Charting a Course: Using whole farm planning to balance business and family. Partners and Sponsors. WI Grassland Resources. Grazing Broker Assistance

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1 Charting a Course: Using whole farm planning to balance business and family Laura Paine Holistic Management Certified Educator Grazing Broker, Southwest Badger RC&D Laura.paine@swbadger.org Southwest Badger Whole Farm Planning Workshop February 7, Dodgeville Partners and Sponsors WI Grassland Resources Badgerland Financial The Nature Conservancy Driftless Area Land Conservancy Iowa County UW Extension EC3 Environmental Consulting WI Alliance of Forest Owners GrassWorks, Inc. WI Farm Bureau Federation Indigenous Restorations WI Farmers Union Iowa County Land Conservation WI Department of Natural Mississippi Valley Conservancy Resources My Wisconsin Woods WI Department of Agriculture, Pheasants Forever Trade, and Consumer Protection Quercus Land Stewardship Services WI Wetlands Association Grazing Broker Assistance Database of producers & landowners Facilitating relationships Grazing planning Conservation assessment Lease templates Connecting with Business planning Why do we own land? Leopold talked about Our self-imposed doctrine of ruthless utilitarianism : The farm as a food factory and the criterion of success is salable products. Leopold s vision: The farm is a place to live. The criterion of success is a harmonious balance between plants, animals, & people; between the domestic & the wild; between utility & beauty. Aldo Leopold Shack on the Wisconsin River 1

2 Why plan? When a man does not know what harbor he is making for, any wind is the right wind. Seneca It doesn t matter whose system you use. The important thing is to plan. Evolution of Holistic Management Goal-Setting Planning Implementation (Decision-Making) Monitoring Why decisionmaking? Whole Farm Planning Process 2

3 Family goals Financial and business viability Profitability Enterprise development & marketing Succession plan Crop rotation and management Productivity Soil quality Animal Husbandry Animal health and welfare Productivity Land stewardship Water quality Soil conservation Nutrient management Components of a Whole Farm Plan Values & Goals History & current status Implementation plan & timeline Monitoring/tracking progress Narrative Maps Timeline Whole Farm Planning Process Whole farm planning creates a balance The Triple Bottom Line Economics, Environment, Quality of life Whole Farm Planning Process NRCS Web Soil Survey 3

4 DATCP NMP Learning from old air photos 1985 Current Web Soil Survey First Air Photos: 1930s and 40s & 1940 air photos Original land survey Resource inventory and information gathering Natural Issues Soil types, productivity Topography Accurate acreage measurements. Fixed, unchangeable features (streams, roads, wet spots, etc). Desirable native plant communities Wildlife movements & hunting areas Prevailing winds Water sources Social Issues Land ownership Estate plans Deeds, leases, permits Rights-of-Way Multiple uses Cropping areas Inaccessible areas Rights of way Current and historic land uses Neighboring land uses Existing facilities and fencing 4

5 Whole Farm Planning Process Generating a Plan (a simple example) Phase 1: Enterprise development Begin building direct market beef enterprise by buying stockers Total of 82 acres Fence in 30 acres Rent out remaining acres Animal husbandry Purchase bred cows. Land Stewardship Install stream crossings 1 Phase 2: Enterprise development Begin selling home-raised meat animals Seed all remaining acres to hay/pasture mix Convert rental agreement to crop-share Fence in 15 acres south of road Animal husbandry Continue expanding herd Land stewardship Construct CRP scrape 2 Phase 3: Enterprise development Continue expanding sales Animal husbandry Continue expanding beef herd Fence in 25 acres north of main pasture Phase out rental agreement Land stewardship Native grass pasture 3 Report includes what is important to you Succession plan Cropping plan Grazing plan/livestock plan Nutrient management plan Narrative Maps Timeline Plan for restoring and managing natural areas Financial plan Marketing plan Timelines Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Cropland Transition to organic Get certified Incorporate pastures into crop rotation Pastures Seed down pastures Begin building fence in sections Continue fence and infrastructure development Complete fence building Livestock Marketing plan Natural areas Business & Financial Raise chickens, feeder pigs Solicit customers Restore wetland Begin writing business plan Buy beef breeding stock Begin direct marketing, set up website Begin grazing woodlot to control brush Complete business plan Begin transition to organic Start wholesale sales Seed down prairie for wildlife and grazing Monitor and adjust Begin marketing maple syrup Monitor and adjust Monitor and adjust 5

6 Whole Farm Planning Process Replan Feedback Loop Plan (Assume you re wrong) Monitor Correct Course Outcomes of whole farm planning 1. Understand your own and others world view. 2. Communicate with your family and business partners about what s really important. 3. Develop a cohesive, comprehensive longterm plan for your life and your farm. 4. Develop good goal-setting, decision-making, and monitoring skills. 5. Discipline yourself to actually use those skills. The landscape of a farm is the owner s portrait of himself Aldo Leopold What s next? 6