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University of Wisconsin-Extension

Planning Tools

Making the Switch to Robots: A New Budgeting Tool for Transitioning to Automatic Milking Systems

Making the Switch to Robots: A New Budgeting Tool for Transitioning to Automatic Milking Systems

To help producers navigate complex financial decisions, the Dairy Management program at UW-Madison has released the AMS Transition Budgeter. This web-based tool allows farmers to move beyond “back-of-the-napkin” math and visualize the long-term financial impact of retrofitting their farm for robotics.

Is my farm operation big enough?

Is my farm operation big enough?

“Is my operation big enough?” It’s a loaded question that includes values, policy, lots of opinions, more than a few arguments, and even a little economics, the latter of which is the subject here. Economically “big enough” is the capacity needed to achieve profit goals given prices and costs of production. There are two sources of […]

Set your farm strategy with daily habits and time for strategic thinking

Set your farm strategy with daily habits and time for strategic thinking

For business owners, managers and employees, days are full of endless decisions and actions that affect the health, success and future of ourselves and our businesses.  These choices can start to feel like they’re piling up, which creates pressure, stress and a feeling of foreboding that can negatively impact how we make (or put off making) decisions. 

Identifying strategies to maximize potential and minimize risk

Identifying strategies to maximize potential and minimize risk

Business strategies are practical actions that communicate how a business plans to reach its goals. Thinking strategically about the farm business as a whole helps determine emerging themes, issues, patterns, and opportunities. Learn how to complete a SWOT Analysis for your farm.

Establishing Your Values and Purpose – Strategic Thinking for the Farm Business

Establishing Your Values and Purpose – Strategic Thinking for the Farm Business

Farmers track and plan for evolving market conditions only to have a something like a global pandemic further disrupt markets and raise concerns of worker safety. Wisconsin farm leaders have adapted, and they continue to make decisions amid increasingly complex circumstances making it necessary to lead from a well-constructed strategy. Most farm leaders stay on […]

Creating a farm’s operating agreement: time well spent

Creating a farm’s operating agreement: time well spent

Farmers are notorious for preferring to farm while leaving business dealings to trust, fate or chance. Afterall, there are only so many hours in a day, and when farm families work near each other all day, it is tempting to believe that assumptions or verbal communication may replace written text. Farmers must remember, however, that every business entity carries legal and tax implications, and the written operating agreement may save a lot of headaches and heartaches when legal and tax issues arise.

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Division of Extension

Connecting people with the University of Wisconsin

  • Agriculture
  • Community Development
  • Health & Well-Being
  • Families & Finances
  • Natural Resources
  • Positive Youth Development

Agriculture at Extension

  • Agriculture Water Quality
  • Crops and Soils
  • Dairy
  • Horticulture
  • Livestock
  • Discovery Farms
  • Master Gardener

Other UW-Madison Resources

  • Department of Animal and Dairy Science
  • Department of Ag and Applied Econ
  • Renk Business Institute

Questions?

Contact us at farms@extension.wisc.edu

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