1. Sustainable Small Farming & Ranching
Whole Farm Planning
Sustainable Small Farming & Ranching
Developing Your Whole Farm Goals
Module 2- Successful Whole Farm Planning
Lesson 4 – Developing Your Whole Farm Goals
Every extension educator in the country would probably concur that one of the number one questions asked of them is something like this:
“Could you help me figure out what to do with my land?

2. Two Sides of the Whole Farm Plan
Functions of the Operation
- What will you produce?
- How will you manage
-Crop rotation?
-Diseases and pests?
- How will harvest and sales be managed?
Personal Goals and Expectations
- What draws you to agriculture?
- What work/life balance best meets the needs of your household?
- What level of income is necessary for your life?
Short terms goals are more specific and will help you work step by step towards those longer term goals.

3. Two Sides of the Whole Farm Plan
Personal Goals and Expectations
- What draws you to agriculture?
- What work/life balance best meets the needs of your household?
- What level of income is necessary for your life?
Functions of the Operation
- What will you produce?
- How will you manage
-Crop rotation?
-Diseases and pests?
- How will harvest and sales be managed?
Short terms goals are more specific and will help you work step by step towards those longer term goals.

4. Provide direction and vision to help guide your decisions
Goals
Provide direction and vision to help guide your decisions
Goals clarify your vision and help guide the decisions you make to keep going in the right direction. This is something that is different for every person and only when this is developed can others begin to help. Educators and key technical assistance providers can then guide you through a process and resources to help you get where you plan to go.

5. Ask yourself these questions:
What do I really want in life?
What can I do that will be most productive and worthwhile?
What am I really trying to achieve through use of time, effort, money, and management skills?
Figuring out where you are trying to go may be the hardest part of the process. It involves researching your self, your resources, your product, the market, potential customers and external regulations, policies or barriers that could influence your quest.

6. Vision, Values and Beliefs
Your vision is what you see in the future…for your farm, your quality of life and how the landscape should look.
Your values and beliefs shape your vision
What you think is important
They drive your actions
As adults, we have already developed our internal belief system based on our values and priorities in life. You must know many people whose priorities in life are very different than yours. Hence, you share very personal and unique visions for what you want out of life. The same can be applied to your dream for a small acreage farm. Your vision for your operation is unique to you and your farm family.

7. Things to think about… Farm operation (type, enterprise, etc.)
Financial Requirements
Quality of Life
Current Resource Base
Family
If someone tells you he just wants to be “happy” do you know what that means to him? NO. So if someone tells you they want to have a successful farming operation – do you know what that means? NO. This is because our own definitions of success are built on our personal and family values and beliefs.
If we judge a farm’s success only on the money it is bringing in to the family – is that an accurate assessment? It depends!
This is the time to start thinking about your farm and what you really want for your future. You can look at the near future next five years and also down the road to the next generation.
Ask your self some questions about the following.

8. Farm Operation What type of enterprise? Livestock Crops Integrated
What sales outlets best meet your enterprise and business approach?
What type and size of operation are you thinking about? This could be limited by your acreage, your current interests, etc. but consider the whole. Also keep in mind throughout this or any goal identifying exercise – goals are fluid, they change and that is okay – even by the end of this course your goals might change.
Livestock: Poultry Example: Meat Birds or Eggs? Perhaps a secondary enterprise not integral to sales revenue.
Crops: Mixed annuals for broad market VS Few specialty crops for institutional sales.
Intense Rotation Plan – Benefit from Diversification Fewer Crops to “Master” – Vulnerable to Environmental and Market Changes – Requires more inputs
Integrated: Health and Safety Regulations - Timing and Processing Requirements -

9. What is your definition of financial success?
What is YOUR definition of financial success? How much money do you need to live in a manner that provides you a comfortable life? Is this a career to support a family or to enhance another paycheck?
What are the current financial requirements of your household?
Five Acres or Fifty – Land ownership vs fluid funds

10. Quality of Life
The measure of shared value and satisfaction you and your family attach to the various features of place, the environment and working
Here is where values come in.
What is it worth to you to raise your kids on the farm?
What does it mean to work side by side with your spouse everyday?
What is the value of producing your own food?
What are the value based costs you associate with meaningful work?

11. Resource Base Land, water and air People involved with the farm
Potential of the landscape base
Purchasing power
Your skills and knowledge
Now consider the resources you currently have: including the land, all the people involved, the potential based on water and soil, your capital and your skills.

12. The importance of family to farming can not be overlooked.
Farming is a lifestyle
You don’t leave home to go off to a job
The people who are most important to you are often directly affected by the decisions you make
Microsoft clipart
Don’t forget your family. Farming is different than most professions – it is part business and part your lifestyle. Your family has a vested interest in decisions you make.

13. Break your list of goals down into short term and long term
Own and farm
20 acres in the Pacific Northwest
Supplemental farm income from production and direct marketing of organic garlic
Short Term
Gain knowledge about
and experience
In farming
Transition three
acres to
organic garlic .

14. Understanding your goals
Is the goal realistic?
Is it specific enough?
Can you see how to get there?
What are the action steps to achieve the goal?
Once you have got a better idea about what you want and start identifying your specific goals think about whether they are realistic, specific, and identify steps to get you there.

15. Continually Review and Monitor
Evaluate progress on a regular basis
Goals are NOT static, they are open to change. Once you have them, you must keep assessing your progress and readjust as you move through life.
Are these still your goals?
How are you doing?
Steps to revise goals or get back on track

16. Skagit Valley Festival of Family Farms
October 1st - 10am to 4pm
Mixed Vegetables
Hedlin Family Farm
La Conner Flats
Schuh Farms
Livestock
Hemlock Highlands
Double O Ranch
Samish River Dairy
Taylor Shellfish
Perennials
Bow Hill Blueberries
Eagle Haven Winery

17. October 6th at 6pm

18. Next Week Today’s Assignment Reading for discussion next week
Whole Farms Goal
Farm Map
Reading for discussion next week
New Organic Grower- Chapter 2 and 3
Market Farming Success- Chapter 3