Avoid making hasty decisions

commence the resolution process.

Again, this will involve friends, family and trusted professionals. More importantly, it will involve delegation of tasks and decision making which considerably lightens the burden on the farmer managing the crisis. Regular contact with those who helped create the plan reassures the farmer and keeps the resolution of the crisis on track.

Eventually, everything returns to normal and the crisis passes.

Step 4: Don’t make strategic decisions at this time

The last step in the process is perhaps the most important stage of a crisis management plan. Often, in times of crisis there is a tendency to discuss and often rush into making big strategic decisions in respect of the farm business. This is not the time to make big decisions about the business.

The adrenaline and emotion surrounding the process of dealing with a major or mini crisis can blinker the thought process and result in bad decisions being made.

For example, mini crises are common in the busy calving season on dairy farms, the recent unexpected snow, labour issues or partnership disputes at this time can raise the blood temperature to boiling point and often bring the farm business into question. It is best to resolve the immediate problem at hand and defer the big picture strategic decisions until June or July when the dust has settled, and the mind is in a better place to make such important decisions.

In conclusion, the message for farmers in times of crisis is not to panic, but pick up the phone, ask from help from friends, family and trusted professionals, and do not make hasty big strategic decisions in respect of farm business at this time. Crises will come and go, in the bigger scheme of things they are just another hurdle to jump in the management of a farm business.

Remember, the crisis will pass and life will go on.