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Communication | The Key to Your Ag Operation's Success

Communication- the human connection- is the key to personal and career success. -Paul J. Meyer

A solid and open relationship with your lender is vital to your operation's success.

Out of all the advice you might receive as a farmer or rancher, one aspect continues to ring true: communication. Open lines of communication with your team continue to be a key tenant to success for ag operations.

Your lender is in a unique position to assist you in planning for the future, while navigating current markets, opportunities and obstacles. Your relationship with your lender can be reminiscent of a well-oiled machine, or one that pops, sputters and must be jumpstarted at times. Which one you have is up to you.

What does good communication look like though? We've provided five basic ways to get the most out of communicating with your lender.

1. Your calendar is a road map

At the beginning of each year, take the time to think about your future. Be proactive, not reactive, when it comes to running your ag operation. January is typically a great time to make a business plan for the upcoming year. Harvest is complete and there is a little downtime to complete your balance sheet.

Coming to the table with a plan establishes a baseline for discussion. It helps your lender get on the same page as you. Your loan officer can then help you find the right loan products and financing options you may need to help achieve your goals for the upcoming year(s).

2. Ask the hard questions

If there is one thing farmers can do while talking about their operation with their lender, it is to be open and ask questions. This means being upfront about any pending changes or challenges, including anything from succession planning to crop rotation. Don't be afraid to talk about any issue — no matter how big or small. Remember that your lender is here to help you navigate your current situation. However to accomplish this, they need to know the full scope of your position.

Asking questions is a great way to get the kind of feedback you need from your lender. Farmers should come prepared to help spur the conversation. Here is a list of questions farmers can consider asking:

  • Is my operation on track to meet the goals I've laid out?
  • What can I do better to help my operation reach my goals?
  • Do you see any potential problems or trouble spots?
  • Do you see any opportunities I could take advantage of?

3. Expect more from your lender

Your lender's number-one role during these discussions is to give you honest, timely feedback. They should ask probing questions to better understand your situation and provide solutions. If your operation is truly in a tough spot, you should expect them to give you the feedback you need, not necessarily the feedback you want to hear.

However, this doesn't mean that working with your lender only means hearing no. Constructive feedback also means working with you to lay out a plan that will help you meet your goals. Depending on the situation, this could mean a one-year plan or potentially a five-year plan.

At the end of discussions with your lender, you shouldn't feel like they are only your loan officer; they should feel like your advisor.

4. Be proactive. Be proactive. Be proactive. 

Farming obstacles are unpredictable. Weather. Unseen market shifts. However, there are many potential problems that display warning signs beforehand. If you need to wait to haul grain in to get the best price, you will generally know well before you make a late payment on your operating loan.

It's a good idea to loop your lender in as early as possible so your operation can have more options for solutions. Many times, farmers reach out when things have escalated. Our job as a lender to assist is far more limited. If you notice something that may become an issue, raise your hand sooner rather than later. It is better to have a plan in place and not need it than to need a plan that was never discussed.

5. Share good news too

Oftentimes, farmers will only reach out to their lender when something isn't going as planned, but it's equally important to share when things go better than expected. Not only will your lender be there to celebrate your operation's successes, they'll also be able to help you explore any opportunities that may now be open to you.

Open and fruitful communication is a two-way street. It requires both you and your lender to proactively reach out, listen and work together to find opportunities. With a mission to serve agriculture and rural Texas, Capital Farm Credit is especially equipped to understand your operation and your goals, and how to best achieve them.