Maintain the momentum of the new year with intentions that can help you reach your goals on and off the farm.

As we settle into a new year, now is the perfect time to reflect on the past year’s successes, challenges, and to think about our aims for 2025.

Resolutions are the changes that you want to integrate into your farm life — your practices, your approach, and your lifestyle. They are daily choices that make farming more enjoyable and sustainable for the long-haul.

But as a business owner, resolutions — at least in the course of this article — shouldn’t be limited to your business goals (although those are important as well!).

Continue reading for 5 actionable habits to improve your farm operations in the new year and beyond.

1. Own the day.

To put it bluntly, it is too easy to run around like a headless chicken when you’re running a farm. Excuse the reference, but you farmers know what I mean. There are so many things to do on a farm on any given day. Should I fix the tractor? Finish my accounting? Bill that contractor? Send in my seed order!? And wait — there’s a new fire to put out!

In 2025, before you get into a mindset of rushing around and responding, take a minute to focus on your larger aims. Make a list of your monthly or quarterly goals and make sure that your smaller actions are leading you in that direction; deprioritize work that might be a distraction or will put you off track.

PRO TIP Think with big goals.

Act in small steps.

Being clear about what you really want makes decisions easier — and don’t be afraid to share or collaborate on these goals with your farming family. When everyone is on the same page regarding where you’re going, it is easier to come to agreement on the tasks to get you there.

Managing chaos, calmly, is the hallmark of a great farmer. You should expect a lot of different tasks thrown at you each and every day, but you can resolve to give yourself time to strategize before taking action.

2. Tell your story.

Social media isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it is truly important if you are doing retail sales (or even if not). At our farm, a story about a daily farm store special inevitably brings at least one new customer in the door. It does make a difference, and particularly in a rural setting where customers are deciding whether a trip is worth it.

Any social media person will tell you that making posting a habit will increase your account visibility, so doing even a weekly update can make a difference to your customer base.

If you don’t want to be the one to speak for the farm or capture images, resolve to find a staff member who will find this fun and ask them to support the farm by managing the account for the season.

The bottom line is that you must be active on these platforms to acquire new customers; they are invaluable for communications and building brand affinity.

3. Take time for yourself, friends, and family.

Being in the fields is not only time consuming, but is physically and mentally taxing. And while the physical labor is necessary for your farm to succeed, it’s important to give your body and mind time to relax and recover from the stress.

Make 2024 the year you prioritize your mental and physical health. Your family, friends, and farm crew will all thank you for it!

Carve out time to relax. Find a low-key hobby or pastime that helps you decompress, preferably away from screens. For me, my downtime is going for a run; for my husband, it’s building a LEGO set with our kids.

Daily journaling, walking the dog, reading (actual books!), and cooking are all activities that can help cultivate a deeper connection and appreciation for your craft, while allowing you to recharge and recover offline. Whatever makes you smile and gives your brain a break is time well-spent.

RELATED READING 8 Must-Read Books For Farmers

4. Be more active in your local community.

If you aren’t already, resolve to be part of your community this year. Farmers need to be involved with civic life. Representing less than 2% of the American public, it couldn’t be more important for your voice to be heard.

In 2025, consider how you can participate in the future of your community. Does your local planning board have openings? Does 4-H need help or host farms? Have you attended a Young Farmers Coalition chapter meeting, Farm Bureau or Farmers Union meeting recently? What about your Conservation District? Take time to share your expertise — and be open to learning something new.

The best part may very well be community members and fellow farmers you’ll meet along the way!

5. Make small, real changes.

If you’re anything like me, the small and useful changes you need get pushed to the sidelines time and time again.

Case in point: on the side of our barn there is a heavy door knob that needs to be swapped out to a lever so we can go into it backwards with a stack of boxes — but changing it out just never gets to the top of the list. It’s a small thing, but we never make the time.

As you’re considering this new year, what are the small and functional changes that you can make to set you up for success this season? Is it a door knob? A scanner for your point-of-sale? A label maker? A new barn light or loading dock drain? Resolve to cross a few of these items off your list before the busy season hits. You will thank yourself later!

ASK YOURSELF

What are small, functional changes you can make to set up for success this season?

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