Holistic Management Decision Making in Diverse Environments

Transcription

1 Holistic Management Decision Making in Diverse Environments Resource Management Services LLC Kirk L. Gadzia Phone Web:

2 Holistic Management Holistic Management is a whole farm and ranch planning system designed to: Help land stewards better manage agricultural resources Obtain sustainable economic, environmental, and social benefits

3 Holistic Management Practices 1. Define what you manage 2. State what you want 3. Aim for healthy soil 4. Consider all tools 5. Test your decisions 6. Monitor your results

4 Practice One: Define What You Manage (your inventory) Defining your unique management boundaries means you are better able to manage your inventory.

5 Practice One: Define What You Manage CIRCLE OF CONCERN Reactive Adapted From: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Stephen R. Covey 1989.

6 Practice One: Define What You Manage CIRCLE OF CONCERN CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE Reactive Proactive Adapted From: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Stephen R. Covey 1989.

7 Practice One: Define What You Manage

8 Define The Asset Base Being Managed Management Team -People: Assets: Financial Assets: Decision Makers: Tamara and Kirk Todd and Kathy GGVLLC Children, Relatives and Extended Family Friends, Neighbors and Community HM Network, Quivira Network, Regenag Network, Permaculture Network, Clients, +++ Bankers, Advisors, Mentors Home and Land Rental Properties Current and Potential Clients Friends and Bartering Network Client Properties and Goodwill Savings, Retirement, Investments, SS?, RMSLLC Income Home, Land, Vehicles, etc. Rental Properties Income - Debt on properties Good Credit

9 Current Concerns and Problems With The Asset Base Being Managed People: Time to visit family, friends Travel time away from home Health issues with family members estate plan Time to build connections and networks with our neighbors and local community Asset Base: Pasture, orchard and garden diversity and productivity Rental property mortgage balances Independence from the grid and town water Security of irrigation rights and water Financial: Adequate savings for retirement income Health Insurance, long-term care, Economic downturn effect on property values

10 Holistic Management Practices 1. Define what you manage 2. State what you want

11 Practice Two: State What You Want Elements of the Holistic Goal 1. Quality of Life and Values 2. Behaviors and Systems 3. Visions

12 State What You Want The real power of the Holistic Management framework is found in creating and using your holistic goal Progress not Perfection Create common ground and move toward it

13 Practice Two: State What You Want Mission Statement for the James Ranch The integrity and distinction of the James Ranch is to be preserved for future generations by developing financially viable agricultural and related enterprises that sustain a profitable livelihood for the families directly involved, while improving the land and encouraging the use of all resources, natural and human, to their highest and best potential.

14 Holistic Goals are Unique Perspective: Immediate needs AND long term vision Holistic View triple bottom line - people (social) - profit (economic) - planet (environment)

15 Elements of the Holistic Goal Start with Quality of Life (values) What do you want in life? Behaviors and Systems (forms of production) What do you have to do? Vision (a picture of your world LONG TERM future)

16 INTERACTING ELEMENTS CONTAINED WITHIN A HOLISTIC GOAL / CONTEXT WHY? STATEMENT OF OUR VALUES Quality Of Life

17 INTERACTING ELEMENTS CONTAINED WITHIN A HOLISTIC GOAL / CONTEXT WHY? STATEMENT OF OUR VALUES WHAT? WHAT IS PRODUCED TO SUPPORT EACH VALUE Quality Of Life Behaviors and Systems HOW? HOW THE FUTURE MUST LOOK TO SUPPORT AND SUSTAIN BEHAVIORS AND SYSTEMS Visions ECOSYSTEM SUPPORT FOUNDATION

18 INTERACTING ELEMENTS CONTAINED WITHIN A HOLISTIC GOAL / CONTEXT WHY? STATEMENT OF OUR VALUES WHAT? WHAT IS PRODUCED TO SUPPORT EACH VALUE Quality Of Life Behaviors and Systems HOW? HOW THE FUTURE MUST LOOK TO SUPPORT AND SUSTAIN BEHAVIORS AND SYSTEMS Future Vision ECOSYSTEM SUPPORT FOUNDATION

19 Kirk and Tamara Holistic Goal / Context Holistic Management and Holistic Management International/Healthy Land/Sustainable Future are registered trademarks of Holistic Management International. Copyright 2012 Holistic Management International. All rights reserved.

20 Values: (Why) Healthy lifestyle Work that helps improve our planet and peoples lives Balance of work, play and responsibilities Security Relationships, Financial, Personal Time for family, friends, and those less fortunate Enjoyment of different places, cultures, and the natural world Honesty and forthrightness in dealings with others Freedom of choice in what we can control Increased role in community

21 Behaviors and Systems (What) Plan for eating nutritious food and regular exercise. Manage stress by effective time management and imposing limits on work. Create a yearly financial plan that is monitored and controlled. Do good work and enjoy it. Every client is important. Test potential work, activities and expenditures towards the values we want. Strive for increasing self-sufficiency in our life style and home based living. Celebrate our accomplishments and progress.

22 Future Vision (How to sustain behaviors and strategies) Lifelong learning in matters of health, work, relationships, and finances. The basis of future work is satisfied customers. Our work increases the health and productivity of the land. Create a plan to meet our goals, and review it often. Save and share (time & money) with others. Invest wisely and monitor investments closely. Minimize inescapable expenses Seek the advice of others with experience and wisdom.

23 Practice Three: Aim for Healthy Soil The Four Ecosystem Processes Water Cycle Mineral Cycle Community Dynamics Energy Flow

24 A Paradigm: University of Wyoming, Engineering Building

25 Most Ranchers and Farmers Fight Nature Nature Always Wins For Long Term Success, Understand, Work With, and Mimic Natural Systems

26

27 Ecological Rules Will Not Change Water Cycle Mineral Cycle Community Dynamics Energy Flow

28 Sustainable Agriculture, A Definition: A sustainable agriculture does not deplete soils or people. Wendell Berry

29 Water Cycle Effective Water Cycle Requires: Soil covered with plants or litter Soil surface permeable to water Soil well aerated with high organic matter content Runoff and evaporation losses are minimal

30 Mineral Cycle Effective Mineral Cycle Requires: Soil covered with plants or litter Minimal erosion by wind or water Biological breakdown of old material Diversity of soil organisms and roots

31 Community Dynamics or Succession Sustainable Communities Are Characterized By : Many species of plants and living organisms Complex interactions between organisms in the community Stable soils and low frequency of drought, flood, or outbreaks Diversity of annual, perennial, herbaceous, and woody plants.

32 Energy Flow High Energy Flow to Create New Wealth is Characterized By : Wide leaf area of plants and diversity of species Deep root systems of varying types High plant density and high % soil cover Diversity of soil, plant and animal communities cool and warm season, annuals and perrennials

33 Tools for Managing the Ecosystem Grazing & Animal Impact

34 Livestock Can Improve Land Health Grazing Nature Never Tries to Farm Without Animals Sir Albert Howard 1943 An Agricultural Testament

35 Major Advances in Understanding Grazing Management

36 Grazing Can Have a Positive or Negative Effect on Land Health. This Depends on the Timing, Intensity and Frequency of the Grazing.

37 Increased Need to Control Livestock Placement, Timing, Density and Duration

38 The Predator/Prey Behavior Connection

39 Time Not Numbers Overgrazing of plants and damage from trampling has less to do with the number of animals on the land, and more to do with amount of time the plants and soils are exposed to animals.

40 Time Is More Important Than Numbers

41 Time Is More Important Than Numbers

42 1 Cow for 100 days = 100 Cows for 1 day Control overgrazing by controlling time.

43 Grazing in Natures Image Control overgrazing by controlling time. 1 Cow for 100 days = 100 Cows for 1 day

44 Practice Five: Testing Your Decisions

45 Holistic Management Decision Testing Matrix Proposed Action: Pass Fail Doesn t Apply Don t Know Notes / Red Flags Root Cause Weak Link Social Weak Link Biological Weak Link Financial Comparing Options Gross Profit Analysis Input Analysis Vision Analysis Decision:

46 1. Root Cause Does this action address the root cause of the problem? Forces you to identify the underlying issue Avoids addressing only symptoms.

47 2. Weak Link Three types Social Biological Financial

48 Social Weak Link Are there any social concerns regarding this action? Avoids misunderstandings or personal obstacles

49 Biological Weak Link Does this action address the weakest point in the life cycle of this organism? By identifying an organism s point of greatest vulnerability, you are better able to address it.

50 Financial Weak Link In my enterprise, what single thing will have the greatest impact on my ability to generate income? By investing funds to give the greatest return, maximize ROI

51 3. Comparing Options Holistic Goal Where is the biggest bang for your buck?

52 4. Gross Profit Analysis Which enterprise(s) contribute the most to overhead costs?

53 5. Input Analysis

54 6. Vision Analysis Are you headed toward or away from your future vision in your holistic goal?

55 7. Gut Check Does the decision feel right?

56 8. Suggested Justification Test Can I honestly say I looked at these tests objectively?

57 Decision Testing example Should Kirk and Tamara buy grassfed beef from their client or raise it themselves on their pasture? Problem: Time to manage livestock is limited, and they love the product they have been buying for over 10 years. They also barter grazing on their pasture to friends who bring in at least 4 X the number of animals for a much shorter period of time = high impact / low frequency. This would have to stop.

58 Holistic Management Decision Testing Matrix Proposed Action: Pass Fail Doesn t Apply Root Cause Weak Link Social Weak Link Biological Weak Link Financial Comparing Options Gross Profit Analysis Input Analysis Vision Analysis Don t Know Notes / Red Flags Decision:

59 DECISION TESTING MATRIX Testing Guidelines Root Cause Weak Link 1- Financial 2- Biological 3- Social Comparing Options Gross Profit Analysis Input Analysis Vision Analysis Land Health Social Health Justification Buy and Raise Calves for Food on Our Pasture Fail: maintains isolation, and increases time commitment Pass - makes money cyclical, non addictive Fail: rest is main tool, little impact on pasture health Fail: not leading to social aspects of our goal Possible Tool or Action Provide Grazing for Neighbors Cows, Buy Grassfed Beef Pass: builds relationships and manages time 1 N/A Not weak link 1 N/A Not weak link 2 Fail: low animal impact 2 Pass: high animal impact 3 Fail: Lose on relationships 3 Pass: Gain on relationships Fail: high labor ad time Pass: makes / saves money if costs controlled Pass: we thought it would go Pass: choice of labor/ time Fail: no real $ income Pass - tax savings, cyclical, relationships, non addictive Pass: manage grazing and impact, pasture health Pass: leading to social aspects of our goal Pass: not MY initial choice

60 We Love Our Ranney Ranch Grassfed Beef!!

61 We and Our Neighbors Love Having the Scottish Highlanders Improve Our Pasture!!

62 Our Pasture Diversity gets better every year over HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT 125 INTERNATIONAL species recorded to date!!

63 The Bees Approve of the Pasture Diversity!!

64 Garden Harvest and Making Salsa!! Note: Pasture Between Garden Beds Grazed in Video Clover Dominate

65 Monitoring Your Decision Lets you quickly know if your plan goes off track.

66 Holistic Management Framework

67 Holistic Management Framework

68 Holistic Management Framework

69 Holistic Management Framework

70 Holistic Management Framework

71 Holistic Management Framework

72