To successfully grow your farm, ranch or other agriculture-related business, you need to plan and develop a vision for its future. As its leader, you’ll need to think strategically. [emember_protected custom_msg=”Click here and register now to read the rest of the article!”]
You want to envision your business the way you want it to be, and essentially work backward to attain your goals, the U.S. Small Business Administration advises. As you do so, you’ll need to focus on your farm, ranch or agriculture-related organization, considering its structure and the resources you require. You’ll want to involve the right people with the right resources and organizational structure.
As you consider your goals, you’ll need to view your farming or ranching enterprise with a detached eye. Consider what your customers want and need, what motivates them to buy, what changes you’ll need to make to better serve them.
Be objective as you consider potential problems, examining alternative solutions. When considering issues such as labor supply, you’ll want to be open to creative solutions to meet different possible scenarios — instead of doing things in the same way you always have. A broad perspective will help you prepare for a wider range of circumstances and become better prepared for them.
CREDIT
column by Baxter Troutman
BIO: Baxter Troutman is founder and chief executive officer of Labor Solutions, a staffing company with offices in Bartow, Winter Haven, Lake Wales, and Arcadia. A citrus grower who served in the Florida House of Representatives, Troutman understands the challenges and concerns of today’s farmer. [/emember_protected]
