Imagine that on your farm there’s something that has always been done the same way for as long as you can remember. Now think about changing something about it to make the process more efficient.

For some farm leaders, that feels great – using a problem-solving mindset to try a new way of doing something better or more efficiently. These farmers may be more drawn to trying out new methods in general, which can be helpful to their farms, especially if the new things are carefully considered as to whether they’re a good fit – both before and after the trial run.

For others, the scenario above may be more of a stretch. Depending on personality, some farm leaders may mostly stick to “how it’s always been done.” This can have benefits such as feeling like you know what the outcome will be. But it also can keep the farm operation from reaching its full potential, especially as the agriculture operating environment continues to grow and expand in complexity.

Change makers

I think most farm leaders are somewhere in the middle. They might not necessarily be seeking out change for their operation, but they will consider changes that may make a positive impact on their farms. They are selective about making changes, which is smart, because not everything is the right fit for every farm operation.

So how do you know what’s a good change for your farm versus a not so good one? It starts with knowing your operation extremely well and using that knowledge to wisely consider what might make the greatest positive impact.

Getting a very clear handle on your farm’s financials is a good place to begin. Knowing your farm’s numbers inside and out can help as you make decisions about what the right new moves are for your operation. Your farm’s financials are the starting place for you to be able to measure how a new program or idea is impacting your farm – as you set up specific metrics to monitor and measure the new method.

Goals and measurements

Another key item is to know where you want your farm to be headed, and the goals that are going to best help it get there. Your farm’s goals and future direction are the guideposts for the types of changes that may be best for you to focus on. Understanding the small changes that can make the biggest impact on your operation is always helpful, too.

If you do decide to try something new for your farm, make sure to set up a way to evaluate it. Plan and set up that evaluation from the very start, and monitor things closely along the way. It’s possible you may discover your new favorite way of doing something – that impacts your operation’s bottom line too.

How are you navigating this market?

Farmers have found that getting some third-party perspective from our market advisors has helped ease their minds. The advisors help farmer clients with planning and execution around marketing decisions and help keep them up to speed on the current rapidly-changing grain market situation – and how it impacts their operation.

Get a free two-week trial of our marketing information service (MarketView Basic). Your free trial includes regular audio and video updates, technical analysis, recommendations and more. Learn more about our market advisor programs and offerings at www.waterstreetag.com.