PIONEER POINTERS 



Is Your Business at Risk? 



We all have check-ups in our 

 lives-healthcare check-ups, 

 dental check-ups, perfor- 

 mance check-ups at work, auto check- 

 ups at the shop, and on and on. 



But when was the last time you 

 perfonned a Risk Management check- 

 up? Specifically, we're talking about 

 an assessment of the degree to which 

 your business is exposed to potential 

 threats that can do serious hann to 

 your bottom line. 



Just as a periodic physical exami- 

 nation helps ensure that your body 

 won't break down, a Risk Manage- 

 ment check-up achieves the same ob- 

 jective for your business. 



Now you can get this done in just 

 a few minutes, anytime of day, and it 

 won't cost you a cent. It is absolutely 

 FREE. Just log on to the Internet Risk 

 Management Check-up Web link be- 

 low, respond to a few questions about 

 your business, submit your completed 

 questionnaire, and you're done. ... and 

 you'll get instant feedback. 



The purpose is to profile the level 

 of risk in your business in seven key 



management risk areas: 



Production 



Marketing 



Human Resources 



Financial 



Estate Planning 



Legal 



Crop Insurance 



It is a great way to discover: 



- strong and weak spots in your farm 

 operation regarding overall risk to 

 your business 



- areas where you might need to focus 

 efforts on minimizing exposure to a 

 potential business catastrophe. 



To get started, just visit the Web 

 link below, respond to a few multiple 

 choice questions and click on Cal- 

 culate. Once you have calculated, 

 you then receive a Risk Management 

 Score. 



In addition, you also receive ad- 

 vice about your current position, steps 

 you might take to enhance/improve 

 your situation and "go to" resourc- 

 es (e.g., attorney, lender, insurance 



agent) that provide assistance in spe- 

 cific areas. 



There is no risk in completing it! 

 The questionnaire takes less than 10 

 minutes to complete. Above all, it is 

 an important step in helping to ensure 

 the long term viability of your farm 

 operations. So log in now to the fol- 

 lowing link: 

 www.firstpioneer.com/risk 



First Pioneer Fami Credit pro- 

 vides financial services to the green 

 industry. Their services include re- 

 cordkeeping/accounting support ser- 

 vices, tax preparation/tax planning, 

 credit, leasing, consulting, appraisals 

 and payroll. For more infomiation 

 about any of the above financial ser- 

 vices, please call the Bedford, NH 

 branch otfice at 1-800-825-3252. 

 Funding for the development of the 

 Internet Risk Management Check-up 

 Tool was provided through a grant 

 from the USDA Risk Management 

 Agency in partnership with the Mas- 

 sachusetts Department of Agricul- 

 tural Resources and the New England 

 Small Fami Institute. 



GOL 



Product Experts, Caring People 



TAR 



and of Course, Beautiful Plants 



For Over 50 Years, Gold Star Has OfTered the Products 

 and Services that Help Your Business Grow 



1 265 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA 02420 250 West Road, Canterbury, NH 03224 



800.631.3013 Fax: 7B 1. 86 1. 7608 800.648.8873 Fax: 603.783.4596 



Trust the 



product and service 



Experts 



goldstarnurseries.com 



WINTER 2005 



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