Kylie Reiss
For those involved with the family farm, the new year brings more than just seasonal changes. It’s a time to reflect, set goals and cultivate growth to carry on the legacy of our agriculture endeavors.
While making new year’s resolutions is a yearly tradition for many of us, we sometimes fall short of reaching our goals. Recently I started listening to the Mel Robbins podcast, if you haven’t heard of her, I encourage you to check her out. In her episode titled, How to achieve any goal you have in 6 simple steps, she talks about “doing the reps.” She’s referring to showing up every day doing the boring, tedious work that nobody sees.
That’s where greatness is made and ultimately leads you to achieving your goals. As you think about what your farm’s 2025 growth and success looks like, don’t forget about the reps it’ll take to get there. Here are some resolutions and strategies to keep in mind.
1. Share your goals and vision: Take a day off the farm to collaborate with your family and or employees about specific goals for the year. You might have different goals than others involved with the operation. So communication is important for everyone to be on same page and understand what it is you want to achieve. Then as a group write down the farm’s goals and place the list somewhere everyone will see it often. This practice can also alleviate potential conflict down the road or lead to a discussion you’ve been putting off and need to have.
2. Maintain your books: In such a volatile market, it’s important to take the time to assess your budget and risk management options. Are there ways you can diversify or supplement your income? Check into farmer incentive programs, government assistance programs, or local grants. Stay on top of your paperwork by picking a certain day of the week to go through and keep it organized. Or look into a farm management software program to maintain your records.
3. Plan for the future: It’s never too early to start a succession plan and it’s something that usually isn’t discussed with family members until it’s absolutely necessary. Communicate! Alleviate the stress for your loved ones now, by communicating today your wants and plans for the transition.
4. Embrace technology and explore new products: Whether you like it or not, technology is going to become more involved with agriculture as each year goes by. So why not embrace it now, and experience how it can improve efficiency on your operation. What’s something you have been wanting to specifically focus on? Maybe you’re trying to conserve water or want to look at drone technology for cattle management. Time is money and innovation can help you better utilize it.
5. Take time for yourself: This one is so important and often overlooked. Take some time each week to prioritize your physical and mental health.
6. Invest in continued education and networking: Farming is an ever evolving industry and it’s important to stay up to date with the latest research, news and management practices. Sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to a publication, or listen to a podcast. Attending workshops and events benefit producers in multiple ways. They allow you to connect with fellow farmers and industry partners, learn from others experiences, and see the latest technological advancements. Commitment to continual education can help set your farm up for long term success.
With some thoughtful planning and “rep work”, you can pave a path to a prosperous year!
Kylie Reiss can be reached at kreiss@hpj.com.
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