Software from "Silt-Loam Valley," cost reduction strategies, summer events calendar, May free webinars, disappearing checks
Not rendering correctly? View this email as a web page here.

 FarmSMART                                                       April 2016 

In this Issue:

Software from"Silt-Loam Valley"

Cost Reduction Strategies

Summer Events Calendar

May Webinars

Q&A:  Disappearing Uncleared Check

Visit our Website

FBS_Logo2

Stay in Touch

Farm Management Software Blog Button  
 
View our profile on LinkedIn
 
Follow-up Links
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PPC_Full.jpg
Click here to learn about the Pork Profit Center Dashboard
 
   

IMG_4158.jpg 

Dear Friend,

Direct from "Silt-Loam Valley" FBS's new Director of Development, Dr. Martin Traviolia, gets to "play in the dirt" with a first-hand view of high-tech corn planting.  The FBS team is firmly grounded in farming so we've never out-sourced our software development, support or sales departments. We not only speak your language, we live in your world!  

Speaking of software development, you FBS users will soon be receiving your annual TiMESavr service agreement renewal letter and invoice.  In addition to delivering uninterrupted technical support and updates on your current FBS software, TiMESavr this year will qualify you for our new Version 11 to be released this fall.  Read your letter for details and don't forget to take advantage of the early payment discount.
Also in this month's FarmSmart:
  • Opportunity Cost Accounting cost reduction strategies.
  • Summer events calendar.
  • May free webinar schedule.
  • Link to recorded webinars.
  • Disappearing uncleared checks.                                                                                                                                                                                                                             SDG

Opportunity Cost Accounting:
Proven Cost Reduction Strategies

Last month we considered four classifications of costs: fixed, variable, direct and indirect.  In this installment of Opportunity Cost Accounting we’ll encapsulate strategies for driving down costs and reducing risks.

Direct variable costs such as crop inputs receive the most attention in the farm press and coffee shop because they’re the largest segment of production costs, are relatively easy to measure and are subject to “comparison shopping.”  The strategies for cost reduction are tried and true:  volume purchasing, off-label or generic products, reduced application rates, switching to less cost-intensive crops.  While significant costs savings are possible, keep in mind every other sharp manager is likely following this same practice.  Keep in mind that while reduced out-of-pocket spending is easy to measure, the hidden costs of lowered production are harder to determine.

Indirect variable costs that include fuel, labor, hourly machine rent and flex land rent require a little more analysis.  The strategy here is to increase operating efficiency either by lowering outlays for these indirect costs, increasing production with the same investment, or both.   It’s possible to accomplish a few short-term “tweaks” in labor or machine hire by cutting steps or employing cheaper alternatives; however most of the opportunities for reducing indirect variable costs are long-term (switching to contract labor or renegotiating flex rents).  

Direct fixed costs encompass cash rents, crop insurance and real estate taxes.  Most of the emphasis these days is to renegotiate or walk away from unsustainable cash rents that were so willingly bid up in more exuberant times.   Various crop insurance options provide out-of-pocket premium savings but may not be the best alternative if claims are likely.  Unfortunately, real estate taxes are uncontrollable.  

Indirect fixed costs are capital-intensive farming’s “boat anchors,” but they can be reduced…indirectly.  Repairs can be “traded” for newer equipment or you can “live off of depreciation” (in the short run) by not replacing equipment while hoarding cash.  Here are some better strategies to manage and reduce those burdensome fixed costs:

  • Spread fixed costs over more output. Many operations are high-cost producers because their overhead (general & administrative, management team, equipment and facilities) is oversized for their production base.  However, if they are able to efficiently replicate their management and control processes over expanded acres or animals then they can drive-down overhead per-unit costs.
  • Turn excess capacity into a profit center. An alternative to internal growth is to allocate fixed costs to external services like custom farming, trucking or scouting, spreading overhead over more units and reducing production risks by diversifying.
  • Outsource services is the mirror image of the previous strategy. You negotiate with a neighbor or business that will perform services like spraying, harvest or trucking more cost-effectively than you can and you shed excessive equipment and labor.
  • “Variabalize” fixed machinery costs (particularly combines) by leasing. This has been one of Financial Consultant Moe Russell’s recurring themes at the FBS User Conference.

    Cost_Strategies.jpg

Once you’ve exhausted the obvious cost-cutting strategies—squeezing input suppliers, coming hat-in-hand to landlords or living off of depreciation—it’s time to turn to discover the untapped opportunities hidden in fixed costs.

“Equipment cost is the second-largest line item expense for most grain producers next to land,” says Chris Barron, Farm Journal Top Producer columnist and Iowa farmer. 

Not only are equipment costs significant, they also vary widely from farm to farm.  Studies by Moe Russell and John McNutt from the LattaHarris CPA firm have revealed per-acre machinery costs ranging from $44 to $400.

"There still is a fixed cost out there no matter what you do, so the incentive is to go out there and get the variable cost covered and eat into the fixed cost," says Gary Schnitkey, a University of Illinois economist.

Nonetheless being aware of aggregate overhead, labor and machinery costs is not the same as managing those costs or understanding in which activities you are efficient (and should expand to drive down costs) and in which ones you are inefficient (and should outsource).  We’ll explore ways of evaluating these opportunities next time.


 Summer Events Calendar

 
Event Location Dates Booth #
worldporklogo.jpg Iowa State Fairgrounds
Des Moines,Iowa
June 8-10 V134
FFSC_Short.jpg Farm Financial Standards
Ranchester, Wyoming
July 13-15  
Bernard_1.jpg

FBS User Conference
Moline, Ilinois

August 23-24  

Click on the event logo to go to that organization's website.


 

May Free Webinars

May  2:  Basic TransAction Plus entries.Version_8.16_Computer.jpg
May  9:  Basic Crop Audit entries.
May 16: Basic Smart Feeder entries.
May 23: Personalize FBS with Preference, color and menu options.

All webinars run between 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm CDT.   

To register, e-mail support@fbssystems.com by 12:00 pm CDT on the day of the webinar.
 
NEW:  Catch up on the webinars you've missed by watching them on the Webinar page of our website.

 
Q&A of the Month:  Disappearing Uncleared Check
Sarah_Dixon
Sarah Dixon, FBS Sales and Support Coordinator

Q.  Why does my Check Reconciliation Report beginning balance for April not match my ending balance for March?  If I run the report for January through the end of April the beginning and ending balance are correct, but when I run for just April both are incorrect.

A.  The issue is most likely due to uncleared checks and deposits recorded prior to cleared look-back months setting. TransAction Plus gives you the ability to set how far back to search for uncleared checks and deposits.  The default value is four months.  This means that any checks and deposits that are not cleared after four months will be considered void if the Check Reconciliation report begins searching more than four months after the check date. 

For example you wrote a check on 12/1/2015.   As of 4/1/16 that check will be no longer be reported in the Check Reconciliation for any reporting period beginning prior to 1/1/16.  However, that entry is still in Transaction Plus and still affects the unreconciled bank balance in the Check Register and other general ledger reports.  (Note the method to “toggle” between Check Register and Reconciliation reports below.)

Check_Register_Parameter.jpg Check_Reconciliation_Parameter.jpg

If the check is still a valid check you can change a preference to extend the uncleared look back period to 12 months if necessary.  I recommend confirming your bank’s policy for uncleared checks before changing the preference.   Many banks will not cash a check that’s older than 6 months. 

To change the Cleared Look Back Months Preference go to Utilities>Set Preferences> Cleared Look Back Months and enter the value in that you require.

Cleared_Look_Back_Months.jpg
Follow us on our blog