Adapting the Business Plan for Different Situations.
This activity gives you the chance to think about how each business plan component takes on more or less importance relative to where the business is in the business life-cycle, and how the farmer or rancher wants to use the plan. Recall the four phases of business development and growth: Start-up phase —> Development and growth phase —> Expansion phase —> Maturity phase.
Activity. Consider the following four producer scenarios, then follow the instructions below:
A beginning organic grain farmer with no production experience. (BF)
A group considering the formation of a local marketing cooperative. (C)
A family looking to increase vegetable sales at nearby farmers markets and restaurants. (RV)
A mature farmer who is ready to retire and transition out of agriculture but would like to see his farm stay in production or converted to a demonstration site (RF).
Click the image to start the activity. For each scenario select the business plan components that would be most relevant and appropriate for their particular situation. Click the checkbox for each component that you think should be included in the business plan, then click "Check your answers" to get your results. The activity will automatically move to the next producer scenario for you to evaluate. [Other basic elements common to most business plans regardless of the situation are shown shaded and pre-selected.]
