As the fall harvest season and 2023 crop year winds down on many farms, it’s a time where there are some clear shifts going on. With less time-sensitive production work to do, everyone’s attention moves toward the many other tasks that need to get done in the operation.

With the next couple months available for much of this “off-season” work, the biggest can be knowing what to do, and in what order. Sometimes it’s true that work expands to fit the timeframe that’s available for it to get done – and this can happen in any business, including farms, making things less efficient.

The farm leader has an important role in changing this. The farm’s off-season is actually one of the greatest opportunities that an operation has to become more efficient and set themselves apart from the competition. But to take full advantage of that, it requires some intentional planning from the farm’s leaders.

Planning it out

This doesn’t mean that nobody takes any time off or goes on any type of vacation this winter. What it does mean is that there is a careful plan in place for what’s going to happen, and when, during the off-season to set the farm up for the best possible success in 2024.

In fact, part of the plan should probably include some intentional time off for each person involved in the operation. Everyone on the farm works hard during harvest, and the winter season can be a great time to reward employees and others with some time to “recharge” their personal batteries. You – and everyone else – will return to the farm with greater energy, perspective, and passion after some time away.

Get it together

Other than planned time away from the farm, what else might the farm’s off-season plan involve? Here are a few suggestions you may want to include in your plans.

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.