FREE Agriculture Online Courses

18 January 2021 roxie-thoner Agriculture
Red Wing Software has learned of some free online learning opportunities that may be of interest to our agriculture customers.
Developing your Agricultural Business Enterprise – FREE Online Class
Have you thought about expanding your agribusiness? If so, there’s a FREE class available to you, and it’s all online so anyone can take part! Red Wing Software’s very own Chad Glover (Sales) will be leading the session on Agricultural Financial Planning. Read the description below and feel free to join.
The Developing Your Agricultural Business Enterprise is an interactive program providing you, the entrepreneurs and agricultural producers with the knowledge and tools you need to analyze, assess, develop and grow your agribusiness venture. These workshops will help you discover potential opportunities in developing your agribusiness enterprise whether it be a value-added venture, agritourism, organic and sustainable agriculture or traditional commodity production. Click here to learn more and register for the class.
Legacy Planning for Farmers – FREE Online Class
This Legacy Planning for Farmers class is another free class available to all farmers, and is intended for farm owners, agricultural business owners, and small family business owners.
Why should you attend?
• Learn steps necessary to successfully transition your life’s work.
• Strengthen and secure your farm’s future.
• Help you reduce your risk of doing nothing (not having a plan).
• Learn about resources available to help you.
What will you learn?
• The importance of valuing your business.
• Planning for your farm’s future.
• Essential steps for farm/business transition planning.
• Protecting and planning for your future and possible retirement.
• Understanding the importance of succession or transition planning.
• Key elements of estate planning.
When: January 27th, 2021 from 10am CST to 1pm CST
To register for this free webinar go to Twin Cities SCORE https://twincities.score.org/resources/ws-brochure and select “Legacy Planning for Farmers”.

Online Classroom Training

11 January 2021 rpalm
Due to COVID-19, Red Wing Software converted our in-person CenterPoint Classroom Training to an online format. Online Classroom Training is the most comprehensive way to learn how to use CenterPoint and provides you with in-depth information and explanations from any location where you can access the internet (high-speed internet connection recommended). The sessions are presented live by one of our CenterPoint experts while you view the presenter's computer screen. You will have the opportunity to ask questions.
You can view and register for available sessions from our website, by selecting Menu > Classroom Training (under 'Services' on the top right-hand side of the menu), or by clicking one of the links below.
CenterPoint Payroll
This training is a two-part 8-hour live online session held on consecutive days for a total cost of $150.00 (4 hours/$75.00 for each part) and will be limited to 15 participants.
  February 9, 2021 and February 10, 2021
9:00 am – 1:00 pm CST
Cost: $150.00
CenterPoint Accounting for Agriculture
This training is a four-part 16-hour live online session held on two sets of consecutive days for a total cost of $300.00 (4 hours/$75.00 for each part) and will be limited to 15 participants.
  February 23, 2021 and February 24, 2021
9:00 am – 1:00 pm CST
Cost: $150.00
AND
March 2, 2021 and March 3, 2021
9:00 am – 1:00 pm CST
Cost: $150.00
CenterPoint Payroll
This training is a two-part 8-hour live online session held on consecutive days for a total cost of $150.00 (4 hours/$75.00 for each part) and will be limited to 15 participants.
  March 23, 2021 and March 24, 2021
9:00 am – 1:00 pm CST
Cost: $150.00
CenterPoint Accounting (Business)
This training is a four-part 16-hour live online session held on two sets of consecutive days for a total cost of $300.00 (4 hours/$75.00 for each part) and will be limited to 15 participants.
  April 13, 2021 – April 14, 2021
9:00 am – 1:00 pm CST
Cost: $150.00
AND
April 20, 2021 and April 21, 2021
9:00 am – 1:00 pm CST
Cost: $150.00

Notes from the President

06 January 2021 khilton Notes from the President

Ken Hilton - President Red Wing Software

I hope everyone had a safe holiday season and are starting the new year on the right foot. Now is a great time to look back at 2020 and evaluate what we learned about how we do business. As I mentioned in a previous newsletter, I am a strong believer in zero-based budgeting, only using history as a guide. Budgeting for 2021 is a perfect example of why you would not necessarily want to use the previous year as a benchmark. The same process can be used for other aspects of the business.
We all probably made some unexpected changes in the way we operate our business and hopefully learned some important lessons. I will share a few of the lessons we learned at Red Wing Software, and maybe you can relate them to your own business.
We learned: while our team enjoys working together in an office environment, they can be at least as productive working from home. In fact, a few commented how they did not miss the commute through the little city of Red Wing to get to the office on the other side of town, especially our folks crossing over the river from Wisconsin.
We learned: meetings can be very productive using video conferencing, and it was surprisingly easy to get everyone up and running with that technology. Thanks to Larry, our awesome IT Manager.
We learned: we can get by with considerably less office space, but still need a place for shared resources like copy machines and postage equipment.
We learned: we can bring a new employee up to speed without being face-to-face in the same office, but it is much easier to transfer knowledge in a shared environment.
While we hope 2021 does not mirror the previous year, we will be starting with a blank page as we move forward, taking advantage of the lessons we learned in 2020.