December 14, 2022

Human Resource Risk Management & Contingency Planning

Farms and agribusinesses are confronted by many different types of risk, but consideration to human resource risk is overlooked by far too many. If critical functions cannot be completed due to a death, disability, disaster, divorce, or disagreement the farm business cannot operate at full efficiency. One way to combat HR risk is by writing a contingency plan to help decide what to do if key operations are disrupted or key personnel is not available. In this first episode of a new series on Farm Risk Management, Maria Marshall, Renee Wiatt, and Kelly Heckaman join Brady Brewer to discuss contingency planning and human resource risk management. A HR Risk Checklist and the Planning for the Unexpected: Human Resource Risk & Contingency Planning pdf can be found below.

Additional Resources:

Human Resource Checklist Planning for the Unexpected: Human Resource Risk and Contingency Planning

 

This series is based on the Six Pillars of Farm Risk Management course, funded by the North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center. More information on contingency planning is on the Purdue Institute for Family Business’ website, https://purdue.ag/fambiz, under the Strategic Business Planning Focus Area tab.

TAGS:

TEAM LINKS:

RELATED RESOURCES

Farm Absorption Capacity and Producer Sentiment

November 9, 2026

If crop prices slip or input costs climb, how much room does your farm have to adjust? Use a three-question scorecard to assess your fixed costs per unit, enterprise mix and balance sheet. Then see how your score compares with responses from 400 producers in the October 2026 Ag Economy Barometer survey.

Contingency Planning with Cash Flow Shortages

June 4, 2026

A contingency plan is a course of action designed to help a business determine how to respond to possible future events. Contingency plans are often referred to as “Plan B”. One of the most common contingency plans used by a business, particularly a small business, relates to how to respond to the departure or absence of key personnel. Contingency plans relating to how to respond to changes in projected cash flow are also important. Given the recent increase in input prices for fertilizer and fuel and wide variability in expected prices, it would be prudent for a farm to examine the sensitivity of their cash flow and repayment capacity to changes in crop prices. This article illustrates the use of contingency plans for a case farm in southwest Indiana.

Financial Stress, Labor Decisions, and Farm Resilience: Tools to Evaluate Your Operation

January 29, 2026

Adding a family member or employee to a farm is a long-term financial decision. These slides and self-assessment tools help evaluate financial feasibility, strategic risk, and business resilience before expanding labor.

UPCOMING EVENTS

ARC/PLC 2026: Making Your Crop Risk Management Decision

Compare PLC, ARC-CO and ARC-IC before making your 2026 farm program election. Join Purdue’s Michael Langemeier November 16 for a free webinar covering the pros and cons of each option, with time for Q&A.

Top Farmer Conference 2027

January 8, 2027

A management programs geared specifically for farmers. Surrounded by farm management, farm policy, agricultural finance and marketing experts, and a group of your peers, the conference will stimulate your thinking about agriculture’s future and how you can position your farm to be successful in the years ahead.