MSU Extension Farm Management

This simple version of the Microsoft Excel based tool is built around key areas that producers need to consider as they plan for and continually evaluate their growing season. It combines in one place:

• Marketing Goals
• Yield Goals
• Break-Evens of:
  • Net Farm Income
  • Cash Flow

The tool also aids in many management decisions, which are broken into four key areas:

• Net Returns
• Financial Scorecard
• Break-Evens
• Fertility Needs (based on yield goals).

 The crop budget estimator also features an Optimization Tool.  Using the budgets created in the estimator, the optimization tool will determine what combination of acres returns the highest profitability.  Producers define:

• Maximum total operating costs
• Minimum acres of corn, soybeans, and wheat to be planted (for maintaining rotational needs)
• Total number of acres to be planted

For those looking for an expanded analysis, producers can also use the "Detailed" version of the Crop Budget Estimator Tool.  In this more in-depth tool, users can use information from their own farm records to build a budget that is used for Marketing decisions, comparing Chemistry and Fertilizer programs recommended by crop nutritionists and advisors, evaluate Capital Purchases (i.e. a new tractor or combine), and other important management decisions for their farm.