It has been raining enough times, and the sun is high up in the sky. It’s almost growing season. Most farmers count off the days and look forward to this time. Despite that, there is another essential thing that you should prepare ahead of time. It has nothing to do about crops, chickens, or cattle and has everything to do with business documents. That said, compose an agriculture business plan before that season kicks off.
1. agriculture business plan.
Size: 767 KB
Size: 270 KB
Size: 724 KB
Size: 604 KB
Size: 259 KB
Size: 812 KB
Size: 656 KB
Size: 447 KB
Size: 501 KB
An agriculture business plan is a necessary document that farmers write to increase the success rate of their business. This form details both their short-term and long-term business goals . As well as the methods they will employ to attain their desired results. Most business ventures, especially the new ones, mostly have a business plan at their disposal.
Planning is a process. It involves several steps that require you to brainstorm about a lot of items. The farming business has a lot of factors that can positively and negatively affect its profitability. That said, in composing this plan, you need to think about the essential elements that make up an impressive business plan.
When business professionals make decisions regarding their business, they use their organization’s mission and vision as a guide. This procedure will help them in setting the direction of their business goal setting . These statements will also convey the purpose and the objectives of your business venture to your prospects. In addition, it will also reflect your organization and the staff involved.
To maximize the gains of your business, you need to devise a marketing strategy . This process will help you spread awareness and reach a wider variety of clients. There are multiple ways to promote your services and organic vegetables and livestock products. If you want to implement the traditional tactics, you can print then post or hand out business flyers and posters. On the other hand, if you opt to employ a digital marketing strategy, you should look into effective social media strategies.
Running a target market analysis will give you an idea of the current trends of your clients. This activity could help you tailor your business techniques to fit your market’s demands. Another thing is to conduct a competitor SWOT analysis . By doing this, you can gain data that would be useful in strategizing on tactics to make your agriculture business stand out amongst them.
Setting your price list for your services and products will include a lot of calculations of the financial costs and other factors that contributed to the process of growing and taking care of your crops and livestock. This task is a critical step because if you make your agricultural products too expensive or too cheap, they can directly impact your farm budget and the health of your business.
Agriculture business or agribusiness, in short, is essential in maintaining the economy of various countries. It is because it serves as one of the sources of food. Aside from that, it also provides raw materials to people and other businesses. In addition, this business venture also offers employment to several people. The number comprises more of the workers in the rural areas.
People who took up the agriculture program have a lot of business and opportunities they can explore. Considering that people in agriculture have several skill sets, they can work on labor jobs, engineering jobs, and selling products. Aside from that, they can work as the operator of agriculture equipment and crop growers. In addition, they can also get a job as an agent that purchases farm products.
When you get into the agriculture business, you will need to generate a farm SWOT analysis . This framework will provide you with the details regarding your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and possible threats to your farm. This data will help you in constructing and tailoring your action plan for various circumstances.
You plant seeds and get fully grown crops after nurturing them. The same applies when doing business. You make a business plan ahead of time and get a booming business in return. People with green thumbs like you have a natural talent for growing plants, but you can make your life greener by earning plenty of dollar bills. Craft your agriculture business plan well and be the cream of the crop in the agribusiness.
Text prompt
Create a study plan for final exams in high school
Develop a project timeline for a middle school science fair.
AgPlan is an easy business plan app that anyone can use.
[Password is required] --> |
Son Lux: Change Is Everything from Nathan Johnson on Vimeo .
- AgPlan makes it easy for you -
Business-type templates.
AgPlan is designed to provide customized assistance to different types of businesses.
Our feature-rich type editor acts just like your computer's word processor. For each section of your business plan write a concise statement that will let readers quickly understand the key points you want to communicate.
Each section of your AgPlan business plan includes Tips, Resources & Samples to help you create the best business plan possible!
AgPlan allows you to share your business plan and interact with your business advisors, educators, or consultants.
Introduction to AgPlan video
A business plan is your opportunity to tell the world about what your business is all about.
"Developing Your Business Plan" will teach you how to tell your story when creating your plan.
Start Watching
Watch the Introduction to AgPlan video
Free Download
Download this free agriculture farm business plan template, with pre-filled examples, to create your own plan..
Or plan with professional support in LivePlan. Save 50% today
Available formats:
A complete business plan.
Text and financials are already filled out and ready for you to update.
Your plan is formatted the way lenders and investors expect.
Download as a Word document and edit your business plan right away.
Features clear and simple instructions from expert business plan writers.
All 100% free. We're here to help you succeed in business, no strings attached.
Follow these tips to quickly develop a working business plan from this sample.
We have over 550 sample business plan templates . So, make sure the plan is a close match, but don't get hung up on the details.
Your business is unique and will differ from any example or template you come across. So, use this example as a starting point and customize it to your needs.
Our sample business plans are examples of what one business owner did. That doesn't make them perfect or require you to cram your business idea to fit the plan structure.
Use the information, financials, and formatting for inspiration. It will speed up and guide the plan writing process.
To create a plan that fits your needs , you need to know what you intend to do with it.
Are you planning to use your plan to apply for a loan or pitch to investors? Then it's worth following the format from your chosen sample plan to ensure you cover all necessary information.
But, if you don't plan to share your plan with anyone outside of your business—you likely don't need everything.
More business planning resources
Simple Business Plan Outline
How to Write a Business Plan for Investors
10 Qualities of a Good Business Plan
Industry Business Planning Guides
How to Start a Business With No Money
How to Create a Business Plan Presentation
How to Write a Business Plan
Business Plan Template
Need to validate your idea, secure funding, or grow your business this template is for you..
We care about your privacy. See our privacy policy .
Not ready to download right now? We'll email you the link so you can download it whenever you're ready.
Download as Docx
Download as PDF
Step-by-step guidance and world-class support from the #1 business planning software
Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.
No thanks, I prefer writing 40-page documents.
Discover the world’s #1 plan building software
JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser.
Future outcomes are a function of today's decisions. Although there is a high degree of randomness and uncertainty associated with the future, you can increase the probability of a successful outcome by planning ahead. This is true in nearly every aspect of our lives, both personal and professional. For those who operate their own businesses, planning becomes increasingly important because the personal and professional aspects become more difficult to untangle. In agricultural businesses, planning may be even more vital because of the inherent uncertainty associated with agricultural production. Some important sources of uncertainty include production risk, price risk, financial (or interest rate) risk, and changes in government programs.
This publication discusses the importance of business planning for agricultural firms—from input suppliers to producers to processors—and describes the steps required to prepare a thorough business plan. The general process of business planning is the same for each type of firm. However, each may have differing individual aspects that affect its plan's contents. Regardless, we present a recommended format that should be useful for all types of agricultural firms as they develop written business plans. We use examples from the wide variety of agribusinesses to provide a broad context to the general theme of business planning.
One of the most important documents for any business is their business plan. It is common practice for consultants, lenders, potential business partners, and other business-associated individuals to request a business plan to make a more informed decision concerning their relationship with a business. However, business plans have many more direct benefits for the business owner. The planning process forces owners to systematically consider all facets of the business. In so doing, they become more knowledgeable of the business, the industry, and the market environment in which their business operates. The process also helps to define business goals and to assess the impact that uncertainty may have on future business outcomes. Perhaps most importantly, the written plan provides a well-defined direction for the business. Therefore, it can be used to keep all employees moving toward the common goals established within it.
Completing a business plan can be a time-consuming activity, but well worth the effort. Because businesses operate in an ever-changing environment, the plan should be revisited periodically to be sure that the business is headed in the proper direction or to formally alter the firm's course if circumstances dictate that this is necessary. Again, the systematic review of the business plan forces the owner, and potentially others, to look at the business as a whole and make better-informed decisions.
We provide an example format for you to use as a guide in developing your plan. Notice that there are several topics that should be addressed, corresponding to the four functional areas of management: marketing, production, finance, and human resources. By developing a section for each of these topics, the plan will be easy to follow as you revisit it or as others review it. You should take some liberty as you develop your plan; feel free to customize it in a way that will fit your specific circumstances.
Performing a SWOT analysis , which stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, lays the foundation for the business plan. Four separate SWOT analyses should be performed, each related to one of the four functional areas of management: marketing, production/operations, finances, and human resources.
When assessing strengths and weaknesses, the focus should be internal. Opportunities and threats, on the other hand, should reflect external factors. For example, proximity to a major market, such as a large city, may provide an opportunity to market processed dairy products directly to a restaurant. Threats may take the form of new competitors or changes in agricultural production or environmental policy.
Performing SWOT analyses is relatively easy. Simply divide a piece of paper into four quarters, label the quarters appropriately, and begin to write your thoughts down.
Because this is the foundation on which the planning process is based, be sure to take a broad perspective. In addition to incorporating the views of at least the owners and managers of the operation, it also might be a good idea to allow all employees, or at least a subset, to provide their perspectives. Some firms may also benefit from allowing professional advisors (such as veterinarians, bankers, nutritionists, etc.) to provide input. Although the top management should develop the plan, you should tap many sources of information. Finally, the raw results of the SWOT analyses might best be presented in an appendix, rather than in each of the four sections related to the functional areas. In the individual sections, a summarized version will suffice.
The format presented here represents one way to structure the business plan.
Marketing management, production/operations management, human resources management, financial management.
As noted, it covers the four managerial functional areas. We present the example structure and provide some ideas for what you will want to include in each section. Creating a thorough document the first time through is important. This will make follow-up revisions easier to implement.
The introductory section gives a broad overview and background of the business. Several subsections (outlined below) should be included to provide a thorough overview. However, if there's something that you feel isn't applicable to your business, feel free to omit it from your plan.
The first page should give the name of the document, the firm's name, and the names of all those involved in developing the plan. Dating the plan so that you can remember when it was developed or updated is also wise.
This section, while appearing at the front of the business plan, is actually the last piece developed. Here you should present the most important information, which may include the firm's goals and objectives and associated target dates. Basically, the executive summary provides a concise overview of the business plan.
The table of contents should provide the titles of all section headings in the plan and the page numbers on which the sections begin.
These relatively brief statements tell the reader why the business is in operation and where the management team, or owner(s), plans to be in the future. The vision statement should tell the reader what business the firm is in, or plans to enter, and what the most important business goals are. That is, it should tell where the firm is going.
We have provided a few example vision statements for you to use as a guide when developing yours:
Agchoice farm credit.
AgChoice Farm Credit will be the first choice for financial services that help customers succeed.
To build the world's first truly global securities market. ... A worldwide market of markets built on a worldwide network of networks ... linking pools of liquidity and connecting investors from all over the world ... assuring the best possible price for securities at the lowest possible cost.
To build together the first choice airline and global alliance network with the best people each committed to exceeding our customers' expectations every day
Whenever dairy farmers have a need they should think first of DeLaval. We aim to always be there, always be available, always work on their behalf.
Note that some are from very different industries. Regardless, they present a common theme of what their respective companies want their firms to be.
The mission statement provides a succinct overview of the firm's operation, including its collective values, its unique circumstances or industry position, what product(s) it sells, and why it is in business. As the business evolves, the mission statement can be adapted to reflect the changing face of the firm.
The mission statement can provide more detailed information than the vision statement. We have provided some example mission statements that allow you to see how other firms— although maybe very different in nature—have defined their missions.
Agway cooperative.
AGWAY is a farmer-owned business dedicated to improving the profitability of its members. We achieve profitability for our members by being the most effective partner on every farm we serve, by adding value to what farmers produce, and by using our capabilities to win non-farm customers.
We are a market- and customer-driven cooperative committed to optimizing the value of our members' dairy, crop, and livestock production.
To enable people and businesses throughout the world to realize their full potential.
To help practically anyone trade practically anything on earth.
Some are more specific than others. At a minimum, the mission statement should tell the reader why you are in business.
Briefly describe how the business is legally organized (for example, proprietorship, partnership, or corporation). Include the names and titles of the firm's managers (or board of directors). This section should be quite short.
In general, the business plan is concerned with the firm's future. Here, however, you should review the firm's past and fully describe its present position. Although a business start-up may not have much to reveal, documenting the present situation is important. In doing so, it will be easier to document the firm's history as you revise the plan.
An overview of the firm's past helps to set the context of how the firm has evolved into its current form. This may be particularly useful if the plan is to be used to secure financing because the past reveals something about how the firm has been managed over time. A structured chronology can serve as an outline for this subsection.
“Hanks' Harvesting" formed as partnership between Jerry and Ed Hanks.
Harvested 4,300 acres of corn for grain and chopped 2,200 acres of corn silage.
Purchased a new combine and a used chopper.
Harvested 8,700 acres of corn for grain and 5,300 acres of corn silage.
Contracted for 10,500 corn grain acres and 7,800 corn silage acres for fall 2002.
Began to investigate custom planting services as a possible expansion of current operations.
The narrative in this section should also provide an overview of how the business has been financed. Furthermore, discuss how profits, equity, and other important financial measures have changed over time.
Next, describe the present situation of the firm. You should provide information related to business location (include pictures if you like), current sales, assets, inventories, geographic market area, number of employees, and any other information you feel is appropriate in describing your current business. Upon reading this section, one should have a snapshot picture of your firm's current status.
This and the three sections to follow provide the meat of the plan. These give the reader a thorough understanding of the firm's present and future. In the marketing management section, you should address several key factors, each in its own subsection.
Provide a brief overview of the main results of the Marketing Management SWOT analysis. Let the reader know what the most important results were.
Here, describe your product(s) or service(s) specifically. If you are in the custom heifer raising business, for example, your statement may be something similar to “We raise heifers for dairy producers." If you are operating a dairy farm, your statement may be much more detailed because it is recommended that you include both the products you produce and the products you sell, listed separately. For example, you may produce corn silage, but may not sell it. Remember also that you sell bull calves and cull cows. These may not be your major enterprise, but should be listed as products sold.
Remember that differentiating your product may be an important aspect of your marketing strategy. While this is difficult to do with a commodity, it's not impossible. For example, maybe you feed for high-butterfat percentage to increase the price received for your milk. It's also possible that you operate an organic turkey farm in an attempt to extract higher market prices. There are also those who market kosher meats and dairy products. These types of efforts should be included here as part of your marketing efforts.
Describe your industry and how you fit into it. This may not be too difficult to write if you operate under contract production because this is specified in the contract. It may also be relatively simple for anyone producing a commodity and selling it by the typical means (such as selling corn to a grain elevator or hogs to a pork processor). A custom business operator may have a more difficult time defining the industry and describing how the firm fits. However, this section is important for at least two reasons. First, it forces the planner to analyze the industry and determine the firm's relative position in terms of competitive advantages. Second, it provides important evaluative information for “outsiders" to better understand the business and its relationship with the industry.
In describing the industry, include as much information as you feel is necessary to define the firm and the market. Consider including the following: volume sold (in production units -- this may be, for example, hundredweights if describing the dairy industry, head if describing beef, or acres scouted if describing a custom crop scouting operation), total annual sales in dollars, trends in industry sales, competitors, new marketing opportunities, prevailing prices, and how prices are determined (for example, cash market, contract price, cost-plus). Also, describe the customer. Who is purchasing your product? What type of person is likely to buy your product? Again, those selling an undifferentiated commodity may have little to write. Those selling custom services or, even more importantly, those engaged in marketing agricultural products directly to the consumer may need to more thoroughly describe the customer base. This will help you better define your target market.
Here, take stock of the total managerial expertise used by the firm. What marketing-related special knowledge do the managers possess? Is there one manager who has particular expertise in marketing? Thinking beyond the organization is wise; those in production agriculture have other sources of knowledge that may exist outside of the firm. For example, consultants may be available to provide information related to the current economic situation and outlook. Also, the Extension system and the USDA provide a great deal of information and data on agricultural prices and marketing.
This is where you lay out your plan and future expectations, which are founded on all of the preceding information in this section. Here, you should describe any marketing opportunities you face and how you plan to take advantage of those. What advertising or promotional programs will you undertake? How will you distribute your product? How will you determine if your marketing plan is successful? For this, you should have clearly defined targets. For example, “We will market at least 2.5 million pounds of milk each year." You may also want to set targets for number of customers, market share, or any other measure(s) that you might use to determine whether your firm has been successful in marketing.
Finally, be sure to employ any appropriate risk-management tactics. In marketing, you will want to manage risks associated with input and output prices. Can you contract for some inputs to lock-in a particular price? If processing on the farm, have you contracted with a retailer or wholesaler to be sure that someone will take your product? In production agriculture, the farm owner or manager should understand and analyze futures and options markets as tools to manage price volatility. You should also understand any relevant government programs such as Loan Deficiency Payments (LDPs) that affect your price.
(We differentiate “production" and “operations" based on whether the firm's product is a good or a service. However, in many cases, we use “production" to denote either case.)
Through the production of goods and services the firm generates profits. Therefore, assessing the production/ operations process and making plans for the future is vitally important. This may be particularly important in cases where a farm is planning to expand or where a change in business enterprises is to occur.
Provide a summary of the SWOT analysis for production/operations. This may be the most important area to gather input from employees, who are likely the ones most closely associated with daily production. Therefore, their insights could provide a valuable additional perspective.
Outline what productive assets are necessary to make your product or provide your service. The following deserve particular attention:
Focus on what the firm currently owns, the quality of those assets, and how others will be obtained, if needed. Only discuss the resources needed. Save any discussion of financing these assets for the Financial Management section.
Here again, note the special expertise held by management in the area of production/operations. For example, is the herdsman on a dairy farm trained in dairy science? Does the crops manager have a background in agronomy, soil science, or other related field? How many years of experience in this type of position does this person have?
Describe your current production practices. How much do you produce? When do you produce it? You may want to develop a visual approach to help tell this story. A time line could help to describe when products are made or services are sold. The more complex the business is, the more useful a visual might be.
Government regulations affect production in many industries. This is particularly the case in production agriculture. If producing agricultural products, be sure that you are complying with all relevant regulations. These include, but may not be limited to:
You can gain information on relevant policies and regulations from business consultants, Penn State Extension, agricultural cooperatives, and government agency Web sites.
Now that you have laid out your current production practices and defined some firm and industry trends as they relate to some important benchmark measures, it is time to describe your production- or operations-related plans. As you do this, be sure to set specific production goals, outline potential changes in enterprises or production practices, and describe how you plan to locate and purchase inputs. The following list of questions may be useful to you as you develop this section. Again, not all are relevant for all types of operations. Also, you may think of others that should be addressed.
One of the most important—yet most often overlooked—inputs is labor. The competency of your human resources may dictate how successfully your business will perform. Use this section to outline your current human resource (HR) policies, how these may change over the planning period, and what you or other managers may need to do to improve HR management.
Provide the reader with the summarized results of the human resource management SWOT analysis. This is another point at which the insights of the employees may be particularly useful. Their perception of your HR policies could be substantially different from yours.
Begin by providing a current organizational chart. When doing so, you should follow very distinct guidelines. However, our example chart (Figure 1) should provide enough guidance to help you if you've not yet developed one. If your organization is particularly large, you may lump several individual positions into one box, as long as the box describes those positions. In Figure 1, for example, the three parlor operators might be represented by only one box if their job descriptions are the same.
The organizational chart allows the employees to see their position in the firm. Also, the chart should show that each person has only one immediate supervisor. We cannot stress this point enough. Defining the managerial structure so that employees directly answer to only one person is very important. Often the partners who own the farm tend to supervise employees together. This results in a situation in which the employee may get conflicting directions. If the employee has only one direct supervisor, this situation can be avoided.
Whether formalized or not, your firm has HR policies. While we encourage you to formalize those if they are not already, you should complete this section with the most accurate information you have at your disposal. Think about the following individual points as you consider what you would like to include in this section. Also, remember to include information regarding all employees of the business, including the management team.
Penn State Extension provides materials to help develop job descriptions, SOPs, and other important HR documents. Business consultants with expertise in HR management should also be used in many instances to help the business owner develop the best HR policies possible for that particular business.
Once you have outlined your production and marketing plans, you must evaluate the ramifications of those plans for the firm's human resources. Will the plan require any shift in HR policy? If so, how? For example, an expanding custom heifer grower may need to hire a full-time nutritionist to be sure that the heifers are receiving a properly balanced ration as they develop. The best way to reflect these changes may be to provide one or more additional organizational charts showing how the organization is expected to change over time. In the text, be specific as to what changes are to be made and when.
Also, be sure to describe any changes you plan to make in your HR management. If you don't have formal job descriptions, standard operating procedures, or evaluations, for example, you should consider putting those in writing. Also indicate if the plan will require additional training of existing and new employees. Finally, if expanding, describe where you might find potential employees.
This section is the most crucial from a potential lender's perspective. Here, you should tie together the details in the rest of the plan in terms of how they affect the firm's financial performance. Ultimately, operating a business is about making money. Therefore, this section needs to allow the reader to assess where the firm is and where it intends to go over the planning horizon. Although you should provide current and projected future (“pro forma") financial statements with the plan, they might be best presented in an appendix. This section should be mostly a verbal explanation of the business's finances, with perhaps a few tables to highlight important information.
Because this section is so important, especially if financing is being pursued, we highly recommend that you work with a business consultant, accountant, or other financial advisor to develop it.
Perform a SWOT analysis of the firm's financial position. Unlike some other areas, your frontline workers may not have as much to provide in this analysis. However, depending on the firm's “culture," (the accepted values and norms under which it operates. Some firms may be quite “laid back," allowing employees a good bit of decision-making authority. Others might be more “straightlaced" following a well-established set of rules, whether written or unwritten) you may still want to invite their input.
Here you should highlight the important points of your financial statements (income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows). Focus on the positive aspects, while not ignoring the negative. You do not want to provide a potential lender with an impression that you are trying to hide information. It might help if you work with a financial advisor to develop this narrative.
Provide a table of current outstanding debt. Include the terms of the debt, the lender(s), the principle amount(s), your payment amount(s), how frequently you make payments, and how many payments remain. Furthermore, a table of financial ratios would be useful in providing a snapshot view of the firm. You will want to provide measures of profitability, financial efficiency, liquidity, and solvency. Although your financial advisor may have some specific advice, we provide a few commonly used measures, which are defined in the glossary:
Profitability.
Provide other sources of managerial decision-making input. For many farm owners, this is the most difficult facet to monitor. Using a business consultant, a CPA, or some other financial advisor may increase farm profits as you allow some of these individuals to help analyze financial data and make recommendations for you to review.
At this point, you need to set forth your plan for financing the firm's operations over the planning period. Where will you get money when you need to purchase a new truck or replace your barn, for example? Present the highlights of the pro forma financial statements as discussed earlier. Also, you should relate your financial plan to your production, marketing, and human resources plans. A time line relating events planned in the other sections to financing may help to clarify this section's message for the reader.
In your discussion, be sure to let the reader know how you will assess financial performance. As in other sections, be specific. Will you require that net income grow at 8 percent per year, for example? Set goals for the measures you have used previously to describe the health of the business. Therefore, you should aim for specific values for your selected measures of profitability, financial efficiency, solvency, and liquidity. Also, do not forget that an information management system should be in place so that the financial data you gather is accurate. (An information management system (IMS) is any system that you can use to track important information regarding financial performance, in this case. Actually, you should have a system of information management that provides high-quality information for each of the four facets of management. This might include a production record-keeping system (DHIA for dairy farms), an accounting system, an inventory list, employee time sheets, and so forth.)
You should be realistic with your plans, yet push yourself. Stated differently, you should plan to succeed, not just survive. If your business is to be viable over the long term, then you should generate returns to grow the business, grow equity, improve your credit-worthiness, and otherwise improve the odds of operating this business well into the future. If the plan covers a major shift in the business's operations, such as a large expansion, then special care is needed to discuss how cost overruns might be handled, when production will begin in a new facility, when debt repayment will commence, and so forth. Although the planning process should reduce the amount of uncertainty associated with such a change, it can never eliminate uncertainty. Therefore, it should be noted that insurance may be used to protect the firm against financial losses that may be associated with operating a business. Be sure to define your insurance needs in this section of the business plan.
Uncertainty should also be accounted for in your financial forecasts. Let the reader know what assumptions you have made when developing the proforma statements. Also, some sensitivity analyses would be useful to show how your statements would change if output or input prices were different from your projections. If appropriate, set forth some contingency plans to be enacted if certain undesired outcomes are realized. For example, if milk production suffers from a hot, dry summer, you should have a contingency plan in place to help cash flow the business until production increases. For example, such a plan might include a revolving line of credit with the local bank.
The body of your business plan should have a final section in which you again tell the reader the highlights of the plan. Highlight the most important features of your plan. Restate your most important goals and briefly mention how you will achieve them. Here again, a time line might help to state what your goals are and when your firm expects to reach them. Remember, you have already provided many details, so keep this section relatively brief, referring the reader to earlier material where necessary.
In this section, draw focus on what your plan means for future profitability, efficiency, liquidity, and solvency. That is, all of your plans will likely affect the farm's financial status. Because this is a business plan, and businesses continue to operate only when profitable, this should be the major thrust. However, remind the reader of what may happen if your assumptions, particularly those related to input and output prices and quantities produced, are not realized. Refer to your contingency plans and sensitivity analyses.
If the business is a family-run operation, as many farms and other small agricultural businesses are, then you may want to include some family goals in your plan. Although you should try to separate family issues from business issues to the extent possible, completely divorcing the two is not always possible. Highlight where business success coincides with success in meeting the family's goals.
Finally, a concluding paragraph should draw the plan together and reinforce for the reader that your firm is committed to working collectively toward the plan's goals. Leave no doubt in the reader's mind that, barring detrimental outside influences, the goals of the plan will be reached.
Throughout this publication, we have pointed out some things that you may want to include in appendices. For example, one appendix might contain your financial statements, both actual and proforma, to which you refer in the Financial Management section. You may also want to include the formal job descriptions you have prepared. Use appendices as you feel appropriate. If you would like to include something that may not be relevant for the body of the manuscript to further describe your operation, then include it as an appendix. To differentiate them, give each new appendix a unique name such as, “Financial Statements" or “SWOT Analysis Results."
One of the most important things you can do to ensure success is to plan for the future. The planning process may take many hours to complete, especially if it is to provide a thorough representation of the firm. However, it will be a valuable asset as it forces a review of the firm and the industry, unites the collective labor force of the firm to work toward a set of common goals, and allows outsiders to gain a detailed understanding of the firm's past, present, and future.
Business planning is not applicable only to large firms. Smaller agricultural businesses, which are often family owned, stand to benefit at least as much from planning as do larger firms. In agriculture, especially agricultural production, the small compete directly with the large. Business planning will help firms of all sizes to better understand their relative positions in the agricultural industry. It will also help the owner to set goals and devise strategies for reaching those goals.
The percentage of total assets earned as gross income. A higher number is generally associated with higher profits. Mathematically, this equals gross income divided by average total productive assets.
A financial statement that shows total assets, total liabilities, and owners' equity at a specific point in time. The liabilities and owners' equity represent claims on the firm's assets.
The process of analyzing the firm's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, using that information to develop organizational goals, and crafting strategies to reach those goals.
Refers to particular strengths of the firm relative to those of other firms. Some examples are being the first firm in an area to provide custom heifer raising, having a manager with strong direct-marketing skills, or having superior land for growing crops.
These are strategies for dealing with potential outcomes that differ from those assumed in the initial planning process. These are most frequently associated with unfavorable outcomes.
Refers to any situation in which the farmer grows crops or livestock for a specific firm under terms negotiated in a contract.
The system of offices located around individual states that provides information and education to farm managers and other individuals. In Pennsylvania, this is Penn State Extension.
Measures the ability of the firm to pay its current liabilities with its current assets. A ratio greater than one indicates that the firm is liquid and able to cover its current liabilities. Mathematically, this is equal to current assets divided by current liabilities. Current assets include cash and other assets that will be converted to cash or used up within one year. Current liabilities are those that are payable within one year.
Any firm offering to perform services for a farm that would replace those already provided by the farm's labor. Some examples include crop scouting services, custom planting and harvesting, or custom heifer growing.
Indicates the percentage of total assets owned by creditors. For example, a debt to asset ratio of 0.5 means creditors own 50 percent of the farm's assets. Mathematically, this is total debt divided by total assets.
Provides a review of revenues and expenses over a given period of time, often a year. This may also be referred to as a profit and loss statement, earnings statement, or an operating statement.
This represents total farm debt as a percentage of equity. If this ratio is greater than one, for example, then the business is financed by debt more than by equity. Mathematically, this is total debt divided by equity.
Provides a summary of why the business is in operation. This may include the firm's common values, an overview of products or services, target markets, or other information to provide a clear picture of the firm's purpose.
Represents the difference between gross income and total expenses. Mathematically, this equals gross income minus total expenses. A positive number means that the business is making enough to cover expenses and either reinvest in the company, pay debt more quickly, or increase owner incomes.
Represents the percentage of gross income used in operating expenses (those expenses on inputs used in the current period). Mathematically, subtract interest expenses from operating expenses and divide the result by gross income.
A graphical representation of the formal chain of command for a firm. It shows who the supervisors are and over whom these have authority.
This indicates that the financial statement is a projection of the future. These should be based on the best possible estimates at the time they are put together.
This shows the percentage of gross income resulting in profits for the firm. Mathematically, find the value of net income plus interest expense minus the value of operator and unpaid operator labor and divide that value by gross income. Interest expense is added back to net income because it represents a return to the debt-financed assets. Removing the value of operator and unpaid operator labor shows that returns must be enough to cover this value.
This shows the return to all assets employed in the business as a percentage of the total assets employed. Mathematically, it is found by dividing the numerator of net income plus interest expense minus the value of operator and unpaid operator labor by the denominator of average total farm assets. Interest expense is added back to net income because it represents a return to the debt-financed assets. Removing the value of operator and unpaid operator labor shows that returns must be enough to cover this value.
This shows the returns to equity assets employed in the business as a percentage of the equity assets. Mathematically, it is found by dividing the numerator of net income minus the value of operator and unpaid operator labor by the denominator of average total equity assets. Removing the value of operator and unpaid operator labor shows that returns must be enough to cover this value.
A type of credit account in which the borrower has a given credit limit which can be borrowed at any time. A credit card or standing account with an equipment dealer are examples of revolving credit lines.
Refers to any attempt to avoid the possibility of unfavorable outcomes under uncertainty. Insurance and buying on futures and options markets to lock in input or output prices are good examples of tools used in risk management.
Refers to using alternative assumptions to determine what the outcome of a financial analysis will be if different outcomes are realized. For example, if developing a proforma income statement, using a range of assumptions associated with output prices helps to show how projected net income will change if prices differ from the base assumption.
These are written sequences of steps required to perform a specific task. Milking a cow, for example, requires many steps. A written SOP allows the milker to perform this task in the same way every time the cow is milked.
This shows cash income and cash expenses over a specified period of time, often a year. These receipts and payments are typically broken into three categories associated with operations, investments, and financing.
A systematic review of the firm's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This is used to draw focus on what the firm does well and what it may be able to do to take advantage of emerging market opportunities.
Provides a summary of the firm's most important goals. Firms differ with respect to how specific they state these goals in their business plans. We recommend being as specific as you can comfortably be.
This represents working capital as a percentage of gross income. Working capital is equal to current assets minus current liabilities. Current assets include cash and other assets that will be converted to cash or used up within one year. Current liabilities are those that are payable within one year.
See the Penn State Farm Management website for other resources that may be useful as you develop your agribusiness plan.
Prepared by Jeffrey Hyde, assistant professor of agricultural economics, and Sarah Cornelisse, extension associate.
The authors would like to thank Todd D. Davis, extension economist at Clemson University, and Richard Stup, senior extension associate with Penn State Dairy Alliance, for their helpful reviews of an earlier draft of this publication.
Starting at $15.00
Personalize your experience with penn state extension and stay informed of the latest in agriculture..
Oil futures jump on libyan production halt threat.
Oil futures closest to expiration on the New York Mercantile Exchange and Brent crude on the Intercontinental Exchange jumped more than $2.20...
Overall ethanol production in the United States averaged 1.071 million barrels per day (bpd) in the week ended Aug. 23.
Epa delay on 2026 rfs volumes release could draw legal action by ethanol group, smithfield sells missouri farmland, smithfield sells shuttered 1,370-acre hog farm in missouri at auction for $5.6 million, cattle producers advised to manage risk, ag economist recommends ranchers take advantage of low feed costs, editors' notebook.
One person can make a difference as an advocate for a worthy cause. No one is too young or too old to make a difference and be a Voice for...
Combines start to roll for idaho and kentucky farmers, farmers assess harvest prospects as weather concerns continue, farmers discuss harvest prospects and employee management.
(AP) -- Kroger and Albertsons will defend their plan to merge – and try to overcome the U.S. government's objections – in a federal court hearing scheduled to begin Monday in Oregon.
The two companies proposed what would be the largest supermarket merger in U.S. history in October 2022. They say joining together would help them rein in costs and better compete with big rivals like Walmart and Costco.
But the Federal Trade Commission sued to try to block the deal, saying it would eliminate competition and raise grocery prices in a time of already high food price inflation. The commission also alleged that quality would suffer and workers' wages and benefits would decline if Kroger and Albertsons no longer competed with each other.
The FTC is seeking a preliminary injunction that would block the merger while its complaint goes before an in-house administrative law judge. In a three-week hearing set to begin Monday, U.S. District Judge Adrienne Nelson is expected to hear from around 40 witnesses, including the CEOs of Kroger and Albertsons, before deciding whether to issue the injunction.
The attorneys general of Arizona, California, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Wyoming all joined the case on the FTC's side.
Kroger, based in Cincinnati, Ohio, operates 2,800 stores in 35 states, including brands like Ralphs, Smith's and Harris Teeter. Albertsons, based in Boise, Idaho, operates 2,273 stores in 34 states, including brands like Safeway, Jewel Osco and Shaw's. Together, the companies employ around 710,000 people.
Please correct the following errors and try again:
Follow Us :
Mumbai: India is considering raising import taxes on vegetable oils to help protect farmers reeling from lower oilseed prices, two government sources said on Wednesday.
The move, which is likely to be announced in the coming weeks, could dampen demand and reduce overseas purchases of palm oil, soyoil, and sunflower oil.
"We are exploring all options to help farmers. Increasing import taxes is one of the options," said a government source who asked not to be named in line with official rules.
There is a proposal from the farm ministry, and the Department of Revenue, which falls under the finance ministry, will take a final call, said another government official, who also declined to be named.
In 2022, India, the world's biggest vegetable oil importer, abolished basic import taxes on crude vegetable oils to cool prices. New Delhi still levies a 5.5 per cent tax, known as the Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess.
A government spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Bank of Communications Co. , one of China’s largest state-owned lenders, announced its first interim dividend in more than a decade despite a decline in profits.
The Shanghai-based bank, part owned by HSBC Holdings Plc , declared a payout of 13.5 billion yuan ($1.9 billion), or 0.182 yuan a share, according to a filing Wednesday, marking its first semi-annual distribution since 2010. Net income for the six months ended June 30 fell 1.6% to 45.3 billion yuan.
COLOMBO (News 1st); In a bid to combat the escalating challenges posed by climate change, Sri Lanka has commenced the formulation of its first Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) Investment Plan.
This landmark initiative, funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Agriculture, aims to develop a comprehensive strategy to safeguard the country's agricultural sector from the adverse impacts of climate change.
Sri Lanka, with its tropical climate, is highly susceptible to the effects of climate change, consistently ranking among the top ten countries at risk of extreme weather events according to the Global Climate Risk Index. Projections indicate significant shifts in weather patterns, including rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and increased frequency of extreme events, all of which have already begun to diminish agricultural productivity and water availability across the island.
Agriculture in the dry and intermediate zones is particularly vulnerable to the changing and variable climate due to climate change, with research projecting an average 10-12% yield reduction if appropriate interventions are not implemented to mitigate these effects. The CSA Investment Plan is designed to be a strategic and comprehensive blueprint for fostering agricultural development that is resilient to climate change.
Through this plan, FAO specialists, including both international and national experts, will work closely with a wide range of stakeholders—including government bodies, the private sector, and academia—to assess national climate finance priorities and develop innovative investment mechanisms tailored to the unique challenges faced by Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector.
Prabath Chandrakeerthi, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and representative of the National Designated Authority, highlighted the significance of this initiative, "Sri Lanka's vulnerability to climate change is a pressing concern, particularly for our farmers who are at the frontline of this crisis. The development of a Climate-Smart Agriculture Investment Plan is a timely and necessary step to equip our agricultural sector with the tools and resources needed to adapt and thrive in a changing climate. We are committed to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure the success of this initiative."
This investment plan will bridge the gap between farmers and investors, attract private sector investment for climate-smart interventions, and open new avenues for youth and young entrepreneurs.
Vimlendra Sharan, FAO Representative for Sri Lanka emphasized the importance of this initiative, "Climate change is not a distant threat—it is a present reality that is already affecting our farmers and our food security. The Climate-Smart Agriculture Investment Plan will be a vital tool in ensuring that Sri Lanka's agricultural sector can adapt to these changes and continue to thrive in the face of adversity."
This workshop marks the first of several consultations planned as part of the CSA Investment Plan's development process, reflecting FAO's commitment to an inclusive, participatory approach that brings together all relevant voices in the fight against climate change.
Featured news.
BC United leader Kevin Falcon said Tuesday that if his party is elected this fall he will make changes to B.C.’s forestry sector that he says will create jobs, reduce bureaucracy and restore the province’s reputation as a leader in forestry.
This would mean moving the forest ministry's head office to Prince George, with Falcon calling it a way to better ensure employees of forestry-dependent communities would have more of a say in decisions the government makes.
And he would rename "Crown land" to "public land," he said, a move that would involve working with First Nations and carrying out revenue sharing reforms.
“The NDP have failed the forestry sector and the families that depend on it by creating confusion, increasing bureaucracy, and driving investment out of B.C. and our local communities,” said Mike Bernier, BC United MLA for Peace River South. “BC United’s plan will restore confidence in our forestry sector by cutting red tape, restoring industry/community confidence, and ensuring our forests are managed sustainably for future generations.”
Under the plan, a BC United government would address job losses and mill closures “by expediting timber access decisions, eliminating confusion over fibre access, and investing in forest land to ensure a stable, sustainable timber supply," according to the press release.
Falcon said the permitting process is too slow because logging companies are forced to predict the impact of their harvesting operations across a wide spectrum due to regulations imposed by the province.
“We will reduce red tape and cut bureaucracy, adopt outcome-based performance measures, and eliminate regulatory duplication,” said Falcon. “We will also ensure faster permitting, reform BC Timber Sales, adjust stumpage rates to a monthly system, and stabilize policies to give businesses the certainty they need to thrive.”
A BC United government would adopt a wood-first policy for public building projects, with incentives, Falcon said. He also promised more investment in forestry research.
Falcon said the province’s resource tax revenues plummeted $3 billion last year “due to David Eby’s hostility toward resource development.”
Today's print edition
Home Delivery
Daiwa Securities Group is eyeing Australia for its first expansion into the agricultural sector abroad, part of a wider push to boost lending and direct investment in the country’s real estate and renewable energy sectors.
The renewed push in Australia comes as Chief Executive Officer Akihiko Ogino seeks to increase income from outside Japan by about 40% in the next few years, and follows an earlier investment by the Tokyo-based firm into the venture capital arm of Australia’s national science agency.
Japan’s long-standing farm labor shortage has encouraged agricultural industrialization, offering a model for similar technological improvements for fresh produce growers in Australia, Yoshida said. The brokerage could make direct investments in these farms or provide loans.
"If they grow and if we can bring them to Japan, that would be wonderful," Yoshida said in an interview last week following Daiwa’s first Japan equities conference in Sydney and Melbourne. They can "collaborate with Japanese companies and grow further."
The firm wants to continue its focus on lending and advisory in the clean energy space, leveraging its five staff in Sydney and Melbourne, Yoshida said.
Chairman Seiji Nakata told Bloomberg News last year the firm was looking to expand in Australia to take advantage of the country’s strong demographics and fast-growing pension pool.
Through its private investment arm Daiwa PI Partners, the firm backed Main Sequence Ventures, the venture capital arm of Australia’s science agency that has funded companies including plant-based meat maker V2 Food.
In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
Andhra pradesh chief minister n chandrababu naidu announced that the polavaram project is scheduled for completion by march 2027. the union government has sanctioned rs 12,157 crore over the next two fiscal years. the project aims to benefit agriculture, hydropower generation, and water supply in the region..
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced on Wednesday that the Polavaram Project is scheduled for completion by March 2027. He expressed gratitude to the Union Government for committing Rs 12,157 crore over the next two fiscal years towards the project's development.
Addressing a press conference at the Secretariat, Naidu revealed that Rs 6,000 crore would be allocated in the current fiscal year, 2024-25, with an additional Rs 6,157 crore earmarked for FY26. He described the development as 'joyful' and 'historic,' thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil for their support.
The Polavaram Project, located on the Godavari River in Eluru district, aims to store 194 tmc of water, irrigate 7.2 lakh acres, supply drinking water to 28.5 lakh people, and generate 960 MW of hydropower. Naidu emphasized that the project will also prevent water wastage into the sea and mitigate potential famine conditions.
(With inputs from agencies.)
Nepal expands hydropower exports to india, eyes regional leadership, union government approves pune metro's swargate-katraj extension project, jharkhand high court criticizes union government over bangladeshi refugee crisis, bhopal cabinet approves major irrigation, cyber tehsil, and women's empowerment initiatives.
Latest news, beijing and washington in talks to stabilize relations amid rising tensions, former county official convicted for journalist's murder in las vegas, cryptocurrency ceo stabbed during fraud trial in south korea, trump reposts lewd remark about harris on his social media site.
Egypt's educational triumph: how policy reforms turned pandemic challenges into unprecedented gains, the hidden wealth of exploitation: how forced labour generates $236 billion in stolen profits, ukraine’s agricultural future: balancing survival and transformation amid war and eu aspirations, bridging the climate finance divide: fragile nations left behind, connect us on.
Email: [email protected] Phone: +91-720-6444012, +91-7027739813, 14, 15
© Copyright 2024
IMAGES
COMMENTS
Your agriculture business plan doesn't need to be hundreds of pages—keep it as short and focused as you can. You'll probably want to include each of these sections: 1. Executive summary. An overview of your agriculture business, with a brief description of your products or services, your legal structure, and a snapshot of your future plans.
The Farm Business Plan Balance Sheet can help gather information for the financial and operational aspects of your plan. Form FSA-2037 is a template that gathers information on your assets and liabilities like farm equipment, vehicles and existing loans. FSA-2037 - Farm Business Plan - Balance Sheet. FSA-2037 Instructions.
Specifically, these funds will be used as follows: Land: $200,000. Equipment: $200,000. Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, utilities): $150,000. Marketing costs: $100,000. Working capital: $100,000. Easily complete your Agricultural business plan! Download the Agricultural business plan template (including a customizable financial ...
Find the right agriculture business plan template for your business. If you're not sure where to begin, check out our farms, food growers, food production facilities, and other agriculture-related sample business plans for inspiration. Explore our library of Farm and Agriculture Business Plan Templates and find inspiration for your own business.
Agriculture Business Plan. Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 500 entrepreneurs and farm owners create business plans to start and grow their agricultural companies. If you're unfamiliar with creating an agriculture or farm business plan, you may think creating one will be a time-consuming and frustrating process.
Five-year plan. Year One: 20XX. Create a legal business entity. Apply for necessary licenses and permits. Finalize farm layout. Procure additional equipment. Establish social media profiles. Build a small farm stand. Attend farmer's markets.
Sample Business Plan For Farms & Agricultural Businesses. Executive Summary - The Executive Summary is the most important part of your business plan. It is a brief description of your farm, its products and services, potential market opportunity, and competitive advantage. Company Overview - Also called the Company Analysis, here, you will ...
Cash at End of Period. $24,463. $29,034. $87,541. Download This Plan. Explore a real-world agriculture farm business plan example and download a free template with this information to start writing your own business plan.
Timeline and Milestones. Develop a timeline for your agricultural business's key milestones and achievements. This section should include: Example: Milestone Timeline: Year 1 - Acquire additional farmland; Year 2 - Expand greenhouse production; Year 3 - Launch an online farm-to-table store.
Step 1: Before getting started you need to first make up your mind about the type of agriculture business you want to start. Step 2: Narrow down land and secure the boundaries of it. Make sure you close the lease agreement. Step 3: Do deep research on the market to identify the requirements you need to cater to.
An agriculture business plan is a detailed roadmap that outlines the goals, strategies, and operational procedures of a farming or agribusiness venture. It serves as a blueprint for the entire ...
A business plan is a roadmap for your small farm. It is both process and product. During the writing of a farm business plan, you'll develop an overall vision and mission for your business. You ...
Cornell Small Farms Program Online Course BF 202: Business Planning. The Cornell Small Farms Program offers 20+ online courses every year on many topics related to the production and business sides of farming. Most are taught by Cornell Cooperative Extension educators. BF 202 is a 6-week course that will guide you through the process of writing ...
The Farm Business Resilience Program is supporting farmers to build stronger, more productive agricultural businesses. DJPR_13999_0423 After completing your Farm Business Plan, have a go at prioritising your goals using the Action Plan template. The Action Plan template can be accessed on the Farm Business Resilience Program webpage:
An agriculture business plan is a necessary document that farmers write to increase the success rate of their business. This form details both their short-term and long-term business goals . As well as the methods they will employ to attain their desired results.
agriculture entrepreneurs work through the planning process and to begin developing their business plans. This Guide was developed over a period of seven years by a team of University of Minnesota faculty and staff, individual farmers and consultants. Six farmers developed business plans using the draft materials. This Guide
100,000+ business plans have been created using AgPlan - AgPlan makes it easy for you - Develop your own Business Plan; Learn what you need to include in your Plan with Tips & Resources; View Sample Plans for ideas; Share your Plan — print, download and work with your own Reviewers;
Most lenders require it, and will scrutinize business plans to see that farmers have considered potential risks, assessed their competition, understand their assets, products and human resources inside out, and developed a solid marketing plan. Creating a Roadmap: Once farmers hit the ground, a solid business plan becomes invaluable.
Below are examples of different farm business plans and a loan application: Oregon Flower Farm Business Plan Example. Interval Farm Business Plan Sample ... Oregon State University Send E-mail Phone: 541-713-5009. OSU College of Agricultural Sciences 430 Strand Agriculture Hall Corvallis, Oregon 97331. Contact Us ©2022 Oregon State University ...
Follow these tips to quickly develop a working business plan from this sample. 1. Don't worry about finding an exact match. We have over 550 sample business plan templates. So, make sure the plan is a close match, but don't get hung up on the details. Your business is unique and will differ from any example or template you come across.
Financial Summary. Down in the Dirt Farm grossed $66,370 in sales from the 2018 season ($28,675 through their CSA offering whole and half shares, $25,800 through farmers market sales, $8,645 through wholesale, and $3,250 from on-farm pork share sales). The agreed-upon sale price for the new farm is $315,000.
The general process of business planning is the same for each type of firm. However, each may have differing individual aspects that affect its plan's contents. Regardless, we present a recommended format that should be useful for all types of agricultural firms as they develop written business plans. We use examples from the wide variety of ...
Purpose of Workbook. This workbook is designed to provide an outline for developing a business plan for your agricultural business. Each section contains an explanation, example and space for you to begin developing a business plan. There are numerous resources pertaining to the development of business plans available; it is the hope of the ...
DTN delivers accurate, objective, real-time, and actionable insights to increase our 2 million customers' confidence and support their business decisions.
New Delhi still levies a 5.5 per cent tax, known as the Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess. A government spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Bank of Communications Co., one of China's largest state-owned lenders, announced its first interim dividend in more than a decade despite a decline in profits.
The development of a Climate-Smart Agriculture Investment Plan is a timely and necessary step to equip our agricultural sector with the tools and resources needed to adapt and thrive in a changing ...
Resources & Agriculture BC United government would move forest ministry to Prince George Kevin Falcon outlines his party's plan for changes to forest sector he says will cut red tape and encourage ...
Daiwa Securities Group is eyeing Australia for its first expansion into the agricultural sector abroad, part of a wider push to boost lending and direct investment in the country's real estate ...
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced that the Polavaram Project is scheduled for completion by March 2027. The Union Government has sanctioned Rs 12,157 crore over the next two fiscal years. The project aims to benefit agriculture, hydropower generation, and water supply in the region.