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On May 14, 2018

In the Biblical book of Proverbs it is written, “Without a vision the people perish.” When a sense of purpose or direction is discerned, it is very wise to script a simple statement of vision which gives clear indication of WHY an initiative or company exists. This Vision Statement serves as a reference point or basis from which purposeful actions will result. Faith is the bedrock upon which any vision should wisely be founded.

Faith + Vision ( – fear) + diligence = Success. Think about THAT!

PLAN NOW: PREPARING FOR AND SHAPING AGRICULTURE’S FUTURE
By Russell C. Redding
Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry has always been a competitive advantage for us. The economic impact analysis we recently released made that abundantly clear: a $135 billion impact to economy, employment for nearly 580,000 people, and wages of nearly $27 billion annually. Agriculture is part of who we have been and who we are. Governor Tom Wolf and I want to ensure it continues to be a driving force in our economy, but we must recognize that the world around us is changing.

Our industry is diverse. Pennsylvania is home to tens of thousands of farms, both large and small, that provide the commonwealth with everything from food to flooring and markets to machines. Our diversity gives us character and, more importantly, strength. It’s a quality that we championed at this year’s Farm Show and we will continue to nurture and support moving forward.

The future of agriculture will be one of even greater diversity. We will have more larger farms, but also many smaller operations, with greater varieties of crop and animal production. I can foresee a future where operations crop up in otherwise unutilized spaces like abandoned warehouses and vacant lots; where sales are increasingly generated through direct-to-consumer channels; and where more production decisions are informed by data and evolving technology. It is a future where farmers markets and futures markets are equally important to our success.

Consumers will continue to be more discerning, wanting to know where their food comes from and how it was produced. We will continue to face competition from other states, but increasingly, our competitors will be from other countries. Despite the present rhetoric around trade, consumer demands, basic economics, and the never-ending pursuit of greater efficiencies will make closing our borders to imports or exports virtually impossible without devastating our economy. We must be able to compete internationally with quality products that are safe and available at the volumes needed to meet demands. And we need to be able to move our products and intellectual capital to those markets, which requires us to build out our infrastructure, including broadband access.

Our industry must also do a better job or recruiting, training and retaining the human capital upon which we rely. Largely gone are the days when a farming background was all you needed to succeed. Today’s agriculture requires a diverse skillset. We must invest in apprenticeships, workforce training, and agriculture education, as well as traditional four-year and graduate-level degree programs, to prepare a new generation of workers to succeed.

Regardless of what the future holds, having a business plan to weather these changes is essential. A business plan can help farmers and agribusiness owners capitalize on their strengths and opportunities, while mitigating weaknesses and threats. Having a plan can make it easier not only to react to changes, but to help shape them and define our own future—to write our own story.

Our industry is at a crossroad; the decisions we make now will have an impact for generations to come. And while I firmly believe agriculture’s best days are ahead, it is a future that will be unlike the present. That requires us to have faith in each other, to work together to create an industry and environment we want, and to communicate our value to society.

IT’S ALL ABOUT PERSPECTIVE
By Jayne Sebright, Executive Director,
Center for Dairy Excellence

LANCASTER – Dale Carnegie, a writer and lecturer, founded a well-known professional skills program still sought by top level executives in Fortune 500 companies. He was born into poverty on a farm in Missouri, where he milked cows every morning through his teenage years. From there, he moved into peddling products to ranchers and farmers throughout the Midwest and eventually into the role for which he is best known.

When I was younger, I took one of Carnegie’s human relations courses. Quotes from Carnegie’s writings were scattered throughout the course. One I remember well was, “I had the blues because I had no shoes until, upon the street, I met a man with no feet.” As corny as it sounds, it’s true that all it can take is a chance meeting with someone less fortunate to remind us how we are truly blessed.

A few years later, I was at a meeting at a time much like today – milk prices were very low. During that meeting, a woman in the audience raised her hand and emphatically said milk prices were so low that she couldn’t afford to put shoes on her kids’ feet. Almost twenty years later, I still haven’t forgotten that statement.

What’s Your Vision?

Right now, many dairy farmers may be feeling like they’re in a “no shoes” situation. We are sitting in a dip on the roller coaster right now, with milk prices 50 percent under their peak in 2014. The downturn is lasting much longer than anyone anticipated, with market loss a growing concern among farmers. In times like these, it can be extremely difficult to see the forest through the trees.

Staying focused on what matters most and why you are in the dairy business is more important now than ever. Business planners know one of the first steps in the process is to create a vision for your organization. That vision becomes the guide that helps the business navigate through both good times and bad. It can also help you determine whether you are on the right path or if you need to redirect.

According to an article published in Hoard’s in 2013, a vision statement should remind you what you’re trying to build and be your inspiration. It should capture your passion.

Recently, someone told me that the true art of having a vision is being able to see the invisible. For most dairies, it can be something that reminds you why you are in the business and what you are working toward in times of weak milk prices, weather woes and other struggles.

Simple Steps to Follow:

So, ask yourself, your family members and your partners, “Why are we farming and what do we want to build?” Have everyone share their thoughts and pull together a final version of your vision statement from those ideas. Then, hang it up on your farm so everyone can see it as a daily reminder.

Here are six tips to follow when you are crafting the vision statement.

1. Project five to 10 years in the future.
2. Dream big and focus on success.
3. Use the present tense.
4. Use clear, concise language.
5. Infuse your vision statement with passion and emotion.
6. Paint a graphic mental picture of the business you want.

Most dairy producers, or any farmers, no matter the size or scale of their operation, will tell you they are in the business because they are passionate about their role in taking good care of animals and the land to produce a quality product for the world around them. There is a lot to love about what we do as farmers, even in times of low milk prices. Being able to work outside with great people and animals, care for the land, and be your own boss are all great reasons to love working in this industry. As we work through this downturn, remember that milk prices will rebound. Having a vision can help remind you why you do what you do and where you are heading as you work through the downturn.