If April 20th is the deadline on your farm to have the machinery field ready, you likely aren’t in the house reading this on paper, but perhaps you’re on my website blog, killing time in the field waiting or enjoying auto-steer.

Farmers are problem solvers and fixers, but I don’t think we anticipated the ripple effect of a pandemic on our families, our farms, and our future. I’ve spent the last few weeks anchored at my farm office, calling out to farmers, listening, and drilling deep to share a well of hope. On a zoom call with fellow Hudson Institute coaches, one coach quoted Andrew Grove, who was the COO of Intel as saying, “a crisis always ends. What matters is how we come out on the other side.”

 We have to put a crop in and tend to livestock. We have some gifts of time now. “Do not waste the crisis, as there are opportunities to discover,” said Norm Trainor of www.covenantgroup.com, encouraging business to thrive in times of uncertainty.

Clarity of expectations, the certainty of timelines and agreements, and a commitment to action are the three C’s I have been sharing with farm families for a long time. Let’s take a next step approach to seize questions to find clarity and create more certainty in April 2020.

Staying on Track with Your Vision for Family, Farm, and Ownership During Uncertain Times

What are your current visions for your family, your farm, and your ownership?

Family Vision

Guiding principles, values, connectedness, harmony, communication.

I think this article from Forbes is an excellent read on how family discussions of the current reality can build security and a sense of confidence. We need to have austerity plans and cope with losses.

Farm Vision

Business plan, compensation, contingency plans, decision making systems to deal with future uncertainty, business values, alignment with farm goals,

Ownership Vision

Succession plan, estate plan, transfer of wealth, enjoyment of new roles, ownership.

Trainor coaches us to work on:

• strategy
• structures
• systems/processes
• financial management

He says, “now is the time to redefine our performance, our work.” BDO Canada is developing a new financial benchmarking report for the grains, beef, and dairy sector. Are you using benchmarking and “farming the numbers” on your farm?

I know what you are thinking, “UGH, Elaine, this sounds like hard work!” Since when did a farmer avoid hard work? When you measure what matters and give everyone a voice on your farm team, you will be creating an attractive, profitable farm culture. It’s all about what you believe, your core values, and your vision as a family. How you behave in the family dynamic and in the business arena, and then how you make decisions.

Believe.

Behave.

Decide.

This the glue that is going to anchor you well through the winds of this current storm. Sharing your fears, your ideas, and your healthy ways to cope with loss will make all of your stronger.

[Tweet “Use these tips and strategies to stay on track with your vision for the #family, #farm, and ownership during these uncertain times.”]

Dr.Nikki Gerrard’s research,  “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” found that communication, connection with the community, and an ability to celebrate gives farm families resilience in tough times.

Here are some helpful questions to get you started:

• What is your vision for family participation in the farm business?
• What is most important to you? (Ask for the What I Want pdf. at www.elainefroese.com/contact)
• What do you think is best for the farm? Sharing financial realties is important here.
• What do you think is best for the family?
•  Who gets to farm with you? Based on what criteria? Education, skills, other work experience, conduct. 
• Who ultimately gets to decide who is on your farm team?
•  Do you love the roles that you have on your farm today?
• What does management need to do to support your goals and roles?
• What are the biggest strengths you bring to the farm?
• What are some of the areas that need improvement?
• What is your learning plan to grow more skilled?
•  Is everyone on the farm team happy with how they are compensated?

Is 2020 deemed now to be a lean and mean kind of year? What family income level is enough and reasonable? Do you really know what farm perks are covering for your family’s lifestyle? (Go to www.elainefroese.com/contact to ask for Wittman’s compensation worksheet.)

Performance appraisals of family members are rare on most farms, as labor is precious, and many folks “put up and shut up” rather than address conflict resolution. Daily feedback as to what is working well and what could be improved is useful for conversations to keep performance in check. The ability to express your emotions and create solutions are two very positive conflict skills to hone in times of high stress.

Courageous conversations can be parked to the forum of the family meeting and can be facilitated by an outside party if necessary. As tensions are high this spring with the added disruption and life-changing adaptations to the pandemic, we need to be intentional about how we manage our stress and conflict daily.

Let’s remind each other that we cannot read each other’s minds. Family business meetings are key to getting action and resolving conflict in a safe and respectful manner. Decide if your goals are for the operation of the farm business and have a production, operational meeting. If you are more concerned about setting a strategy to define transition plans and processes, then focus on meetings to look at the farm business agreements for operating, owning, and wealth transfer.

Talking as a family business and giving everyone a respected voice at the table will help you navigate this new adventure and disruption with a deeper sense of security and confidence. We need to creatively cope with our losses and ask for help to find practical ways to keep farming well, profitably, and long.

I’m here to listen and coach you to discover a workable vision for your farm, your family, and your future. I work on video conference (zoom) and the phone. Calls and texts from your tractor cab are welcome: 204-534-7466.

 The time to act is now.