All businesses are exposed to a range of risks, and planning on how to address these risks is paramount for the long-term survival of a business. ‘Failing to plan is planning to fail.’

The impact of the changes made can go past the expectation of simply reducing risk. Areas such as improving efficiency, understanding the financial aspects of the business, time management, setting deadlines and improving staff morale can all be side benefits of developing a Farm Business Resilience Plan (FBR Plan).

• Identification of significant risks to your business, and where the greatest attention needs to be focused.
• Benchmarking of financial and business performance indicators.
• Utilising electronic stock control and sales systems.
• Implementing electronic accounting systems.
• Product costing.
• Identifying where budgeting and business control measures need to be improved.
• Having a structured plan to implement an improvement program.
• Having deadlines to stop projects slowing down or stalling.
• Identifying process and business improvements, e.g., improving potting efficiency.
• Having an improvement process in place that engages all management and staff to lift the level of performance of the business.
• Deciding on the future direction of the business:
  • Owners stepping back from the business,
  • Selling the business,
  • Leasing the site to another nursery, or someone who wants to get into the industry but doesn’t have sufficient capital,
  • Close the business.
• Documenting a business plan that may only be in someone’s head.
• Being able to access external funding opportunities through government or banks.

• Firstly, you’ll identify where the major risks to your business are by completing an on-line self-assessment checklist.
• A business advisor from Moshie will then discuss your self-assessment checklist and suggest how to proceed with the development of a Farm Business Resilience Plan (FBR Plan).
• The Moshie advisor will then work with you through a series of on-site and on-line meetings to develop your FBR Plan.
• Once the FBR Plan is completed there will be an action plan of what needs to be done and who is to do it.

• Completing the self-assessment checklist is free and there is no obligation to proceed any further.
• If you are a primary producer/production nursery, you can access customised advice and in-depth Farm Business Resilience Plans completely free of charge with NGIQ.

Drought is only one of the many risks considered in the plan. This is a resilience plan that can be tailored to your business. This could be anything from achieving your goals, addressing financial and climate risks, production efficiency, succession planning, time management, diverse income streams, and so much more. Not having significant drought risk does not stop you developing a plan.