This project addressed the production risk associated with the transition into a new production system and its implication on the financial and human aspects of the business. Peer advisory groups implementing these new production systems developed and serve as a reciprocal advisory board and address these new challenges. A group with ranchers
from North Texas and Oklahoma was formed. Group members seeked to reduce their
production risk associated with new production systems, implement new
production systems and business strategies, and improve the business's
economic, financial, and organizational aspects.
Peer advisory groups require facilitators to
be successful in the long term. The facilitator’s primary role was to help the
exchange process in the group and served as a communication link inside and
outside. we were also responsible for managing the group's work plan and
ensuring its proper functioning.
The group met once a month on each farm/ranch and we had a final benchmarking meeting. During these monthly meetings, participants implemented new production concepts in their operations, continue production education with facilitators and peers, analyzed the cost of production and benchmarking within the group, and learned about group management and interpersonal relationships to continue with the peer group in the future.