Use Your Winter Wisely
Well, the cold weather has ar
rived and snow may soon be on
its way. Another year’s crops
have been harvested. Field work
is several months away. It’s the
time of year where we take a deep
breath, reflect on the past year and
look forward to the next with
hopeful anticipation. Over the
next few months, sit back, relax
and enjoy the slow time of the
year. You’ve earned it -- right?
We can’t plant or harvest, so what
else could we possibly do?
Actually, there is much that
can be accomplished during this
time of year. For example, re
view last year’s crop and livestock
production performance and ask
yourself a few questions. How did
your actual performance compare
to your goals?
What went well and what did
not? What caused me to exceed or
fall short of my expectations?
Increased
hydraulic flow,
lift capacity
THE WHITE MODEL 6410
Tfl HAVE CONFIDENCE IH A
The all new 70 PTO hp 6410 was born tough to work hard doing the
dozens of jobs you'd throw at a POPS chassis utility tractor Under
the sleek, sloping hood is a new clean burning Cummins B 3 9 diesel
for high efficiency, low emissions and real dependability The 6410 is
designed to handle extra-tight turns while giving you the advantage
of standard 12x4 partial synchro transmission
Come take a test drive today, and get to know the
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WITMER’S INC.
Box 368'
Columbiana, OH 44408
330-427-2147
HERNLEY’ S FARM LEBANON VALLEY
EQUIPMENT, INC. STANLEYS FARM SERVICE IMPLEMENT CO., INC.
2095 S. Market St. RD 1 - Off Rte. 125 700 E. Linden St.
Elizabethtown, PA KUngerstownPA _
717-367-8867 717-648-2088 717-866-7518
Consider management changes
you can use to improve perform
ance. Determine which manage
ment practices were successful and
think about implementing them
again next year.
Consider completing an enter
prise analysis, the process of re
viewing the revenues, expenses
and returns for a stand alone activ
ity.
Examples of enterprises may
include com, soybeans, vegeta
bles, dairy, heifers, cattle, market
hogs, sows, layers, etc. What
was your return or margin per
hundred weight of milk sold, per
pound of meat sent to market, pet
dozen eggs, per acre of crop pro
duced?
Determine where you are
spending your dollars and what re
turn you are receiving. Which
expenses and commodity prices
can you impact? Consider how
you can lower controllable costs
2WD and PFA
models available
Wet multi-disc clutch
increases durability
by cushioning torque
loading surface while
dissipating heat
MILLER EQUIPMENT CO.
RD 1
Bechtelsville, PA
610-845-2911
Use the results of this analysis in
your decision making process. If
you ate considering die purchase
of a piece of equipment or addi
tional land, how will it impact
your cost of production within the
specific enterprises).
Complete the maintenance on
your machinery and equipment and
be prepared when the planting sea
son arrives. Look at each piece of
equipment and replace or fix bro
ken and worn parts. Have your
planters and sprayers calibrated
ahead of time. Don’t wait until
you need to be in the fields to see
if your equipment is ready.
Spend some time updating or
developing a succession plan.
This is the process of preparing
individuals and your operation for
the future transfer of management
and ownership. When discussing
this topic, most people think first
of estate planning. If you already
have an estate plan, review it and
determine if it is still accurate and
relevant. This should be done at
least annually or whenever a sig
nificant change within the family
or operation takes place.
If you do not have an estate
plan, now is the time to put one
in place. Remember that when
drafting a plan, it is critical to use
an attorney who is knowledgeable
in estate planning.
Succession planning also in
volves preparing individuals for
12x4 partial synchro
transmission and optional
12x12 synchro shuttle
MAKES IT EASY
NEW GENERATION.
Take the time to evaluate your
production, financial, personal,
and family goals for 1998. Do
you want to increase production,
initiate a retirement plan, or spend
more time with your family?
Have your family members do the
Clean burning
turbocharged
Cummins B 3 9
diesel engine
Low profile hood
for high visibility
Al white
NcciiiAitr
(AOCgj TOUIHNESS
J & M MACHINERY CO. ■
Route 22 & 819
Greensburg, PA
412-668-2276
future management responsibili
ties. Involve key family members
or employees in discussions and
the decision making process in ar
eas such as health programs, nu
trition, finance, marketing and
production. Include them in dis
cussions with specialists such as
the veterinarian, feed sales person,
nutritionist, banker and account
ant. Consider having them pres
ent an overview of the operation
to the banker or accountant. Be
sure to explain why a certain deci
sion was made.
Remember that you must
maintain an open mind to sugges
tions presented by these key indi
viduals and take the ideas seri
ously. These ideas may not all
work, be realistic or be imple
mented, however, it is part of the
learning process. Begin by deter
mining the key management re
sponsibilities. Then establish
methods for training, develop a
time frame for initiating the proc
ess and develop benchmarks for
tracking progress. You may even
decide to involve specialists in the
training as necessary.
SEE US AT THE KEYSTONE FARM SHOW
JANUARY 6 & 7
Custom Design Comes To Us Naturally
KIPE STEEL 1-800-432-4797
3791 Church Rd, Chambersburg, PA 17201
FAX: (717) 26.7-1580
Dealer Inquiries Invited
I CALL FOR OUR NEW FREE COLOR BROCHURE
same and then share the results
with each other. You may be sur
prised at what you team.
Remember that any goal
should be specific, measurable, at
tainable, rewarding and have a
time limit. Once goals are estab
lished, develop an action plan and
dedde who is responsible and ac
countable for following through
on the plan. Monitor your prog
ress and results. Also, the goals
should be part of and relate to an
overall plan or vision for your
family, the operation and you.
I am not sure of the original
authors, however, consider these
two familiar statements; “If you
don’t care where you want to get
to, then it doesn’t matter which
way you go” and “If you don’t
take charge, change will take
charge of you and you won’t like
it"
Management is a series of
choices and each choice has conse
quences some are good and
some may be bad. Determine your
goals and establish action plans to
reach them. „
Delink Cinder
Farm Management Agent
Cheater County
PA FARM SHOW JANUARY 10 & 15
BOOTH #4OB
Call Us for the name of local dealer
and ask about a Parlor Tour.