Winter is a Great Time to Plan

Winter is A Great Time to Plan

I’m KayDee Gilkey with the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report after this.

For farmer and ranchers winter is usually a good time to focus on those tasks that you never seem to have time for in the summer months. One critical task is working on your business. Have you taken some time to think about you do right, what you could do better and how you define your operation’s success?

Jolene Brown, farmer, professional speaker, author, and family business consultant urges farmers and ranchers to prioritize planning for the next business year above other usual winter tasks.

Brown: “What I’ve found is that winter is a great time for working on the business. And I do know for many of us in agriculture working on the business would be our choice of last resort -- you know, it’s right up there with tax work and computer maintenance and even cleaning out the combine for winter storage. But winter has come, so let’s pause and focus on the bones of the business. It is time to review, time to evaluate and time to set the strategy for the next business year. If you do these things, then what you will find is when you go out and do the production you do it with a foundation underneath you to hold you up. With the right people doing the right job, getting the right results that you have chosen to have happened on the farm.”

As you take the time to work on your business here are some additional questions to consider. Do you know your operation’s strengths? Weaknesses? Opportunities? Threats? What are your short-term and long-range goals for your business?

To read more of Jolene’s wisdom and humor go to www.jolenebrown.com.

I’m KayDee Gilkey with the Northwest Farm and Ranch report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.