Something new? Create a process to look at alignment, trade-offs

Some farm leaders might want to try out nearly every new method or new piece of technology, simply because it is the new thing.

For others, the tendency might instead be to reject something because it’s new and hasn’t yet proven itself repeatedly, whether on someone else’s farm or on your own farm.

Competitive Advantage

Most farmers are probably somewhere in the middle when it comes to new approaches in their operation.

Top farm leaders are highly aware that they need to constantly keep their operation competitive, so they’re on the lookout to bring their farm a strategic, sustainable competitive advantage.

But there’s no shortage of new technology, new production methods, new equipment and new business approaches out there today.

Farmers need ways to quickly sort out the next best thing for their farm from other things that will only prove to be a waste of time, money and energy.

What’s the best process to use when sorting out what’s going to help move your farm forward from what likely won’t help? That will likely look a bit different for each farm leader.

The key is creating a process that works best for you. Here are some ideas to include in your decision-making process.

Check Alignment

Does the new thing align with your operation and where it’s heading? This is where your farm’s core values come in.

If you and the other leaders of your operation haven’t sat down together yet to select core values for your operation, schedule a time to do so soon.

Going through the process of selecting core values for your farm will mean some deep discussions for the farm’s stakeholders.

Doing so will bring you all together more closely in alignment around what you’re working to do in your farm business.

Figuring out whether the proposed new thing is in alignment with your farm’s core values is a good first step. If the answer is yes, next it’s about determining whether it’s in service of your farm’s future goals and plans.

How does it fit, or not fit, with where you see your farm going in the next five years? Ten years? When the next generation joins the farm or begins leading?

Examine Trade-Offs

For every great thing that leaders could bring to their operation, there will always be trade-offs. Those trade-offs could be in terms of money, time or energy.

For example, if you choose to buy a certain piece of machinery, you may not be able to put up a bin that you were hoping for.

Or, if the farm’s leaders attend a particular farm seminar, then they may not be able to attend another one.

Deciding to invest in something new for the farm will always involve trade-offs, as does everything the farm is already currently paying for.

One way to look at it is to consider what the major things are that impact your farm business in terms of bottom-line success.

Production is obviously the first one: if the farm doesn’t produce, there won’t be very much need for anything else. But what comes next on that list?

Create your own list of the other biggest things that greatly impact the farm’s bottom line. How can you prioritize improvement in those areas by trying something new?

Take Action

Once you have determined that there’s good alignment with your farm’s core values and direction and taken a close look at the trade-offs, then it’s time to take action if it appears to be the right fit and will help improve your operation.

Work with other leaders in your operation for a strong strategy to smoothly implement the new approach on your farm.