Business Needs and Challenges Survey for Missouri Agribusiness

We highly value your insights and expertise in the agricultural industry.

MOSourceLink, Green Hills Regional Planning Commission, and other community partners are collaborating to gain a deeper understanding of the needs and challenges that Missouri's agribusinesses encounter.

Your participation will be vital in shaping our efforts to provide improved support and address the unique needs of agribusinesses in Missouri.

Screener Question

1. I am a business owner/operator in the agriculture, food or forestry industry in the state of Missouri and am willing to complete this voluntary survey on business and workforce needs for my business. *

	Yes
	No

If you answered "No" to the question above please STOP - do not continue this survey. This survey is intended for completion only by Missouri agriculture, food and forestry industry businesses.
Thank you

If you have questions about this survey or need other assistance for your business call MOSourceLink at 866-870-6500

Personal Information

2. Please enter your name. *

First Name	Last Name

3. What is your preferred email address to receive communication regarding your business and participation in this survey? *

4. Please enter your five digit zip code where your business is located. *

5. What is your work phone number? *

6. What is your race?

	African American or Black
	Asian American
	Native American/Alaskan Native
	Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
	White

7. What is your ethnicity?

	Hispanic or Latino
	Non-Hispanic or Non-Latino

Individual Business Characteristics

8. What is your company's name?

9. Which industry segment best represents your business?

	Production Agriculture (includes crop & animal production related activities, forestry, logging)
	Forestry and wood products manufacturing
	Agriculture Support and Services (includes chemical mfg, landscape services, veterinary, machinery and equipment sales, etc.)
	Food and Beverage Manufacturing (includes meat and food processing, breweries, wineries, etc.)
	Forestry and wood products manufacturing (woodworking, paper products mfg, etc.)

10. Which of the following best describes the current stage of your business journey?

	Pre-venture (I have an idea for a business that I want to start)
	Existence/Infancy (I’ve started my business and have customers)
	Early Growth
	Expansion
	Decline
	Maturity
	Transition (I'm ready to exit/sell/transition to new ownership)

11. Briefly describe the nature of your business, including the products or services that your business provides. *

12. Select from the list below the statements that apply to you and your business (select all that apply).

	I have a business plan that summarizes the business operations and financial projections
	I have a strategic plan that outlines the long-term vision, direction, and growth of the business
	I have a marketing plan that outlines marketing objectives, strategies, and tactics
	I regularly monitor and understand the business' cash flow

13. What is the geographic scope of your business's market? (Please select the option that best describes your market presence)

	Local (Your business primarily serves a specific local area or community)
	Regional (Your business operates and targets customers across a defined region or multiple nearby areas)
	National (Your business operates on a national level, targeting customers throughout the country)

Access to Business Support Resources

14. In what areas of your business have previously sought assistance, training, or consultation?

	Buy or sell a business
	Business Planning
	Market and customer research
	Marketing/sales
	Site location (including land)
	Land use
	Financials (budgeting, accounting, etc.)
	Obtain funding/financing
	Operational processes
	Human resources (hiring, onboarding, evaluation, management skills, etc.)
	Legal issues
	Product development
	None

15. Please share the names of any organizations or programs that you have worked with to receive assistance for your business.

16. What barriers have or continue to prevent you from accessing assistance, training, consultation for your business?

	Unable to find support to assist with my specific business needs
	Unsure a what kind of support my business needs
	Generally unaware that business support is available
	Cost
	Scheduling conflicts
	Complex or timely application process
	Virtual access (broadband connectivity)
	Virtual access (digital skills, no computer/device)
	Other

17. Which areas of assistance, training, consultation would be most helpful for your business, now?

	Buy or sell a business
	Business Planning
	Market and customer research
	Marketing/sales
	Site location
	Land use
	Financials (budgeting, accounting, etc.)
	Obtain funding/financing
	Operational processes
	Human resources (hiring, onboarding, evaluation, management skills, etc.)
	Legal issues
	Product development
	Other
	None

18. Based on your response to the previous question - please share any additional information you feel will help us better understand your business's unique needs.

19. Would you like someone to contact you about your business needs to connect you with free and low cost business support?

	Yes
	No

Employees/Talent

20. How many full-time jobs (35 hours or more per week) does your business have? Include yourself if you work full-time.

21. How does your business plan to add employees?

	Hiring new full-time employees
	Hiring new part-time employees
	Other methods to add workers
	Hiring contract workers
	Using a temporary agency or recruiter
	Recalling workers from lay-off list
	No need for additional employees

22. How many part-time jobs (less than 35 hours per week) does your business have? Include yourself if you work part-time.

23. Which of the following are barriers to expanding employment for your business?

	Applicants lack necessary skills/experience
	General lack of applicants
	Shortage of relevant training programs
	Economic/financial conditions
	Government policies or regulations
	Lack of transport access
	Lack of childcare access
	No barriers

24. Which of the following are critical positions for your business?

	General / unskilled labor
	Processing / packaging
	Equipment operation
	Management / Leadership
	Specialists (engineers, plant scientists, veterinarians, etc.)
	Customer service/sales
	Clerical
	Other (please specify below)

25. List skills that are in high demand across your company that were not listed above and provide a 1-10 rating for each.

26. What critical positions are the most difficult to fill?

	General/unskilled labor
	Processing/packaging
	Equipment operation
	Management/leadership
	Customer service/sales
	Clerical
	Specialists (engineers, plant scientists, veterinarians, etc.)
	Other

27. What specific skills are most difficult to find?

	Reliability and general work readiness
	Leadership and supervisor skills
	Problem solving and analytical
	Transportation / drivers
	Customer service and sales
	Communication and interpersonal skills
	Livestock handling
	Heavy equipment operation
	Mechanical / repair
	Agronomy
	Electrical
	Animal husbandry
	Financial management
	Automation/robotics knowledge
	Programming and software applications
	Other

Sourcing and Procurement

28. Which customer base does your business primarily serve?

	Business-to-Business (B2B): Your business primarily sells products or services to other businesses
	Business-to-Consumer (B2C): Your business primarily sells products or services directly to individual consumers
	Both B2B and B2C: Your business sells products or services to both businesses and individual consumers

29. How does your business engage in the supply chain with other businesses? Please select the option that best describes your business's involvement:

	Sourcing/Procurement: Your business primarily procures goods and services from other businesses to meet its own operational needs.
	Supplying/Providing: Your business primarily supplies goods and services to other businesses as part of the supply chain.
	Both Sourcing/Procurement and Supplying/Providing: Your business engages in both sourcing/procuring goods and services for its own needs and supplying/providing goods and services to other businesses as part of the supply chain.

30. What methods does your business use to become a supplier/vendor to other businesses?

	Respond to RFPs or RFQs
	Subcontracting and supplier diversity programs
	Supplier marketplaces and online portals
	Direct outreach
	Online business presence
	Trade shows and exhibitions
	Other

31. What methods do you use to source/procure goods and services needed for your businesses? (select all that apply)

	RFPs or RFQs
	Subcontracting and Supplier Diversity Programs
	Supplier marketplaces and portals
	Direct outreach
	Directly from manufacturers
	Online marketplaces
	Local suppliers/stores
	Trade shows and exhibitions
	Cooperative buying groups
	Other

32. If "other" selected as response above, please explain

33. What specific goods or services, that are critical to your business, do to you have difficulty sourcing regionally?

34. Which of the following are barriers to sourcing/procuring the necessary items indicated above? (select all that apply)

	Limited availability
	Awareness of/Connection to suppliers
	Capital restraints
	Logistics or transportation issues

Plans for Growth

35. How do you want to grow your business? Please select the option(s) that you believe would have the most significant impact in achieving your goals if implemented in the next 12 months.

	Acquire equipment/supplies/physical space
	Add new customers / Increase sales
	Expand into new markets
	Grow workforce (fill open jobs, add new jobs)
	Improve operations and efficiencies
	Offer additional products or services

36. Have you considered selling or ceasing business operations the business in the next 5 years?

	Yes
	No

37. Which of the following best describes your plan for eventually leaving/exiting the business?

	Sell via open market (buyer not yet identified)
	Management buyout (existing management team or employees of the company purchase the business)
	Transition (such as through a succession plan or inheritance)
	Liquidation (sell assets to pay business debts and wind down operations)
	Merger or Acquisition
	Franchising or licensing
	Have not considered

Thank you for completing this survey! Your input is greatly appreciated