Who is doing the riding, you or your farm business?

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Posted by Brendon Walsh on 21 June 2016

Rider or ridden

Who is doing the riding, you or your farm business?

Times are challenging right now for many in sheep and beef farming.  It’s a great time to ask yourself this question: Are you riding your farm business or are you being ridden?

In my last blog I wrote about the hidden power of family farms, and that many family farms are not going so well or selling up, with no succession in place. This is a real issue which must be addressed.  Often there are two main causes of farmers being in this situation: 1) they have been encouraged to stay low profit by some in the industry (either knowingly or unknowingly) so therefore don’t see a way forward, and 2) farmers have allowed low profit to happen as a result of their own decision making, mainly through apathy or lack of systems and knowledge.  This is eroding our future and it doesn’t have to happen!

You see, anyone can achieve what they really want, if they want it badly enough.  You don’t have to be an All Black or a world famous rower to do this. Even they were novices once.  You are not “just a farmer.” You are a business owner with a farm.  You can learn what you need to learn.  You can do what it takes to get the results you really want.

New Zealand has been built on owner operator farming and family farms. Owners of small and medium sized businesses form the bulk of most countries’ economies.  As one of these businesses, you can become strong, enjoy life and make a great and solid contribution to agriculture in New Zealand.  In fact, I see family farms and owner operators as the future of New Zealand agriculture. Yes, corporate farming will always be there, which is fine!  But don’t give away your opportunity and ability to be the best you can be and have the life you really want, just because you don’t know how to do it just yet, or you don’t believe you can.

To become the rider and not the ridden you need to get a vision for your future, whatever that happens to be for you.  Find what you are passionate about. Then, define some goals to take you there.  Use great structured processes in your business and get it done.  You see, where you are going must be highly meaningful to you most of all, not anyone else.

A GrowFARM client said to me recently: “Our farm is a treasure and it is our responsibility to make it work.  It is very special to us.”  I couldn’t agree more! That comment really struck deep for me.   Unfortunately, we don’t always see our farms in this way, especially if our results haven’t been so good for a long period of time.

But the great thing is that the opportunity is at hand, right now.  You alone have the decision to make as to whether you step up to the line and make it happen, or you step back and let those things that you don’t really want, to happen. Yes, it’s a choice.  So take control of your situation and be the rider!

 

If you are curious about how the GrowFARM® System can help sheep and beef farmers generate the profits they really want, contact me here.

 

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Comments

  • Hey Nona, thanks for your kind words! Thanks also for continuing to do what it takes. By doing so you are growing leadership, strength and passion in your business, and lifting the ability of our farming industry to grow and be strong. Keep up the great work!

    Posted by Brendon Walsh, 22/06/2016 2:24pm (8 years ago)

  • When you are riding the horse you need skills taught to you to stay on hold on and dismount safely .or be extremely lucky. Don't think we will leave our family farm to chance . Thank you for the skills Brendon

    Posted by Nona Timmins , 22/06/2016 2:10pm (8 years ago)

  • Someone from NIWA at National Fieldays, to whom I'd been ranting about the lack of leadership and cohesion about farm planning, said 'You're obviously passionate about this, and I'm sure you'll get something done about it'. And I realised just how passionate I really am about improving farming in NZ, and what a disorganised mess it is at present. Brendon we are on the same track!

    Posted by Sue Edmonds, 22/06/2016 8:22am (8 years ago)