In this module, you’ll document your plan for HOW you’re going to achieve the goals you have set for your farm business, and your life in a Plan on a Page. 

The 'Now-Where-How-Review' Business Planning Cycle - find more detail on page 2 of the QuickPlan workbook.

Once you’ve completed the activities in this module, you’ll be able to: 

• Identify areas of your farm business that you want to focus on 

• Document your vision, SMART goals and actions in a Plan on a Page format  

• Communicate your Plan on a Page to stakeholders in your farm business 

To complete the activities in the module, you'll need:

• Your Our Farm, Our Plan (OFOP) Online Course Participant Guide

• Your OFOP QuickPlan booklet

• A blank Plan on a Page (found in your OFOP folder)

Click play to watch the clip below.

It details what the Plan on a Page is, and suggests how you might approach creating your own.  

 

 

Now’s the time to sit with your business partner/s to prioritise what will go into your plan.  

You will find an A3 Plan on a Page template in your Our Farm, Our Plan folder. You can also download an editable/printable version here.  

The modules in this online course have supported you to develop a better understanding about your farm business now, as well as identify where you want to head. Review the work you’ve done throughout the course while you to create your Plan on a Page:  

• Farm Fitness Checklist 

• Your Vision 

• Quickplan (SMART goals and actions) 

• Your SWOT analysis 

• Key risks to your farm business how you’ll manage them (it may be that one of the priorities of your Plan on a Page is guided by the actions you’d like to take to mitigate a risk) 

When you’re writing your plan, don’t forget to write down when you want to achieve it and who is going to be responsible. Accountability plays a big part in us following through and turning intentions into results. Remember that this is a working document – where you get to now with your plan won’t be set in stone, so don’t get stuck agonising over what you’re including in your plan or how you word each section of the plan. 

There may be some parts of the Plan on a Page that you need some clarification around or some extra help with. Make a note of these and bring them to the upcoming online workshop to discuss.   

Next, think about the key stakeholders who should see your Plan on a Page. One of the keys to the success of your plan is that you bring others along with you. Once you are happy with your plan, organise time to sit down with those people to have a discussion about it with them.  

If you can, create copies of your Plan on a Page and display it in areas where the people who need to can see it – this may increase buy-in. 

Take some time to work through the Plan on a Page with your business partner/s. Come back to the course after you've made some progress. 

Reviewing Your Plan

A key part of strategic planning is to check in and review your progress and then reset your plans based on what you learn from your review. 

Our Farm, Our Plan is no exception. The need to review and reset your plans is an important part of the process.  

Make your review work for you by asking: 

• How often will you review your progress? 

• Who needs to be involved? 

• How much time will it take to do? 

• What information do you need to have on hand? 

• Where will you do this? 

• When will you do this next? 

 

Make your thoughts about each of the points above clear by going to page 29 of the QuickPlan booklet and filling in the information about reviewing your Plan on a Page.   
 
The best way to get started? Set a date and time and lock it in. The biggest risk is that reviews get put off and put off – there's always going to be something that seems more urgent.