From Hewlett@uwyo.eduTue Oct 3 02:43:29 1995 Date: Mon, 02 Oct 1995 08:26:00 -0600 (MDT) From: "John P. Hewlett" To: "Sust. Ag. Newsgroup @ NCSU" Subject: W.I.R.E. an Integrated Management Program Howdy to all! Just wanted to let you know of a program we developed and have been offering here in Wyoming for the last several years. Some of you may be interested in attending. To learn more, you may want to check out our Web Page @-- http://www.uwyo.edu/ag/agecon/wirepage.htm Cheers, John Hewlett +--------------------------------------------------------- + John Hewlett Phone: (307) 766-2166 + Farm/Ranch Management Specialist Fax: (307) 766-5544 + WIRE Program Coordinator E-Mail: HEWLETT@UWYO.EDU + University of Wyoming +--------------------------------------------------------- ***************************** What is W.I.R.E.? W.I.R.E. stands for "Western Integrated Ranch/Farm Education, a concept of management which provides practical tools for integrating management of the physical, biological, financial and human resources of agricultural operations. How does W.I.R.E. approach management? W.I.R.E. emphasizes the process of management--setting goals, priorities, making decisions, planning, budgeting, keeping records and performing evaluations with personal goals and optimization in mind rather than particular production technologies. The process begins by setting goals, which provides the manager with a clear focus on what he/she wants to accomplish through the operation and a view of how it can be done. Managers also need a thorough analysis of where they are and what they have to work with--a thorough inventory of the operation's current status--its physical and financial resources, the operator's management skills, etc. This is done at the more general or strategic level of management. Once the operator has a clear picture of where he/she is and where he/she wants to go with the operation, W.I.R.E. provides the planning and decision making tools for how to get there. At the tactical level of management, the operator becomes much more specific about what enterprises the operation will have, what technologies it will use, what changes will be implemented, what it will cost in time, labor and dollars and what the expected results are. Serious analysis of how enterprises relate to each other and what the desired set of enterprises might be in the operation is also carried out. Finally, management plans have to be implemented. W.I.R.E. deals in detail with the practical, on-the-ground, how-to-do-it questions. At the operational level of management, the operator decides the specifics of how, when, and by whom the management plan is to be accomplished, and how it is likely to impact his/her financial situation. The operator is also provided information on how to monitor the various resources and respond to changes in a positive, proactive way. W.I.R.E. gives managers the tools to understand the relationships and interactions of the major ranch resources like soil, water, rangeland, crops, livestock, wildlife, finances, human creativity and labor. All of these resources are assessed and made to "flow" together, much like the familiar "cash flow". Who developed the W.I.R.E. Program? The W.I.R.E. course has been specifically adapted for Western producers from Total Ranch Management a course developed by the Cooperative Extension Service in Texas. A team of Wyoming Extension specialists and agents spent considerable time modifying and fine-tuning the excellent framework developed in Texas. How is the W.I.R.E. course taught? The W.I.R.E. course is team-taught by agents and specialists who helped design the W.I.R.E. course materials. A detailed, six year case study, based on an actual ranch or farm, illustrates many of the concepts and specifics of the management process. Participants will be able to use or adapt many of the planning, record-keeping, and analysis tools from this practical case study to their own operations. While course content includes some formal presentations, its emphasis is on "hand-on" work in small groups or as individuals, with practical problems in agricultural management--some of which may involve financial calculators and computers. Two afternoon field trips or labs are included in the course. Technical presentations will concentrate on the options used in the case study. The instructional team is dedicated to teaching the philosophy and process of good management, as well as technical knowledge about various resources. In addition to the case study materials, a reference handbook covering each major ranch/farm resource is provided. These materials include technical/scientific information regarding the management of the resources and their use in agricultural operations. Where and When is the Course Being Offered? Expansion of the course is being funded by a Western Region SARE grant. Teaching teams have been trained from the states of Montana and Utah. Courses are scheduled in these two states, as well as in Wyoming for the coming Fall/Winter/Spring. The Wyoming courses are listed below. PROGRAM #1: (range livestock case study) October 30-31, 1995; Douglas, Wyoming November 6-7, 1995; Douglas, Wyoming November 13-14, 1995; Casper, Wyoming PROGRAM #2: (range livestock case study) November 2-3, 1995; Sheridan, Wyoming November 15-17, 1995; Buffalo, Wyoming PROGRAM #3: (farm case study) February 6-7, 1996; Powell, Wyoming February 20-22, 1996; Worland, Wyoming PROGRAM #4: (range livestock case study) May 14-16, 1996; Laramie, Wyoming May 21-23, 1996; Laramie, Wyoming Contact me for program schedules for other Western states @: hewlett@uwyo.edu ------------end of text--------------