stable and profitable

What are the things that make a farming enterprise stable and profitable?  How do you ensure economical success?  To answer these questions I spoke my old mate Brian, a cattle farmer from the Lower South East.  It's not and exhaustive list but there are many points to consider :

- Weather
- Quality of workers, a good mix of experienced and up and coming
- Worker welfare
- Good prices for produce
- Knowledge of changes in the market, what do consumers want?
- Knowledge of resources available and how to best use them
- Management style
- Up to date knowledge of technology and scientific advances
- Up to date knowledge of what other producers are doing
- Membership in associations
- Diversification and polyculture
- Consumers awareness of the produce farmed
- Economical production 
- Adherence to rules set out by associations and government
- Availability of natural resources such as water

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