When do farmers start planning for the next seasons produce and farmers markets? I dont know about other farms but the T5R started planning 2015 back in 2001 or so. My planning is in this order, Very short term, short term, seasonal, next year or midterm, long term 2-3 years out and extrem long range. Basically an outline of where we are in the present and where we want to be in 40 years. With all of the constants worked into that plan and the gaps filled in as each stage develops. That allows for flexability and adaptability in a ever fluid and changing environment. Mr. Murphys law and Chaos theory play a major role and there are no shortage of X factors that unfold along the way. The worst thing IMO that a small farm can do is to have only very short and short term goals and plans. Working with the land is more often than not a right now deal. Other factors come into play like funds, set backs, minor or major disasters all of which need to have some wiggle room allowed for. Then there are times when something that should be a top seller is a big bust or everyone had the same idea and saturated the market. Not a good thing if you are a one trick pony and cant quickly adapt in the very short term :) Plan for diversity! If you sit down at the black jack table and put your entire stack of chips on one hand you might win big once or twice or you might lose big once or twice. Black Jack is a game of diversity and having a feel for the cards, odds are you will win 50% of the time. Farming is very much the same, you have to have a feel for the market, the land and spread your bets out so you hit the averages when they are in your favor. If pork is down very often poultry is moving very well, if onions are slow, garlic will be flying out of the baskets. In my world the goal is always to play for break even on 50% do well on 25% , very well on 15% and have a big winner 10% of the time. Sometimes its less, sometimes its more and sometimes I lose and wonder why I sat down at the table :) But overall the averages work out in my favor. Of course a lot goes into influencing the outcome of the farm and markets. A little luck, A lot of hard work and a feel for what will be popular. Unlike blackjack the farmer can manipulate and tilt the odds in their favor :) Conventional farming is pretty much a no risk deal now days. Insurance, subsidies and a rigged system pretty much prevent any chance of failure or losing. Traditional and alternative farming is still very much a win or lose deal. Yes I do everything I can to tilt those odds in my favor without crossing the line of cheating ;) As a whole I care very much about local and regional food and its improvement, my first priority however is my farm the Thunder 5 Ranch and maintaining its success.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 19:39:28 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015