Innovation Blog | Corn Capital Innovations

How Can You Benefit From A SWOT Plan?

Posted on: January 30, 2014 by:Summer Leave a Comment

SWOT Planning SWOT is a simple system that can be used to analyze your business.

So what does SWOT stand for?
S – Strengths
W- Weaknesses
O – Opportunities
T- Threats

Reviewing each of these areas for your farm business will help you formulate better strategies. During your analysis, consider each section of SWOT with realism and try to be specific. It is worth your time!

Benefits of Using SWOT

Recognizing where your business can grow.
Understanding the possible hurdles.
Focusing on how to be competitive.
Anticipating threats and how to be proactive vs. reactive.

Internal vs. External

Strengths & Weaknesses – Both strengths and weaknesses are internal. Here is where you have the most control. Control over what crops to decide to grow, how to plant, nurture the crop during the growing season and how you sell your crop.

Opportunities & Threats – Opportunities and threats are external. They are things that you cannot change nor control; such as land for sale and at what cost, unpredictable storms, excessive rain or drought, and grain market prices.

Additional Resources

Read this article “Tool helps analyze business side of farm.” by Kim Lang of Waterstreet Solutions. It ran in the November 2009 issue of Prairie Farmer Magazine and outlines the SWOT process.
Download this template of SWOT from Businessballs.com

Many businesses both small and large have used SWOT. Doing an analysis such as this will give you a starting point to your individual plan. It will allow you to look at the big picture and take action by controlling what you can, reducing threats and positioning yourself to take advantage of any opportunities that come along.

Let Corn Capital Innovations assist you with creating a plan for your farm business in 2014. Contact us today!

Categories: Farm Profitability | Tags: Crop Decisions, Cropping Plan, farm business, Farm Profitability, farm strategies, Prairie Farmer Magazine, SWOT Plan, Waterstreet Solutions

For the Future of Your Farm – Attend the Ag Edge Farm Business Seminar in Willmar, MN Feb. 17-18

Posted on: January 15, 2014 by:Summer Leave a Comment

“Farming is a system — a dynamic one — requiring increasing management skills. Plan forward for success, integrating the systems of your business with the people in and around your business.”

Ag-Edge-SM-WSS-CCI Corn Capital Innovations is excited to be co-sponsoring the Ag Edge Farm Business Seminar with Water Street Solutions on February 17-18th, 2014 in Willmar, Minnesota. To have a conference of this caliber right in your own backyard is something you don’t want to miss!

Attending Ag Edge will provide you with a lot of usable content on a variety of topics that you deal with every year. Imagine getting quality information that will take your farming business to the next level, plus actual ideas that you can put to use immediately! Learn from CCI’s own Scott and Steve O’Neill at the Agronomy Round Table.

Key Reasons to Attend:

Invest In You
Plan forward for success on your farm
Build relationships with other farmers
Increase management skills
Learn how to survive and thrive in a family business
Leverage your business relationships with landlords & lenders

Learning Sessions:

“Farm Metrics You Can Count On.” Darren Frye, Water Street Solutions President & CEO
“Managing in the Great Super Cycle of Agriculture.” Dr. David Kohl, Professor Emeritius, Ag Economics, Virginia Tech
“Making Sense of the Markets.” Arlan Suderman, Respected Analyst
“Top Ten Stupid Things Families Do to Break Up Their Business?” Jolene Brown, CSP

Seminar Information:

Complete Agenda for Willmar Click here Ag Edge Agenda-WILLMAR (PDF)
Register for Event
Location – Holiday Inn in Willmar, MN

Do you plan on attending the more than eight learning sessions and upgrading your competitive advantage?

See you in February!

Categories: General | Tags: Ag Edge, Corn Capital Innovations, Waterstreet Solutions

New Year – New Challenges

Posted on: January 3, 2014 by:corncapital Leave a Comment

Can you believe that two thousand thirteen has already come to an end and two thousand fourteen is here? Are you prepared for a new year of challenges?

If you look back at the two thousand thirteen season with frustrations, ask yourself what could you have done to help change the outcome. In today’s 21^st century farming business each decision you make can have either a positive or negative impact on your operation. The real question is, of these decisions you made, which had the most positive impact, and how do I learn from the negative ones.

At Corn Capital Innovations we work with farmers to help identify high along with low impact decisions. We’re here to help you make the most of every opportunity that presents itself which ultimately helps grow not only a great crop, but also your bottom line. Give us a call today, follow us on Facebook. We look forward to helping you make next year a season of no regrets!

Corn Capital Innovations, a great hand in farming.

Categories: Financials, General, Mindset | Tags: Cropping Plan, Decion Making, Facebook, farm challenges, farming operation, new year, Tammy Park

In Life You Get What You Give

Posted on: December 19, 2013 by:Summer Leave a Comment

In celebration of another great year, we held our appreciation event last week with our amazing clients, co-workers and friends. The event was a wonderful success and we truly are grateful for your patronage over the last year.

We hope that you enjoyed V.J. Smith as much as all of us from Corn Capital Innovations did! He was such a powerful speaker! If you were unable to attend the event, we found the perfect video to show you what we all learned that evening. This seven minute clip is full of snippets of what V.J. shared with us in Olivia. He introduced us to Marty, the richest man in town. Being loved, respected and content with every part of his life, with no regrets – that is what makes a rich man and that is Marty; a cashier at Wal-mart!

VJ Smith – The Richest Man in Town

We wanted to make this evening inspiring; something for you to really enjoy and connect with. It’s our way of saying thank you! Please enjoy our collection of photos from the event below.

Here are a few quotes from V.J. Smith’s speech that caught our attention:
“It doesn’t take talent to hustle.”
“Farm kids grew up hustling, always did and always will!”
“People need to decide to get happy.”
“Remember, in life you get what you give!”

How were you as inspired by Marty’s story? Was there a quote from V.J. Smith’s speech that you connected with? Please share in the comments. We wish you all a wonderful holiday season!

Categories: General, Mindset | Tags: Corn Capital Innovations, customer appreciation, holiday season, inspiration, motivational speaker, quote, the richest man in town, VJ Smith

During the Holidays Take Time to Reflect

Posted on: December 11, 2013 by:Summer Leave a Comment

Many of you can relate to the memorable and historical moments that took place in farming this past year. During this holiday season we want to encourage all of you to give yourself a special gift, the gift of some time out. Time out to reflect on this past year and acknowledge what went really well for you, the opportunities you created and the wins you’ve had along the way. The gift of this time is the opportunity to look forward, and design what you want for your farm for the next year. If you could do anything for your operation, what would it look like?

Categories: General | Tags: Corn Capital Innovations, Cropping Plan, farm future, Farm Profitability, holiday season, Summer O’Neill

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