The University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension Financial Management & Strategic Planning programs, information and resources intend to improve the farm financial and decision-making skills of Wisconsin agribusiness, farmers and farm managers, agricultural lenders and educators.
Farm Pulse
Information on how to use farm financials to explore farm business decisions. This course will help farmers evaluate their finances, take the pulse of their farm business, and set goals for the future of their operation.
The farm financial model helps the farmer make the best decisions for the farm business. From record-keeping to financial analysis, this model illustrates how to make sound financial decisions and identifies tools to help in the process. To understand the farm business’ records, one needs to understand the purpose records serve to and for the farm manager. The Farm Business Financial Model offers a process for informed decision-making.
The farmer must collect and organize income and expense receipts in an accounting system before generating financial statements. Receipt accounting is also referred to as record keeping.
Organizing the records provides the farmer with the financial information necessary to complete management reports, which are also known as financial statements. The Farm Financial Standards Council (FFSC) recommends farmers create four financial statements from which the financial position and performance may be analyzed. Financial statements should be prepared on a consistent basis. Statements include balance sheet, income statement, statement of cash flows, and statement of owner equity.
Understanding the farm business’s history of financial position and financial performance provides a basis for the farmer to make decisions and plan into the future. Pro forma refers to the future view of the farm’s financial position and performance. For example, what would the balance sheet look like after a future expansion? The future financial position can be analyzed for feasibility, profitability, and risk-ability. Pro forma financial statements complement the farm’s budgets. Cash, partial, and enterprise budgets are commonly used to assist the farmer in decision-making.
Whether on the tractor, in the barn, or at the farm office, farm managers are always mulling over some change to their operation that might improve profitability. It might be employing a new technology, launching a new enterprise, buying or leasing machinery, altering a production practice, or some other possible change. Occasionally, one of those ideas […]
As people who live in rural areas, we are all use to the potholes that jar our vehicles and rattle our teeth. Likewise, the financial statements that measure the position and performance of our dairy businesses have potholes too that are sometimes difficult to navigate.
Host Katie Wantoch and Ryan Sterry, Professor and Agriculture Agent with Extension in St. Croix County, discuss the pro’s and con’s of harvesting, storing, and feeding high-moisture corn to dairy cattle.
The Balance Sheet is a financial statement that measures the financial position of the business at a point in time.
The income statement is one of the four primary farm business financial statements. Its purpose is to measure profits and financial performance of the farm business.
Historically, Wisconsin dairy farmers have sought and received credit from traditional lenders with local branches such as Farm Credit Associations, Agricultural Credit Associations, commercial banks, or credit unions. Increasingly, however, farmers are turning to alternative sources for their borrowing needs.
Host Katie Wantoch and Ryan Sterry, Professor and Agriculture Agent with Extension in St. Croix County, discuss items to consider when renting additional farmland along with completing an enterprise budget.
Host Katie Wantoch and Jim Versweyveld, Agriculture Extension educator in Walworth County, discuss viability of a dairy farm and future retirement options for a farm couple.
Host Katie Wantoch and Ben Jenkins, Agriculture Extension educator in Green Lake County, discuss a farmer and his son who are considering buying a new chopper and how to cash flow this purchase.
Host Katie Wantoch and Simon Jette-Nantel, former Assistant Professor at UW-River Falls and Extension Farm Management Specialist, discuss whether a land purchase is a profitable acquisition compared to other retirement investments for a farm couple.
Host Katie Wantoch and Kaitlyn Davis, Extension Agriculture Educator in LaCrosse County, discuss if a farmer and his son should prioritize paying down debt this year instead of replacing some equipment.
Host Katie Wantoch and Richard Halopka, Extension crops and soils educator in Clark County, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a farmer purchasing locally grown hay or hay from western states.
Host Katie Wantoch and Richard Halopka, Extension crops and soils educator in Clark County, discuss buying forages and calculating feed inventory for future needs.
Host Katie Wantoch and Lyssa Seefeldt, Extension Dairy and Livestock Educator in Eau Claire County, discuss a farmer and his wife who are looking for advice on next steps for their dairy farm and timing the sale of their cows.
Un sistema contable es un conjunto de acciones y métodos diseñados para recolectar, almacenar y procesar transacciones financieras en informes administrativos para la toma de decisiones.
El estado de capital del propietario concilia el cambio en capital del balance general inicial al balance general final para el negocio de la granja. También se conoce como declaración de capital propio y muestra la fuente del cambio.
El estado de flujo de efectivo da seguimiento a las fuentes y a los usos del efectivo en el negocio de la granja durante el año anterior. También agrega perspectiva a la comprensión de la posición financiera y al desempeño del negocio de la granja.
La agricultura es un negocio complejo que exige registros precisos y una administración financiera cuidadosa.
