ACCOUNTANTS, CONSULTANTS, PRODUCERS – LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SOFTWARE THAT CONNECTS YOUR LAPTOP TO YOUR BOTTOM LINE AT ATS–IX

Set aside September 4-5, plan a trip to Aledo and call us today for reservations. You are coming to Advanced Training Seminar, edition nine! What sets it apart from last year? Significant advances in information technology in 2002 have deluged such diverse fields of agriculture as accounting, identity preservation, standardization, government programs, precision farming and business consolidation. ATS–IX is the only seminar that connects the dots on all these trends and teaches you how to integrate them into a seamless management system. We've also compressed the training into two jam-packed days–Wednesday (Sept. 4) for crops; and Thursday, livestock. You can register for either or both days. Featured this year: • A strong crop emphasis highlighting the e.CLIPSE automated managerial accounting system and SST's new Stratus Pocket PC software that links SSToolbox with FBS through MaCH 1.0. • Case studies and practical suggestions from pork and beef e.CLIPSE users. • A look at the innovative ways producers and accountants are leveraging their knowledge. • Hands-on experience with new management tools.     So whether you're an accountant, consultant or producer who grows steaks, chops or crops, you'll find our latest mini-MBA seminar to be another valuable "learn to earn" experience. Be prepared, too, to settle in on Wednesday evening to a delightful prime rib dinner cruise on the Mississippi. After you've viewed the full agenda, call 800-437-7638 for those reservations.

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DON'T MISS THE 8/31/02 DEADLINE ON SPECIAL C.A.P. DISCOUNTS THAT SAVE YOU UP TO $998 ON NEW SOFTWARE!

One of the benefits of the TiMEsavr Service Agreement is the Client Appreciation Program which, as a way of thanking loyal clients, rewards TiMEsavr participation. If you've been on TiMEsavr for three years, paid each invoice by June 30 and haven't redeemed any of your CAP credit, you've accumulated the maximum 40% discount toward the purchase of any FBS module.
    You'll save, for example, $398 on Crop Audit Plus (regular $995), $598 on Smart Feeder ($1,495) and $798 on the e.CLIPSE inventory valuation module ($1,995 without training). You officially have until June 30, 2003, to redeem your credit, but if you act by August 31, 2002, we'll discount another 10%.
    That's right! Buy by the end of this month and that new module is yours at exactly half price. Of course, you qualify for the 10% bonus regardless of your amount of earned credit. A credit of 10% increases to 20%, 20% to 30%, and 30% to the maximum 40%.
    So ask yourself: What better time to begin or to add to my integrated system? If you don't know your actual CAP credit/discount, contact FBS sales representative at 800-437-7638 or sales@fbssystems.com. Do it today, because you want those maximum savings!

FARM FINANCIAL STANDARDS COUNCIL STAKES OUT NEW TERRITORY

Ten years after it first published Financial Guidelines for Agricultural Producers, the Farm Financial Standards Council (FFSC) has again assumed leadership in codifying guidelines for managerial accounting. Anyone who has used systems like Finpack, Coordinated Financial Statements or AFRA has benefited from the efforts of the council, made up of volunteers from education, accounting, banking, commodity groups and production agriculture.
    At its Ninth Annual Summer Symposium on August 20, the Council reviewed progress in adapting managerial accounting practices commonly used by manufacturing companies to the "manufacturing" of crops and livestock. Unlike externally focused financial accounting, managerial accounting provides cost of production, resource utilization and inventory valuation information to internal management. It also generates "real-time" accrual financial statements, as compared to the "adjusted" accrual approach originally developed by the FFSC.
    Three case studies–a Midwest corn-soybean operation, a western small grain and custom application business and a Texas cow-calf ranch–were presented, using three commercial accounting programs that had been adapted to the standards. In addition, technical issues revolving around valuing crop inventories affected by the AICPA's Statement of Position 85-3 and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 were debated.
    How does this admittedly arcane work by the FFSC affect you?

• To remain competitive in 21st Century agriculture, you'll need to move beyond traditional enterprise/adjusted accrual records to full managerial accounting.

• Standards efforts by organizations like the FFSC and NPPC pave the way for easier adoption of new practices by producers through identifying the unique, as well as unifying, characteristics of various agricultural products, therefore making economical training and meaningful comparisons possible.

• We at FBS are committed to not just comply with these standards, but also to take a leadership role in order to insure that what reaches your farm is both beneficial and practical.

• There's much work yet to be done; for example, no one from the dairy industry is currently involved. If you're interested in volunteering your time and expertise, contact us or the Farm Financial Standards Council at www.ffsc.org.

• We'll be covering the latest pronouncements and their implications in greater depth on the first day of Advanced Training Seminar next month (see story above) .

SOFTWARE Q&A – WITH Q'S FROM YOU, OUR CLIENTS!

Send us your most critical questions about SeRVware and we'll answer them right "on the air" for the benefit of all. This month's question comes from Dean Tofteland, Luverne, Minn.

Q.	How do I change the default background picture to one of my own pictures?
a.	Take any bit-mapped image or picture file and copy it to a file called farm.bmp in the program directory. The default program directory is FBSWIN. When you have the file created, you will need to restart your computer. – Gary Simpson, National Support Manager Call in your questions (800.437.7638) or e-mail them to support@fbssystems.com.