Why Plan?Is your future principally in the hands of fate, or in your own hands? Successful business managers believe the future is not inevitable. They know they will face many risks but they believe they can plan to minimise them and develop strategies to deal with them. They believe that if they are clear in knowing what they want, they can create, manage and influence the future they want. They know that without a plan their future will drift into the hands of fate. |
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Strategic Planning – What’s Involved?
Strategic planing focuses on the medium to long term. It aims to position the farm business to meet long term goals and protect the business from known risks.
A Farm Business Plan may include the following:
1. |
Introduction |
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1.1 |
Farm: Key Features |
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1.2 |
Rainfall Pattern 1880 – 2008 |
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1.3 |
Personal & Business Planning Goals |
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1.4 |
Key Management Issues |
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2. |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities |
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2.1 |
A Sample Farm before proposed land purchase |
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2.2 |
A Sample Farm after proposed land purchase |
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3. |
Enterprise Profitability |
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3.1 |
Livestock Gross Margins |
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3.2 |
Cropping Gross Margins |
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4. |
Strategic Audit |
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4.1 |
Strengths |
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4.2 |
Weaknesses |
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4.3 |
Opportunities |
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4.4 |
Threats |
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5. |
Farm Business Plan and Budget Projections 2008/09 |
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5.1 |
Key Elements in Business Plan |
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5.2 |
Detailed Farm Plan 2008/09 |
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5.3 |
Budget Projection 2008/09 |
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6. |
Farm Business Plan and Budget Projections 2009/10 without land purchase |
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6.1 |
Key Elements in Business Plan |
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6.2 |
Detailed Farm Plan 2009/10 |
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6.3 |
Budget Projection 2009/10 |
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7. |
Farm Business Plan and Budget Projections 2009/10 after land purchase |
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7.1 |
Key Elements in Business Plan |
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7.2 |
Detailed Farm Plan 2009/10 |
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7.3 |
Budget Projection 2009/10 |
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8. |
Finance Needs |
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8.1 |
Without Land Purchase |
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8.1 |
With Land Purchase |
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9. |
The Option of Leasing Land |
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10. |
The Option of Selling the Farm and Investing the Proceeds |
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11. |
Steps for Creating a Viable Retirement Fund |
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12. |
Succession Planning |
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13. |
Keys to Moving Forward |
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It may also include:
- Market analysis and planning
- Organisation and staff development
- Natural resource management plan
We assist clients in creating a business plan to meet their individual needs.
Often clients have part of the strategic business plan already well developed and want to focus on a particular area. Below we list specific ways we assist clients with their business planning.
Farm Planner software we provide to clients
We have developed “Farm Business Planner” software which we provide free to clients seeking our assistance in business planning. It provides clients with the production plans based on production from individual paddocks. It is also used to produce cash flow budget projections and cost of production estimates. Clients with Excel spreadsheets can save the plan and make alterations when necessary.
This unique software enables us to provide clients with a fully detailed plan which they can readily refer back to and which can be shown to lenders in support of loan applications.
more information on Farm Business Planner Software
Enterprise Analysis and Planning
One aspect of enterprise analysis and planning involves preparing projected enterprise gross margins to estimate likely future profitability of suitable enterprises. Our suite of computerised gross margins enable clients to speedily compare enterprises based on forecast prices and likely production levels. We may also assist clients with market planning.
more information on gross margins
Production Systems
We assist clients with the design of production systems, with a focus on profitability.
Natural Resource Management Planning
Natural resource management planning is an important component of a Farm Business Plan.
More information on Natural Resource Management planning
Succession Planning
Succession planning is an important component of a Farm Business Plan. We assist clients formulate their succession plan.
More information on succession planning
