At level 5 of each skill in Stardew Valley you will be offered two skill options, specializing you in a certain aspect of that skill. One of the most important is the Rancher or Tiller choice at level 5 farming, since farming is such a large part of making money is Stardew Valley. One option focuses on animals, while the other focuses on crops. Here's what you should pick depending on how you play Stardew Valley.
In most cases Tiller will provide a larger boost to your profits and offers better level 10 skill options.
Rancher provides a 20% boost to the sell price of animal products, both raw, like eggs and milk, and processed, like cheese and mayonnaise. Tiller increases the sell price of all crops by 10%, which only applies to crops and not foraged plants.
At level 5 you will have to choose a profession, but you can change it later for fee.
There are two major reasons why Tiller ends up being better. First, most players won't have many animals, if any, by the time they reach level 5, assuming they are growing crops every season. While the 20% boost is larger, the amount of animal products you are selling is likely much lower than the amount of crops you are shipping every season. The second reason is that the level 10 skills are better for the Tiller than the Rancher.
The first Rancher level 10 option is Coopsmaster, which decreases egg incubation time, makes it easier to befriend coop animals, and increases the likelihood of the coop products being high quality. The second option is Shepard, which causes sheep to produce wool faster, makes befriending barn animals easier, and increases the likelihood of barn animal products being high quality. Both of these options reward you for focusing on either of the two animal types, but one of the level 10 Tiller options offers a much bigger boost.
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The first option for Tiller level 10 is Agriculturalist, which increases the growth rate of all crops by 10%, which is the worse option of the two. The better option is Artisan, which increases the selling price of all artisan goods by 40% (except oil). This applies to not only pickled crops, but crops that have been turned into wine. But the biggest benefit here is that processed animal goods, like cheese, mayonnaise, and cloth, are all considered artisan goods and benefit from the 40% boost.
Because of the Artisan skill, Tiller is the superior choice. If you want to try the other option, the Statue of Uncertainty in the sewers allows you to change skills for 10,000G per skill change.
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Rancher or Tiller
In most cases Tiller will provide a larger boost to your profits and offers better level 10 skill options.
Rancher provides a 20% boost to the sell price of animal products, both raw, like eggs and milk, and processed, like cheese and mayonnaise. Tiller increases the sell price of all crops by 10%, which only applies to crops and not foraged plants.
At level 5 you will have to choose a profession, but you can change it later for fee.
There are two major reasons why Tiller ends up being better. First, most players won't have many animals, if any, by the time they reach level 5, assuming they are growing crops every season. While the 20% boost is larger, the amount of animal products you are selling is likely much lower than the amount of crops you are shipping every season. The second reason is that the level 10 skills are better for the Tiller than the Rancher.
The first Rancher level 10 option is Coopsmaster, which decreases egg incubation time, makes it easier to befriend coop animals, and increases the likelihood of the coop products being high quality. The second option is Shepard, which causes sheep to produce wool faster, makes befriending barn animals easier, and increases the likelihood of barn animal products being high quality. Both of these options reward you for focusing on either of the two animal types, but one of the level 10 Tiller options offers a much bigger boost.
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The first option for Tiller level 10 is Agriculturalist, which increases the growth rate of all crops by 10%, which is the worse option of the two. The better option is Artisan, which increases the selling price of all artisan goods by 40% (except oil). This applies to not only pickled crops, but crops that have been turned into wine. But the biggest benefit here is that processed animal goods, like cheese, mayonnaise, and cloth, are all considered artisan goods and benefit from the 40% boost.
Because of the Artisan skill, Tiller is the superior choice. If you want to try the other option, the Statue of Uncertainty in the sewers allows you to change skills for 10,000G per skill change.
Source