Changing the speed ratings

Expediting the process, speeding things up, adapting to the situation, changing in the blink of an eye…

These are all things that we, as people in agriculture, do daily. Now, I am not saying that individuals in other trades don’t have to make adaptations and adjustments, but in my (albeit) limited work experience an alternatively non-ag setting, it’s my opinion that the rate of this is much lower.

BY CAMERON MULRONY ICA Executive Vice President

ence). Although you can “light the board” with horses of differing speed ratings, the head-to-head result shows the winner is always faster.

In college, I worked in a shipping warehouse and small manufacturing area. We did not see many changes from day to day- the orders came down, you picked the items from the warehouse and moved on to the next order. If you were packaging the orders, you rechecked the items, fit them in a box, placed a pre-printed label on the item and set them on the dock for distribution. The adaptations and changes mostly appeared in 2 main ways: either inventory was incorrect in the computer system or items were not located where we had intended them to be for picking. On the other end, these needed adjustments occurred if there was some type of shipping error or missed delivery deadline. Although I am sure there were a variety of challenges at the upper end of the management and sales staff, the adaptation or need for quick changes were relatively small in comparison.

This brings me to my topic of the day. The speed of Government vs the speed of Commerce. I think it is safe to say that they do not possess the same speed index (a little Quarter Horse Racing refer-

I recently spoke at a meeting in Boise where some of the attendees work in stream restoration across the west. Unlike most of the audiences, it appeared many of them were not operating their own businesses, rather, looking to implement projects that could benefit our businesses as well as provide stream benefits. To kick off the discussion, I asked the group how many of them strive to live in the same home and carry the same job 10 years into the future? 20yrs? 30? 50? The point being that this longevity is the goal of many of our family operations- even 50 years from today, they are hopeful that their work, their ranch, their legacy will live on with the next generation who will be actively managing the day to day long after they are gone. The consistency of an agency employee, or any employee, is much shorter in today’s work force. In addition, we as operators set out to do a job each day, and although our day may change quickly, we must make decisions and live with consequences. Our “speed ratings” don’t always match, so this too can be a roadblock when developing partnership projects.

So how can we adapt policy and procedures to allow our speed ratings to compete? How can we affect the conditions of the race?

This question puts us in ICA’s arena of expertise! The connections, resources and influence from ICA relationships can help start the ball rolling toward adjustments and adaptations. For example, what change could be made that would minimize restriction placed on agency at a local level for those who want to get the job done? First we have to identify and agree that we can create a change. The next step is to go through the process to create change and the last is to utilize the change we have advocated to preserve, promote, or protect our industry.

My ask of you, as an ICA member, is to make a list of roadblocks that halted progress and send them to our staff or leadership. This way we can begin the process (sending to a committee, etc) in order to fill the pipeline with items where we want to see change.

The processes are the slowest part of the adjustments; however, they work to strengthen the voice of individual memberships and the association. I, personally, just have to learn to be patient and I would guess that is a lesson that is as hard on many of you reading, that it is on me. So make a list and let’s look at some of the issues that we can work on to expedite the situation.

…ramblings complete! Long Live Cowboys~