Posted 5:03 pm Sunday, December 02, 2012
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Tips for managing the family's farm
By CHAD GULLEY
Smith County Extension Agent
Management means different things to different people. One thing is for certain, management takes time and work to be successful. Management is getting things done with your finances, people, equipment and land resources available on the farm. Small farm or large farm, managers have some decisions to make.
Smith County Extension Agent
Management means different things to different people. One thing is for certain, management takes time and work to be successful. Management is getting things done with your finances, people, equipment and land resources available on the farm. Small farm or large farm, managers have some decisions to make.
A good manager is a combination of a coach, teacher, financier, engineer, architect and a good record keeper. Managers of a farm are no different. Tough decisions are made all the time on the farm. Plant now or wait? Cull or keep these livestock? Is rain coming or are we headed for drought? In agriculture, we are always planning for the future. In summer, we are planning for winter. In winter we are planning for spring and summer. Various factors affect our outcome such as the environment and weather that are out of our control.
The functions of management include planning, organizing, controlling, staffing and directing. Planning is a mental or thinking process. Organizing is a framework to support the planning process. Controlling is an action to measure success or failure. Staffing is the people part. Directing requires good communication.
Planning is a process we all do. Put your plan on paper so you can see what your goals are and so you may refer back to your plan at a later date. Set short term and long-term goals for the farm and set a timeline to complete these goals. Effective goals have five characteristics. They are simple, measurable, attainable, rewarding and timely; or SMART using the first letter of each word to create an acronym.
Planning is a process we all do. Put your plan on paper so you can see what your goals are and so you may refer back to your plan at a later date. Set short term and long-term goals for the farm and set a timeline to complete these goals. Effective goals have five characteristics. They are simple, measurable, attainable, rewarding and timely; or SMART using the first letter of each word to create an acronym.
Marketing is another area of decision making for the manager. What is the market for your product? Is there a market in the area or surrounding area? Niche marketing is targeting a product or service to a small portion of a market that is not being readily served by the mainstream product or service marketers. Characteristics of a niche market include geographic area, pricing structure, costs of servicing the niche, expected obstacles and required fees or licenses to name a few.
Develop a mission statement for your farm or ranch. The mission makes the vision a potential and continuing action. An example may be to provide economic and financial stability for my family through producing and marketing high quality calves, vegetables, fruits or other commodity.
Management of the family farm varies from one situation to the next. Goals and resources will vary from individual operation to the next. This goes for large farms as well as small farms. If you are producing something you have an interest in you are more likely to do a better job producing it. A list of budgets managers can use as they develop the plan for the family farm can be found at agecoext.tamu.edu/resources/crop-livestock-budgets/by-commodity.html. These budgets are for crops, fruits, vegetables, hay and forage and livestock to name a few.
Extension programs serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin.
Develop a mission statement for your farm or ranch. The mission makes the vision a potential and continuing action. An example may be to provide economic and financial stability for my family through producing and marketing high quality calves, vegetables, fruits or other commodity.
Management of the family farm varies from one situation to the next. Goals and resources will vary from individual operation to the next. This goes for large farms as well as small farms. If you are producing something you have an interest in you are more likely to do a better job producing it. A list of budgets managers can use as they develop the plan for the family farm can be found at agecoext.tamu.edu/resources/crop-livestock-budgets/by-commodity.html. These budgets are for crops, fruits, vegetables, hay and forage and livestock to name a few.
Extension programs serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin.
