By Linda Geist
Mistakes on the farm can be costly in money, time and relationships. When a service provider sprays the wrong field or leaves a gate open and the cows get out, tempers can flare.
Don’t let mistakes interfere with longtime relationships in your community, says University of Missouri Extension agricultural business specialist Katie Neuner.
Business relationships in small towns are unique, Neuner says. Suppliers and vendors often are neighbors or friends; their child may even be on the same ball team with your child. A business dispute can lead to uncomfortable encounters and hard feelings. “You’re all intertwined, and you want to maintain good relationships,” she says.