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Start out on the right foot with an ag consultant

You may have taken some business courses in school, but your primary function is to run your agribusiness. By hiring a consultant to find a building, purchase all the necessary equipment, set up a stable client base and hire and train your staff, you will alleviate a whole lot of stress. You can then focus on what you do best.

I recommend: Agribusiness Consultants has experience in setting up new operations from retrofitting an existing establishment to building entire systems. Start with a feasibility study before making your business plan. Southwest Agribusiness Consulting is a full-service ag consulting firm that can service all your needs. Get set up with farm financial software as you move towards your independent company setup.

Use an agricultural expert to upgrade your practice

While you are busy growing your business, your staff may be lingering in an office that is out-dated and inefficient. By bringing in agribusiness consultants to review your office policies and procedures, you will make your entire company more profitable.

I recommend: DW Block can come in a advise you on strategic planning and offer solutions to make your company more successful. Bring them in for executive strategic planning and to work on making acquisitions. Agronomic Acumen can provide consulting services as well as seminars and training programs for your team. Get advice on strengthening your financial position.

Contract for continued agriculture consulting

You may reduce some of your costs by outsourcing your operations completely to an ag consultant who can set up your new systems and mange the day-to-day operations and reporting platforms.

I recommend: Greig & Associates offers interim management and overseas management services in addition to other ag consulting. Ag Call is a full-service project management agricultural consulting firm that can provide full and part-time staffing as well as professional project management. Join the company’s blog to communicate with others about using ag consultants. .

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Bring in an ag advisor at least once a year to survey your clientele and review your books to make sure your business is on track.

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Hire agribusiness consultants that specialize in agriculture

Select an agricultural expert who is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in your industry. Ask to see a list of past and present clients, and request references.

I recommend: AgCall Inc., specializes in consulting services for the agriculture and food industry in North America, and features an online client list. AgResource Company Consulting Group provides economic and management consulting services to agriculture, food processing and food service businesses. Centrec Consulting Group, LLC, focuses on helping agribusiness firms respond to structural change.

Choose agricultural consulting firms with proven skills

Review the consulting work provided by each agricultural consulting practice. Evaluate the agriculture consulting company's experience, qualifications and certifications, and request successful project examples of the specific skill sets you need.

I recommend: Kendle Regulatory Affairs offers comprehensive food auditing, consulting and training services for agricultural businesses. Greig and Associates provides management and technical consulting services for agricultural production, including cost studies, land development, harvesting and marketing. Agri-Management Group, Ltd., specializes in personnel services, financial services and farm management services for farmers.

Select agricultural consultants that meet your budget

Many agricultural specialist firms operate on a retainer with a minimum time commitment. Several utilize an hourly fee structure for short-term projects. Your agriculture consulting cost will depend upon the scope of your services.

I recommend: Agland Investment Services, Inc.'s consulting fees vary depending on the consultant's experience and length of project; long-term project fees are typically lower than short-term project fees. Get a quote for agriculture consulting services at Frazier, Barnes & Associates, LLC.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure that it is written into your contract that the agribusiness consultants firm will not provide services to any competing business during the course of your business relationship.
• •  It is tempting to save time by interviewing just one ag consulting firm. However, it is in your organization's best interest to contact and interview contact several ag consultant practices to discuss your potential project. Two or three choices will provide you with the best possible match in skills, services, price and rapport for both you and the ag advisor or farm advisor.

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Use full-service agribusiness consultants

Building relationships with your ag advisory team can take time and resources, making it beneficial at times to stick with one agency for all your marketing, sales and production needs. Full-service agricultural consultants will know your company well and should be proficient in all areas of your business.

I recommend: Context is a full-service ag consulting firm that will take into consideration all of your operation before making recommendations. The GIC Group is a fully integrated ag consulting business that also can assist you with business financial planning.

Choose an agricultural specialist

While your full-service ad agency may have experience in all facets of your operation, the niche agencies put all of their efforts in one pot and can often bring more experience to the table that can help you get more from your marketing or production efforts. Consider hiring a specialist for a focused approach to your business.

I recommend: IRZ specializes in irrigation issues that can help to make your company’s water use more efficient. LSC can help you break into the global agricultural marketplace with their deep contacts and broad international experience.

Get the most from agricultural consulting firms

You should consider working with agricultural consultants who bring a vast knowledge of technological advancements that you need to remain competitive. There are so many advancements in ecological and green operations that you need to investigate all the alternatives to remain competitive.

I recommend: ReQuest offers agribusinesses the technology to grow through web site design and other IT functions. AgCo Advanced Technology Solutions provides consulting services and software for the ag professional.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When you are working with agricultural consultants, make sure that they have a way to offer measurable results on a regular basis. Whether you look at sales figures, growth capacity numbers or a reduction in costs, you need to have tangible proof that your consulting resources are being used in the best way.

Guide to Agricultural Consultant Key Terms

Understand the terms you need to know for working with agribusiness consultants

By Lesley Graybeal

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Business plan

A business plan is the most crucial document for any business or entrepreneur, including farmers. Most agricultural consultants start with creating a business plan, which includes a business concept describing the service or product sold, financial features and requirements of a business and any special legal provisions governing the business or industry, many of which apply to agriculture.

I recommend: Entrepreneur provides an extensive definition of the business plan and detailed descriptions of the elements of an effective business plan.

Feasibility studies

Feasibility studies are an integral part of creating a business plan, and are defined as the process of analyzing and evaluating a proposed project or plan of action to determine if it is technically possible, if it can be done within a proposed budget and if it will be profitable. Agricultural consultants typically conduct feasibility studies for new farmers or agribusiness to determine chances of success and sustainability.

I recommend: The Boldt Media Center offers a brief definition of feasibility studies as part of its business glossary.

Financial management

Financial management is a business process in which managers develop financial goals for generating income and controlling costs. Financial management involves three main components: financial planning of available funds, financial control of existing assets and financial decision-making about revenue and costs. In agriculture, additional factors include crop and livestock estimations, crop insurance and risk management.

I recommend: Read a concise definition of farm financial management from the University of Maryland agriculture extension office, which is used to develop workshops and seminars in financial management for agriculture.

Market analysis

Market analysis is a process in which businesses asses the consumer market for their product or service to ensure profitability. Market analysis incorporates the elements of size, growth rate and trends in the target market, as well as means of distribution of products or services. Like feasibility studies, agricultural consultants can conduct market analysis on behalf of farmers and agribusinesses to assist in successful agricultural product development.

I recommend: Get a full description of the elements of market analysis from NetMBA.

Agribusiness

Agribusiness is the common term for the conglomeration across various levels of agricultural production, processing, manufacture and retail. Agribusiness characterizes the corporate form of farming prevalent in the United States and elsewhere throughout the world, and even small farming operations can take part in an agribusiness structure for selling their produce.

I recommend: D. W. Block Associates offers several definitions of agribusiness.

ASAC certification

The American Society of Agricultural Consultants offers ASAC certification for consults in agribusiness. When a consultant is ASAC certified, it means that he or she has a four-year degree in a consulting field and has been a member of ASAC for a qualifying length of time. Members can become certified as Consultant or Associate classifications.

I recommend: The American Society of Agricultural Consultants provides a detailed overview of the qualification requirements for membership and certification.