All that glitters is not gold. Farm incomes are down, and it may be tempting to start an off-farm business to produce non-farm income. You are probably excellent at production ag, but how well do those talents translate to this new venture? One owner confided to me that, "We have...
Stop focusing on things that don’t matter
The farm to-do list never ends. There is always one more thing to be done, and then another chore pops up that needs taking care of. And of course, the weather always plays a factor in determining what does or does not get done and when. Many farmers are overwhelmed...
We wouldn’t be having this conversation if….
When times are tough, and everyone is under stress all the imperfections bubble to the surface. The imperfections were there all along but aren’t visible until our backs are against the wall. This is especially true of transition planning. My latest Farm Futures article covers some of the problem areas...
Still Oppurtunities in 2020
Executive Farmer Network Tactics and Takeaways Even with a poor farm economy many farms are doing more than just OK. There is a big spread between farm profitability even if on the outside they look the same. The most profitable farms are taking advantage of the current farm weakness to strengthen their...
Why conflict can be a good thing
Conflict is often viewed as negative but not having the right kind of conflict, often leads to bad conflict later. In an earlier article, we discussed the importance of having trust amount your leadership and owner team. Your farm team may be open and honest with each other, trusting, but do...
A farm business case study: Is your farm stuck because of low trust
Without high levels of trust, your family farm will lose traction and stall out. Click here to read the full article Tim Schaefer is a management coach for farms and agribusiness and a blog writer for Farm Futures.
6 hard truths about succession planning
The happiest and most successful family farms plan succession well in advance. They realize the original plan can change. But a plan, even a plan in progress, is better than no plan at all. Click here to read the full article Tim Schaefer is a management coach for farms and...
Do you know why people resist change?
Change is necessary to thrive and survive. If you want to regain traction, it is necessary to understand the causes behind resistance to change. Click here for the full article. Tim Schaefer is a regular contributor to Farm Futures writing on the topics of transition planning, leadership development, peer groups,...
Build a Team of Best Friends
If your top employees have a best friend at work, are they more likely to stay? Click here for the full article. Tim Schaefer is a regular contributor to Farm Futures writing on the topics of transition planning, leadership development, peer groups, and management.
Why Roger Can’t Quit Farming
Deferred tax bill makes retirement an expensive option. Click here for the full article Tim Schaefer is a regular contributor to Farm Futures writing on the topics of transition planning, leadership development, peer groups, and management.