Discuss the board and select another team’s deliverable to review. Read it carefully. Write a detailed analysis (750-word limit) of new learning you gaine

Final Analysis and Recommendation 1

Author Note

I understand the plagiarism policy outlined in the IWU Catalog relating to the IWU Honesty/Cheating Policy. By affixing this statement to the title page of my paper, I certify that I have not cheated or plagiarized while completing this assignment. I certify that the work submitted is original work specific to this course and my program. If it is found that cheating and/or plagiarism did take place in the writing of this paper, I understand the possible consequences of the act/s, which could include expulsion from Indiana Wesleyan University.

Abstract

Being self-reliant is what most Americans would like to be, in terms of ensuring that your survival and financial sustainment depends solely upon one’s ability to provide for oneself. I will provide recommendations on how farmers may become self-reliant, resourceful, and to have financial sustainment, not relying upon the United States’ (U.S.) subsidies provided to farmers. With that said, today I will provide recommendations for farmers to ensure that their path to self-reliance is attainable and executable. Also, I will provide the necessary resources, farm structure requirements, training, personnel, concrete steps to implement, and the timeline for implementation, as well as what the definition of success looks like, and how success is measured using virtuous decision making, determining how farmers may be self-reliant, resourceful, and have financial sustainment.

In order for farmers to be self-reliant, resourceful, and have financial sustainability, farmers must depend on themselves, by adapting to “Self-Sufficient Farming.” In using the methodology of Self-Sufficient Farming, farmers are able to provide for themselves for many years without interruption. A fete many farmers want to achieve, requires discipline, and is a challenge in completing. Along with self-sustainable farming, planning and sustainable living go hand in hand. Producing only needed food products, eliminating waste, and by re-purposing any waste or compost.

Ensuring only items produced on the farm is consumed. Sayner (2023), Self- Sufficient Farming means to rely solely upon oneself, with little to no assistance from people or any organizations. Self-sufficient farming simply means cultivating produce, and selling only the food products that you need, thus eliminating excess food products and waste. Creating a more effective and efficient farm and lifestyle. self-sufficient farming does take discipline but is achievable with the following concrete guidance:

Resources/Personnel Needed for Self-Reliance, and Financial Sustainability

Farmers should:

· Take account of what debts they can quickly minimize and/or pay off within the next year.

· Take inventory of what food products are easy to produce, and create positive income.

· Determine the minimum number of farm acres required to produce adequate food products..

· Take account of the minimum number of personnel required to produce and maintain the farm.

· Reduce the number of personnel to only what is sufficient, effective, efficient for farm business.

· Sell any outdated or unused farm equipment.

· Sell any unused or unneeded farm acres.

(Sayner, 2023)

Training

Farmers should invest in the following training to ensure that they are able to care for the upkeep of their farm, its animals, wastewater, agriculture systems, energy solutions, and preservation methods.

· Basic understanding of farm budgeting, and its principles

· Basic carpentry skills for maintenance, farm machine repairs.

· Basic veterinary skills to care for farm animals.

· Basic permaculture skills to understand natural ecosystems, wastewater, and agriculture systems.

· Basic preservation methods to include canning, fermenting, and drying.

· Basic knowledge of renewable energy to understand solar, hydro, and wind system

The above skills obtained above are extremely useful for the long-term success of a company, and having the basic knowledge of them will allow farmers to manage most situations that may arise, thus taking out the reliance on external people and/or organizations. Overall, these skills contribute to the sustainability of the farm, financial and self-reliance.

However, I want to emphasize the most important skill is understanding farm budgeting. Farmers primarily must understand the financial planning tool that will assist them in forecasting and tracking their income, expenses, profits, and losses. Also, this tool will assist farmers in ensuring that they have a long and self-sustainable income for many years to come. In addition, several budget topics are imperative for farmers to also understand, they are:

· Revenue Estimation – Prediction of farm product sales, and the understanding of market trends, crop yields, and pricings.

· Cost Analysis – Tracking of fixed and variable costs (insurance, machine depreciation, seeds, labor, and fuel.

· Profitability Analysis – Calculating the final costs to farmers (revenue, and expenses).

· Risk Management – Strategizing to mitigate risks (weather, pests, and turbulent markets).

Incorporating all of the budget skills will allow farmers to strategically plan for their future, taking into consideration the risks that are inherently in nature, in the farming business.

(Admin, 2024)

Timeline For Implementation

The timeline for implementation varies with each farmer but depends on the urgency of the farmer to ensure that they have planned in advance in mitigating debt, determining the farm structure and food product requirements, as well as gaining the knowledge to maintain a farm independent effectively and efficiently from external assistance. Financial independence is crucial to self-reliance and sustainability, without having to worry about the stresses of finances. Having an effective and efficient budget to clearly understand the totality of the farm, farmers need to have a committed and disciplined mindset to strategically plan and budget for an independent lifestyle. A budget not only prepares farmers for success but will also assist them in planning for their future, by helping them to mitigate risks, control their finances, invest in themselves, and make well informed virtuous business decisions.

(Husfarm, n.d.)

What Does Successful Virtuous Decisions Look Like?

As producers of food products for the Nation, farmers have the weight of the World on their shoulders, and in order to ensure that they are doing no harm, it is important for farmers incorporate the Virtuous Business Model (VBM) in all of their decisions and in their decision-making processes. Virtuous Business decisions consider the various stakeholders, and everyone and thing that the farmer touches, uses, implements, and cultivates. Stakeholders include the American people who consume the farmer’s products, the animals who are sold for income, the farmworkers, and the environment. This includes the entire production line of products used, from pesticides, water, animals, and machinery. In addition, how farmers treat the animals while caring for them should be humane, and in accordance to laws and regulations on how animals are treated positively from birth through the end of their life.

All decisions that farmers make have an impact on American lives, and being virtuous and ethical is paramount. Farmers are to protect and serve the American people who consume their products, while espousing the Virtuous Business Model (VBM) to affect change socially, spiritually, and economically in the World. All decisions should have the VBM at its core, and to be sincere, principled, and compassionate when making decisions.

(“Virtuous Decision Making for Business Ethics on JSTOR,” n.d.)

How Is Success Measured?

Self-reliance, self-sufficiency, and success are measured by how farmers:

· Understand their business, and how effectively and efficiently they are managing their farm, its’ resources, costs, budget, risks, and products.

· Ensure their farm is sustainable, and can mitigate risks.

· Invest in themselves by continually learning problem solving skills to remain independent.

· Practice crop diversification, as necessary, and only cultivate products that drive income.

· Integrate the VBM in all decisions and decision processes, which affect all stakeholders.

· Create and ensure a food self-sufficiency policy in a transparent and forward-thinking manner.

( III. Enhancing Self-reliance, n.d.)

Conclusion

Farmers have longed to be self-reliant, resourceful, and to have financial sustainability, and today I have provided the necessary resources, farm structure requirements, training, personnel, concrete steps to implement, and the timeline for implementation, as well as what the definition of success looks like, and how success is measured using virtuous decision making. All in pursuit of a farmer’s ability to be self-reliant, resourceful, and to have financial sustainability.

References

III. Enhancing self-reliance. (n.d.). https://www.fao.org/4/T3384E/t3384e05.htm

Admin. (2024, July 27). Self Sustaining Farm: Practical guide on creating your own. Forever Farms. https://foreverfarms.org/self-sustaining-farm/#cultivating-more-self-sufficiency-skills-for-farming

Husfarm. (n.d.). The role of farm budgeting in achieving financial independence – HuSFarm. Husfarm Agriculture Platform. https://husfarm.com/article/the-role-of-farm-budgeting-in-achieving-financial-independence

Provis, C. (2010). Virtuous Decision Making for Business Ethics. Journal of Business Ethics, 91, 3–16. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40929025

Sayner, A. (2023, January 2). A Beginner’s Guide to Self sufficiency farming. GroCycle. https://grocycle.com/self-sufficiency-farming/

Virtuous decision making for Business Ethics on JSTOR. (n.d.). www.jstor.org. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40929025