Empty livestock and orchards don't produce goods.  Goods equal money and materials.  Try to have a feel for how long you will be gone from your farm and plant crops and mill feed accordingly.  Growing wheat and milling cow feed overnight should be your normal.

If you don't have time to fish, toss a single fillet white in the pan.  Making Fish Fingers to get 5 shells is better than an empty pan.

Even if you only have 2 mins to pop on, dump the bad market contracts, collect livestock, replant your fields and restart your mills.