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. Reading Review
Give a quick overview of profiled farm: Who/What/Where/When/Why
How is this business sustainable:
Environmental
Social
Economic
Is there anything about this operation that challenges your ideas of sustainability?
Comparte una descripcion de la granja (Quien/Que/Donde/Cuando/Porque)
Como es sostenible este negocio:
Medio-ambiental
Economica
Sustainability is a spectrum, different farms can meet the tenants of sustainability in different ways that are most suitable for them and their farm goals.

3. Sustainable Small Farming & Ranching
Whole Farm Planning
Sustainable Small Farming & Ranching
Developing Your Whole Farm Goals
This week we’re talking about Whole Farm Planning and to start we’ll be talking about goals and motivations, which is the softer side of what we’ll discuss throughout the course, but important to self reflect.

4. 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.

5. 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?
But really it’s the personal goals and expectations that will drive the decisions you make on your farm.

6. Ask yourself these questions:
What can I do that will be most productive and worthwhile that matches my skills and interests?
What am I really trying to achieve through use of my 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.

7. Vision, Values and Beliefs
Your vision is what you see in the future…for your farm, the landscape and your quality of life.
Your values and beliefs shape your vision
Your vision drives 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.

8. 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.

9. 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 -

10. 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

11. 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 together
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?

12. Now consider your resources….
Land, water and air
People involved with the farm
Potential of the landscape
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.

13. 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
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.

14. 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 .

15. 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?
How will you monitor your goals?
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.

16. Next Week Whole Farm Plan Assignment Reading for discussion next week
Whole Farm Goals
Farm Map
Reading for discussion next week
New Organic Grower- Chapter 2 and 3
Market Farming Success- Chapter 3
Espanol: Introduccion Paginas 4,5,6

17. Field Trip #1 Skagit Valley Festival of Family Farms
Saturday October 7th - 10am to 2:30pm
Meet at Skagit County Extension

18. October 5th at 6pm