Your employees. As the farm leader, you’re probably already communicating with many of your employees daily. But during harvest, the vast majority of your communication with them is likely related to tasks and logistics – discussing what needs to be done, by when, and how. That’s all important, of course, but they also need to hear from you in a different way, too – as a people manager. Check in with employees periodically about how their job is going – not necessarily just to see if everything is rolling smoothly. Ask about how the season is going for them at work and take some time to encourage them. The right word at the right time can be a morale-booster – and that leads to greater employee engagement.

Lenders. Another person who needs to be hearing from you throughout the year, including during harvest, is your lender (or lenders). Schedule time with your lender for a phone call or video chat update, or a combine ride-along depending on their preferences. Meeting with them during the fall – ahead of winter lender meetings – is a great way to provide an overview on how yields are looking and where you expect results to end up, before you sit down with them in their office in the winter. Lenders appreciate proactive communication and an early heads-up about what they can expect.

Landlords. Your landlords also appreciate when you communicate with them at harvest time. Many former farmers may be nearly as excited to hear about early harvest results as you are. Others might appreciate harvest photos or even spending some time out on the farm. Either way, make sure to include each landlord in a harvest update of some sort – according to who they are and what they’ll appreciate most.

Advisors. Any key advisors you work with on critical business aspects of your farm – the markets first come to mind – need to have an open line during harvest. Markets keep moving, even when harvest is in full swing. Since you’re already busy, communicating frequently with your market advisors to discuss what’s going on in the markets is important. Our team of advisors is currently helping our farmer clients prepare for 2022 marketing plans, as well (it’s not too early)!