Fields that belong to you are marked with a yellow square and a number. Look for ready-to-harvest crops, indicated by an orange color. Don’t worry about buying a field just yet—you can start with the land you already have.
It’s time to reap what you’ve sown! Attach the combine harvester to your tractor and head over to the field. If you prefer, you can use the AI worker (press Circle) to automate the process. This is especially handy on the beginner fields, and it’ll give you more time to focus on other tasks.
Once the harvester is full, bring your tractor and trailer over to unload. Make sure to position them correctly and extend the harvester’s arm to unload. You’re ready for the next step!
Selling Your Crops & Taking Contracts
Now, you can either store your crops in the silo or sell them directly. Open the prices menu to see where your crops will sell for the most money. But if you’re aiming for maximum profit, keep an eye on the market and sell when prices are highest!
If you want to learn the ropes and earn a little extra cash, head to the pause menu and look for available Contracts. These tasks let you work for other farmers, and they often require new equipment, which will give you a chance to learn more about the game mechanics. You can rent the equipment you need for a small fee, so don’t feel pressured to buy everything upfront.
Animals & How To Feed Them/Keep Them Hydrated
Next, let’s look after your Animals. Open the vehicle menu, go to the Animals tab, and purchase a water barrel from the shop. Fill it up at the water station and deliver it to your animals to keep them hydrated. As you progress, you’ll need to keep an eye on your animals’ needs.
As for feeding, head over to the workshop and customize your flatbed trailer for transporting hay bales. Once you have the bales, use the skid steer loader to stack them on the trailer, then deliver them to your animals to keep them fed. Don’t worry if you don’t have cows yet—this will come in handy when you decide to expand your farm.
Preparing For Your Next Crop, Fertilizing, Planting & Liming
After taking care of your animals, it’s time to prep your field for the next planting. Use the cultivator to prepare the soil, then grab your seeder, making sure to customize it with both seeds and fertilizer. This will save you time, allowing you to seed and fertilize simultaneously.
Choose a crop like grass, which grows throughout the year and can be used to feed your animals. Once your field is ready, it’s time to plant and fertilize. Keep an eye on the crop calendar to ensure you plant the right crops at the right time—this will make a big difference when harvest season rolls around.
Now, to maximize your crop yield, apply lime and additional fertilizer. Purchase a fertilizer spreader and spread lime across your fields to improve soil quality. It’ll cost you around 45,000, so save up for this upgrade to get the most out of your land. For a more details, you can check my guide on how to Lime your fields in Farming Simulator 25!
Important Pointers Before You Hop in the Game
Here’s one of the best tips: use AI workers to speed up your farming operations! AI workers are a huge help, especially when you’re juggling multiple tasks. They can plow fields, deliver cargo, and even refuel your vehicles. Set them on loops, and they’ll continue to work automatically while you focus on other things. They do cost a small wage, but the efficiency boost is well worth it!
Also, as tempting as it may be to expand your farm quickly, it’s best to start small and focus on mastering the basics. Avoid making large, unnecessary investments early on. It’s also wise to steer clear of animals until you’re more comfortable with crop management. Livestock can be a bit costly and time-consuming, so it’s better to wait until you have a steady cash flow.
Wrapping Up
Farming Simulator 25 is a surprisingly complex game, but I know you won’t let that overwhelm you. Take your time, explore different aspects of the game, and before you know it, you’ve expanded your farm ten-fold. That’s pretty much it! If you have questions or concerns, feel free to leave them in the comments section below.
