Preparing to finish well

In keeping with prior blogs, we’ll press on with our game planning, sports analogy. Reviewing and adjusting your plan after planting was a good strategy. Assessing your actual costs and marketing plan to date during FF2℠ (post-planting) enabled you to keep the lead going into halftime. With the crops maturing, and the majority of the growing season complete, it’s now time to plan for the second half with a plan to finish well.   

You have a good idea of what the outcome will be in the field, but it is premature to declare a victory. Continuing to lean on the fundamentals does not always make for an exciting game, but it leads to success more often than not.  You had the ball late in the 2nd quarter and kicked a field goal just before half.  It wasn’t overly aggressive but it’s a solid move to keep momentum in your favor.  Keeping the momentum in your favor takes discipline.  What does this look like during the FF3℠, or Pre-Harvest, period of the Crop Financial Cycle? 

Marketing is still key to retaining momentum and with your production numbers in view and most of your expenses known, it’s time to finish the game.  Selling portions of your crop profitably is not always flashy, but a win is a win.  Keep running the ball when it makes sense (profitability wise) and you’ll be in the position to take a shot at the big play if and when the opportunity arises.  No great team plans to win a game with a Hail Mary pass.  Plan well, adjust as needed, execute after halftime with the fundamentals, and victory is in your hands.

Allen Lyon