Embracing the role of a budding farmer inStardew Valley, you quickly learn that mastering the art of farming is the gateway to a thriving game experience. Your farming skill directly influences your ability to grow crops and tend to animals with efficiency. As you level up this essential skill, your dedication is rewarded with items like the Bee House,Mayonnaise Machine, andPreserves Jar.

Ready to conquer? Let’s explore the seven best ways to ascend the ranks of farming expertise in Stardew Valley, from which crops to harvest to the heartwarming interactions of petting farm animals, milking cows or goats, and shearing sheep. Each step you take on this journey will lead to newfound heights of farming mastery, establishing you as the crème de la crème of farming virtuosos.

A Stardew Valley player picking strawberries.

Updated Jul 13, 2025 by Jacqueline Zalace:Still wondering how to level up farming in Stardew Valley? We’ve updated this list with a few more tips to help you become an expert farmer in no time.

10Harvest Fruit Crops

Time to put on your farmer’s hat and unleash the fruity cheat codes that will make your farming skills shoot up. Fast-growing’Blueberries’andStrawberrieshold the key, reproducing often for a continuous harvest.

With their rapid reproduction every four days, you’ll have an endless supply, ripe for the picking throughout their season. Not only dothey make for fantastic wine, but each pluck also brings experience points, leveling up your farming skill. Pluck those juicy gems, level up your farming skill, and bask in the sweet rewards.

A Stardew Valley player harvesting Bok Choy.

9Harvest Vegetable Crops

Buckle up for a skill-boosting joyride. Fast-growing vegetables likeBok Choy Seeds,Wheat,Parsnip, andGarlicare the key to skyrocketing your farming skill.

These speedy greens offer a swift and abundant yield. As you cultivate these fast-growing crops, you’ll find yourself reaping the experience points, advancing your farming skill, andbecoming a true master of the land.

A Stardew Valley player with blue chickens in an enclosed area.

Roll up your sleeves, plant those seeds, and watch your vegetable garden flourish into a cornucopia of skill enhancers. The farm is your racetrack, and with these fast growers, you’ll be crossing the finish line of greatness.

8Pet Farm Animals

Move over, doggos and kitties; farm animals are the new therapy pets. Give those cluckers and mooers some love every day, and they’ll reward you. Petting farm animals isn’t just a delightful activity; it’s an investment in your farming prowess. As you caress their fuzzy feathers and stroke their fur, you’re also earning valuable experience points for your farming skill.

Each stroke of kindness boosts your expertise, inching you closer to becoming a farming virtuoso. Make it a daily routine to pet your farm animals to increase your skill experience steadily. The more you interact with them, the happier and healthier they become, resulting in higher-qualityMilk,Eggs, andWool.

A Stardew Valley player in front of a tulip field within iron fences.

7Create A Tulip Farm

Spring in Stardew Valley is the perfect season to bloom into a farming virtuoso, and what better way to do it than with theTulips? These vibrant beauties sprout from tulip bulbs in just six days, giving your farm a colorful makeover while turbo-charging your farming skill at the speed of light.

Covering your farm with these marvelous tulips is like enrolling in the University of Farming Excellence. You’ll be reaping heaps of experience points in no time, and your farming skill will shoot up faster than a rocket-powered scarecrow. Embrace the floral frenzy.

A Stardew Valley player milking cows.

6Milk Cows Or Goats

There’s no udder way to level up faster! Milking cows and goats is a rewarding activity in the game. These dairy animals provide milk that can be processed into various artisan goods, generating substantial profits for you. Regular milking is crucial for maintaining their productivity and ensuring a steady supply of milk, which, in turn, grants valuable farming skill experience.

Moreover, consider using milk to create artisan goods likeCheeseandGoat Cheese, as it increases the value of the products you produce. Plus, who doesn’t want a farm full of happy cows and goats? Happy animals mean happy farming.

A farmer holding up wool in front of barn.

5Shear Sheep

Grab those shears and become the ultimate stylist for your woolly buddies. But it’s not just about their trendy new look; shearing sheep contributes to the production of wool and boosts your farming skill.

Make sure to shear your sheep regularly as they grow wool continuously throughout the seasons. This practice provides you with valuable wool that can be sold or used in crafting, while also earning you skill experience.

Eggs, feathers, and wool clutter a coop in Stardew Valley.

Consider upgrading your barn or coop to the Deluxe version, as it allows you to raise sheep. Shearing sheep gives you valuable wool for crafting and selling and gives you a ‘shear’ sense of accomplishment as your farming skill skyrockets.

4Pick Up Animal Products

A farmer’s treasure hunt! Who can resist the allure? Eggs, wool, and truffles arelike little gifts left by your farm animals, just waiting for you to scoop them up and turn them into gold. As your farm animals graze and produce, they leave behind valuable items for you to collect. Picking up the items directly contributes to your farming skill experience.

Be sure to check your barn and coop daily to gather eggs and other produce to earn a consistent flow of experience points. Organize your farm layout strategically to make collecting animal products easy and efficient. Placing the barn and coop near your home or the shipping box streamlines the process of collecting and selling items.

Four players in an enclosed farm area with pumpkins.

3Plant And Harvest Pumpkins

If it’s fall, then we recommend planting somePumpkins. As a relatively expensive crop, harvesting a field of pumpkins will earn you an impressive amount of experience. While buying the seeds can be costly, it’s a great way to get experience.

Harvesting one pumpkin will yield 31 experience points. If the pumpkin is gold quality, then you’ll also get 480g from selling it. If, for example, you have a simple 3x3 grid of pumpkins growing, then this is 279 experience and 4,320g. The seeds for this only cost 900g in total, making it worth the investment.

A Stardew Valley player at the bookshop in the rain.

When the bookseller comes into town, he’ll sell a variety of books. One of these is theStardew Valley Almanac; upon purchasing this for 5,000g to 10,000g and reading it, you’ll gain 250 farming experience.

If you have the gold and want to quickly level up your farming, then this is a great method. You may also find this book around the valley, but the chances of this happening are very small. Still, don’t be too surprised if you slay a monster and the book drops, as there is a 0.018 percent chance of this happening.

A player standing in grass that’s blue and green.

1Consider Starting With The Meadowlands Farm

Lastly, if you haven’t started a game yet, considerchoosing the Meadowlands farm. On this farm, you can findBlue Grass, which quickly increases your bond with animals. Since animals will give more experience at high friendship levels, this is a great way to ensure that you gain a more more than usual.

Of course, the only way to get this farm is to choose it from the start. While it’s possible to get the Blue Grass starter later in the game, this will come at a point where you probably already have enough experience in farming.