Taking the time to complete regular business assessments and analysis gives you control over your farm’s future by turning data into insight, and insight into action. Here are some categories to explore to assess the health of your farm business:

Financial Health Monitoring

Financial management practices like budgeting, debt management and financial counselling can ease one of the biggest burdens that contribute to stress among farmers, says Farm Credit Canada.

• Farm Business Assessment (Online Tool)

• Farm Assets List (Excel Sheet)

• Financial Asset Analysis (Guide)

• Net Worth Statement (Template)

• Assessing Your Liquidity (Guide)

Risk Management

Proactively identifying and mitigating risks, such as market volatility or weather-related threats, can significantly reduce stress and uncertainty, fostering resilience in the face of adversity.

• AgriShield Farm Risk Assessment (Online Tool)

Goal Tracking

Frequent assessments help you measure progress toward business goals—whether that’s increasing yield, reducing debt, or improving sustainability practices.

• Building and Sensitizing Financial Projections (Guide)

• Analyzing Cash Flow Drivers (Guide)

• Farm Vision Worksheet (Template)

Communications and marketing play a huge role in the success of a farm business. It’s about creating your brand story, and building a lasting connection with your customers to grow your business.

Coming soon

Farm business transition refers to the process of passing the ownership, management, and operation of a farm from one generation or owner to the next. It’s a critical part of long-term planning and ensures the future of the farm while protecting the interests of everyone involved, including family members, employees, and the business itself.

Assessments and Guides

• Farm Transition Guide (Farm Management Canada)

• Farm Credit Canada Advisory Services: “Lets Talk Transition”

• Transition Assessment: Roles and Responsibilities

• Transition Assessment: Knowledge Gaps and Training Needs

Templates and Sample Forms

• The Farm Family: A Farm Transition Planning Flowchart

• Farm Transition Planning: Finding and Filling the Gaps (Template)

• Succession Planning Action Plan for Owners (Sample Form)

• Succession Planning Action Plan for Workers (Sample Form)

Effective management practices, including open communication and clear delegation, can foster a more positive and supportive farm environment, contributing to the overall wellbeing of farmers and their families, as noted in this January 2025 article from "The Dairy Producer".

Browse more resources that support farm business management.

Online Tools

• Will and Estate Pre-Planning (Online Tool)

• National Farm Business Management Resource Centre (Website)

Additional Guides

• Foundational Financial Ratios (Guide)

• Assessing Your Management Ability (Guide)

Want to read the full 2020 report, "Healthy Minds, Healthy Farms" ? Click here to view and download from Farm Management Canada