Editor’s note: This is the first in a series labeled ‘From the farm boardroom’ that will focus on the role of a farm board – policies, planning, and leadership. Watch for more in this series in upcoming weeks.

Who sets the strategic direction for your business?

Having a robust strategic planning process can set you apart from the competition. Yet, only 19% of top producers in ag business indicate they actively engage in a formalized strategic planning process.

In our story, “Extend your farm career as board chairman,” we talked about the need for senior managers to transition from operations to chairman of the farm board. This series is designed to put more meat on that bone and give you some ideas for your new role as chairman of the board.

One of the key roles in that position is to help set strategic direction for the farm business.

How does strategic planning differ from operational or seasonal planning? Operational planning is typically the responsibility of the management team — not the board. This includes daily, weekly and seasonal planning in crop and livestock production operations, equipment maintenance and replacement, building and improvement repairs, renovations and replacement, or conservation projects. Operational planning deals with the “what we do today”; in other words, the tactics of what, when, who and how.

Related:From the boardroom, part two: How to let go of control on the farm

Future of your business

Strategic planning addresses the broader issue of how the business functions today and where it should head in the future.

The operative question is: “Do we continue in the same strategic direction or shift our strategy?”

Before deciding whether to stick with status quo or shift gears, the business needs to define its current baseline — where are we now? Common issues that are strategic in nature include: mission and vision, business growth, succession planning, business capitalization and ownership transfers, risk management, business legal structures, outsourcing vs. in-sourcing, leasing vs. owning capital assets, tillage and rotation systems, genetic approaches, professional business governance, environmental stewardship, and value-added vs. generic production.

While the owner board is primarily responsible for engaging in strategic discussions and approving direction, the board chairman, CEO, management team members and staff can all be tapped to play useful roles in the process.

The board chair and CEO typically work closely to design a strategic process appropriate for the farm’s current business size and complexity. Farm businesses new to this process may find it a bit clunky the first time around. But each time the process is revisited, owners grow in professionalism and the process becomes increasingly valuable to the business.

Related:From the Boardroom, part three in a series: The primary role of the farm board

Here are a few tips than can help:

Impact on performance

Changes in strategy can impact business financial structuring or performance. In these situations it may be helpful to simulate how changes in strategic direction impact key financial metrics.

Tools like the DuPont Model can be useful to simulate how shifts in strategy impact turnover ratio, operating margin, ROE and ROA. Significant shifts also challenge the board and management to assess adequacy of capital, personnel implications and capital asset acquisition strategies to optimize results.

With the above preparatory steps in place, engage your team in an orderly discussion about the future of the business. Set strategic goals related to each area. Define alternative action plans that can advance the business toward specific goals. Assign accountability for members who will lead implementation of strategic initiatives. And then set target dates for completion and dates for measuring progress.

Avoid these common mistakes in strategic planning:

Strategic planning, professionally executed, empowers the business to proactively capitalize on growth and diversification. 

Don’t be intimidated by this process. Take a stab with thoughtful preparation, and build and refine your process over time. You’ll find it’s one of the most valuable tools in your shop.

Wittman is an Idaho rancher and farm financial consultant. Reach him at [email protected].

Read the series:

From the boardroom, part two: How to let go of control on the farm

From the boardroom, part three: The primary role of the farm board

From the boardroom, part four: What is your growth strategy?