Short-term operating plan for farms and ranches

Abstract

"Timely decision making is essential for farm and ranch businesses. Decisions are a part of daily operations and vary greatly from prioritizing tasks to choosing inputs and deciding how much product to sell at a certain price. Most operations have primary decision makers who routinely make these decisions. It is important however, that others know how to proceed if the key decision maker(s) is/are unable to make decisions. This plan was developed to help farm and ranch families continue operating their businesses with minimal interruptions should the primary decision maker(s) be unable to make short-term decisions. The plan could be helpful in an unexpected situation such as hospitalization or military deployment. For this plan, the short term is generally considered two weeks to six months. The purpose is to have organized information for family members to use to continue operating the farm or ranch business. Locating key information is stressful and time consuming, and this plan will help to reduce stress and save time."--First page.The following authors contributed to this plan: Mary Sobba (Field Specialist, Agricultural Business and Policy, MU Extension), Joni Harper (Community Engagement Specialist, Agriculture and Environment, MU Extension), Catherine Neuner (Community Engagement Specialist, Agriculture and Environment, MU Extension), Kyle Whittaker (Community Engagement Specialist, Agriculture and Environment, MU Extension)New 07/202