11.21.08 - Delta Farmers Should Be Excited, Not Confused!
By Terry Dulaney CEO AgVenture.
The greatest opportunity presently comes from the power of being a "solution minded” farmer rather than a "salvage minded” farmer. Farmers who devote their time and energy toward finding positive solutions to farming’s challenges will reap huge benefits. Growers need to plan for success and growth, not just making it one more year according to Terry Dulaney of AgVenture.
Many farmers are confused about their future. An unpredictable economy, variable crop performance and vacillating market prices have many growers unsure of what they need to do to survive.
While it may seem reasonable for growers to be confused during these times, for those who work to avoid panic and the tendency to be reactionary, there is a much better alternative to confusion. You see, it’s not at all a time for confusion for those farmers who thoughtfully plan their way through this. We’ve seen this kind of uncertainty before. The secret to making it through those tough times was calm assertive thinking that allowed farmers to look for opportunities to grow, not just ways to survive. The atmosphere we’re in right now is no exception. There is only one word that truly describes this time in history for farmers and that word is opportunity, with a capital O.
The greatest opportunity presently comes from the power of being a "solution minded” farmer rather than a "salvage minded” farmer. Farmers who devote their time and energy toward finding positive solutions to farming’s challenges will reap huge benefits. Growers need to plan for success and growth, not just making it one more year.
Albert Einstein once said, "You can’t both try to stay in business and keep from going out of business at the same time.” It just doesn’t work. Why? Because when you try to do both, you have no real strategy at all. You have no focus. It’s like a basketball team who gets the lead by using a great offense, and then once they have the lead they spend the rest of the game trying not to lose by playing defense. They always end up losing the game.
Farmers cannot have a negative attitude and expect anything positive to happen. In order to move forward, make good decisions, and make next year the GREATEST year ever, they must focus on finding solutions that can make that GREAT year happen. They have to believe that the only way to success is helping themselves. That may mean doing things that other farmers are not willing to do. The minute a farmer becomes a problem solver and focuses on winning instead of trying not to lose, he is on the road to success. Here are some guidelines that our AgVenture customers utilize that keep them focused on winning. Farmers who focus on winning and not just trying to survive:
1. believe that input costs cannot hold back optimum profitability. That’s right. Our customers tell us that they are going after one thing next year and that is higher yields at all cost. They know that higher yields are something they have control over and the only REAL way to make more profit is to raise a better crop.
2. have their cropping plans already completed and in place for next year. Our customers know the value of a cropping plan when it comes to planning for their future. It is their business plan. They know they can’t do anything else until their business plan is in place. We help them do it.
3. are NOT SHOPPING for the lowest seed prices or looking for deals. Seed is the most crucial input winning farmers buy and they know it. Cutting costs by choosing seed because of discounts in lieu of exceptional seed quality starts a crop off at a disadvantage. AgVenture customers know they are not only purchasing the highest quality seed on the market but also receive benefits throughout the year such as a cropping plan, planter visits, field monitoring and combine riding. VALUE, not cheaper seed, produces a top crop.
4. are planting more corn than ever before. They know that demand for corn is going to continue to be more than U.S. farmers can supply and they are going to produce as much as they can. They are also going to put every input on that field required to work toward raising their farm averages to 300 bushels per acre or more.
5. are happier and have less worry and stress. AgVenture customers achieve peace of mind from the exclusive knowledge and crop planning they receive from us, leaving more time for the things they actually enjoy.
I have never been more excited about the future. Those of us who are working to win the game and not simply trying to keep from losing, have one of the greatest opportunities ever. That opportunity comes from knowing that there is only one way out of these challenging times and that is to FARM our way out of it. Fortunately, we have some of the best farmers in the world here in the Delta that are capable of doing just that.
For more information contact AgVenture Mid-South, 877-974 SEED or 662-627- 7060. You will be glad you did.