SETTING GOALS FOR 2026
It’s a new year, which means a fresh start! In 2026, Nourse Farms is adopting SMART Goals, a framework to help us set and achieve effective goals. In this framework, goals are viewed as living plans rather than static statements. By using SMART goals, we ensure that our goals are clear, trackable, realistic, and, most importantly, aligned with our bigger objectives. Let’s go over the SMART criteria, so you can be successful in achieving your priorities:
S = SPECIFIC
What will be accomplished? What actions will you take?
M = MEASURABLE
What data will measure the goal?
A = ACHIEVABLE
Is this goal doable? Do you have the necessary skills and resources?
R = RELEVANT
How does the goal align with broader goals? Why is this result important?
T = TIME-BOUND
What is the time frame for accomplishing the goal?
3 TIPS FROM NOURSE FARMS TO MAKE YOUR GOALS STICK
Set Fewer, Clearer Goals
While the new year brings more motivation, resist the urge to fix everything at once. Focus on a few priority goals for the season, and grow from there.
Support Your Team
Goals can only succeed when every team member understands the goal, is motivated to achieve it, and is fully supported with the tools, resources, and continued constructive feedback. When your team knows what success looks like, it’s easier to achieve.
Be Realistic, Learn, and Reset
The strongest operations don’t just work hard; they work more intentionally and are quick to adjust to their ever-changing environment. Sometimes goals may need to be reset because of new information, and that’s okay! Progress comes from continuous improvement, not perfection.
NOURSE FARMS 2026 GOALS: WHAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARD
As our CEO, John Place, mentioned in his end-of-year wrap-up video, every season brings new challenges and opportunities. At Nourse Farms, we start by identifying a set of high-level goals that help us focus, adapt to changing conditions, and keep improving year after year. As we head into 2026, we’re sharing these initial goals—the foundation we use to drill down into clear, SMART goals that will guide our work this season—and we’d love for you to think about your own goals and share them with us.
Grow the best plants we can, consistently.
Our goal is to deliver healthy, uniform plants that establish quickly and perform reliably, even as weather and labor challenges continue to evolve.
Keep learning and improving our practices.
Each year, we aim to refine how we grow, whether that means adjusting production practices, evaluating varieties, or learning from what didn’t go as planned the season before.
Support growers beyond the sale.
Our goal is to be a resource throughout the season, helping growers make informed decisions before, during, and after planting. Through webinars, site visits, and ongoing conversations, we’re here to be your partner in growth.
Think long-term—for our farm and yours.
We’re working to support the long-term health of our land, our team, and the farms we work with, recognizing that sustainability includes people, processes, and profitability. Our new Farm Manager, Allen, shared his goals for this year: “In 2026, our focus is on maintaining the strong foundation built over the past 93 years while strengthening systems that support consistency, quality, and long-term success. This year, we will work to maintain and protect plant quality and health guided by monitoring, timing, and openness to new practices. We are also taking steps to be more environmentally responsible by using water and inputs more efficiently and making practical improvements that support long-term sustainability. These efforts help ensure reliable plants today and a strong nursery for the future."
These goals will help guide our work this year. We encourage you to take time at the start of the season to set a few clear goals of your own. Writing them down is often the first step toward making progress. We welcome you to share them with us as well, so we can support you and your goals this year.
