WIRE stands for "Western Integrated Resource Education," a concept of management which provides practical tools for integrating management of the physical, biological, financial and human resources of agricultural operations.
WIRE 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 ranch's current status—physical and financial resources, operator management skills, etc. This is done at the more general or strategic level of management.
Once operators have a clear picture of where they are and where they want to go with the operation, WIRE provides the planning and decision making "tools" to get them there. At the tactical level of management, the operator becomes much more specific about enterprises the operation will have, technologies it will use, changes to be implemented, cost in time, labor, and dollars and expected results. 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 must be implemented. WIRE 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. WIRE 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 WIRE Program?
The WIRE 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. This team has now trained WIRE teams from several other states to offer the program.
The WIRE course is team-taught by the agents and specialists who produced the WIRE
course materials. A detailed, six-year case study, based on an actual working operations
illustrate 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
"hands-on" work in small groups or as individuals, with practical problems in
agricultural management—some of which may involve financial calculators and
computers. Field trips are also included in the course.Technical presentations 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 resource is provided. These materials include technical/scientific information regarding the management of the resources and their use in agricultural operations. The supplied WIRE workbook provides the worksheets participants need to apply this management process to their own operation.
Tentative Course Agenda
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THE OPPORTUNITIES IN RANCHING Introductions
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STRATEGIC GOALS AND STRATEGIC PLANNING Establishing Strategic Goals
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TACTICAL PLANNING - ACHIEVING STRATEGIC GOALS Introduction to Tactical Level Planning
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OPERATIONAL PLANNING - ACHIEVING TACTICAL GOALS Operational Planning
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Great Workshop, valuable knowledge gained and ability for implementation, thanks.
I think it was an excellent program.
All the exercises & problem sets were worthwhile. It tries to get us to apply this information rather than sit there like a sponge, you get saturated and it all leaks out. I think programs like this one are the most efficient use of the resources the extension service offers. You reach the most people and give them the tools to start the process of change.
...Commendable effort in compiling and presenting a complex and in-depth program. An opportunity to audit a future presentation would be nice!
...This is an excellent approach to problem solving that I am glad to see someone in extension is beginning to deal with. Although understanding individual production components are important, how they all interrelate is critical and vital to understand...
Very effective program, organized as we moved through the planning stages, clearly presented how all fitted together, presenters all good personable and effective...
Everything I hoped the course would involve is there...
Well done. I will tell others about this program. Wish I had been exposed to this type of workshop 20 years ago!
Nice job guys, some really great information. Thanks a bunch.