January 2024.  We flip the calendar from December to January to not only start a new month but a whole new year.  It instigates a whole cascade of ads, recommendations, and unsolicited advice on how to make this year “your year.”  The phrase “New Year, New You” is quoted more times than we can count as influencers across the various social media platforms inspire us to become the best version of ourselves.  

Now don’t get me wrong, the start of a new year is a great time to make changes, but not if you are simply jumping on the New Year’s Resolution bandwagon because everyone else is doing it.  Setting goals to please someone else seems pretty counter intuitive.  If you or your operation are hoping for a better year and wanting to be intentional with some changes, here are some things you should consider as you make your goals.

First, the agriculture industry has never been more unique or primed for new opportunities.  I don’t know that there is any other sort industry that is using new innovation and technology side by side with traditional methods that have been used for centuries.  What this means is that you don’t have to let go of those practices that you know are working for you simply because new ones are coming on.  

On our operation, we still rope and drag on the range to brand because it works and it works well.  Using a calf table to brand would require a complete overhaul to our operation that would require more cost and hassle to bring about the same results.  It just isn’t worth it, so we stick with what has been done for generations.

On the other hand, we do most of our farmwork on autopilot with new GPS guided precision equipment to make the work more efficient and more productive.  With these changes we have reduced wear and tear on the equipment and personnel, along with reduced fuel and seed use with the same or better coverage.  It’s an advancement that has been totally worth it.

When you are looking to make changes to utilize new ideas or new technology, be sure that it really fits into your operation and goals. 

As you start to implement changes in your operation, make sure you have an end in mind of what you are trying to accomplish.  If you are wanting to add in new genetics to your herd, don’t just choose the hot new sire because that is what the market is driving you towards.  Are you trying to bring more size to your weaning weights?  Are you looking to have more maternal power?  Do you need something that will be a little more hardy?  Know what you want first, and then you will be able to make more lasting choices.

There are all sorts of consultants that will happily lend advice as you develop your operation in new ways, especially if that means that you will buy their products or services.  Naturally, they should know more about whatever it is they are trying to sell you on, but just be sure that they don’t steam roll you in the process.  It is your operation and you get to make the decisions regardless of how they might think they can change things overnight.  

With the ever growing resources available in the agriculture industry, there is no limit to what your operation can do and accomplish.  There is no one right way to do it all, and you should never limit yourself to fit into what you might think is the “right way.”  Every operation should tailor their systems and plans to their own strengths and abilities.

Implementing changes can take time, especially when seeing the results are weeks and months and years down the road.  Giving time to see the true outcomes of new ideas is a crucial part of making changes.  Rushing results will make your previous efforts for naught, and you don’t have time to waste like that.  Be intentional with your changes and patient for the end results that will come of your hard work.  

Whether the changes you want to make on your operation are large scale or just small things you want to change in your own work habits, make it about what is truly best for you.  I wish someone would have told me that there wasn’t one way to be a good cowgirl or ranch hand or farmwife.  I spent too much time worrying about if my way was punchy enough to please all the onlookers I was sure had opinions about my work.  Those thoughts still creep in once in a while, but now I try to focus on doing the work the best way I can because that is really all I can do.  

Taking on a new year may be a great time to implement some new changes to your work, whether it is to your operation as a whole or to just your everyday habit.  But as you set goals or take on new ideas, remember that the best changes you can make are those that you intentionally set because you want them and will fit within the growth you want to see, not because it fits someone else’s ideals or is the newest innovation.