Set up business metrics to monitor on the go. Having a handful of key financial metrics for your business that you can quickly and easily take a look at – even during busy seasons – allows you to keep your operation on-course. Work to get metrics set up that are relevant to your business’ key drivers, aligned with what needs to happen for your operation to be successful, and then set up ways for easy calculation that you can use at a glance, even when you’re on the go during spring. Then you can use your metrics to make small management tweaks to help the farm stay better on course year-round.

Create a small chunk of time for business. It might seem impossible to have any time to actually sit down and work on the farm’s finances and marketing plans, but it can and should be done for the best business results. It doesn’t need to be a lot of time – maybe once a week, for perhaps an hour or half hour – where you focus solely on your farm’s business side and your role as the business leader. Let others on your farm know when that time will be. You can even use this opportunity to put your farm’s successor leader in charge for that hour. They will be the go-to person for any questions or in the moment decisions instead of you, just for that small time window. Doing this can make a huge difference for your level of effectiveness as a farm business leader!

Work with an advisor. Many farmers who choose to work with advisors on their farm’s marketing or financial plans often say they find quite a bit of peace of mind especially during busy seasons – because they have someone else on their team. Working with an advisor and checking in with them about your marketing and financial plans can be helpful when you’re spending a lot of time in the field coordinating activities and operations. Since the market doesn’t stop shifting just because it’s planting season, having someone to keep an eye on the markets and helping with plans and execution can be a game-changer.