Using ratio analysis can make a big difference for your farm. Incorporating a ratio module within your accounting system, can help you pinpoint areas of strength, and weakness, to help you increase profits and reverse negative trends. Here's how.

Track Financial Condition

Ratio analysis allows you to see the data behind the indicators, and trend information can be shown in meaningful ways, such as a graph or chart for any number of years available. This helps you see your financial condition in a way that is meaningful to you, so you can start making improvements where necessary, or have the confidence to continue with your efforts as they are.

Compare Your Farm to Your Competition

Looking at the trends of your competitors can be of great value to your farm. Ratio calculations allow you to view industry standards and illustrate financial trends, so you understand where your farm stands against your competition. The success, progress, or shortfalls of your farm, can be understood and addressed, so proper action can be taken. By knowing where you stand against your competitors, you know where to improve, giving you a competitive advantage.

Compare Various Time Frames

Understanding your current situation is crucial. And yet it may be even more important to compare data from two different time frames. Perhaps the past year wasn′t profitable and you want to turn it around. Or maybe you want to understand why you were struggling so much last month. Use ratio analysis as a high-level tool to see trends over longer periods of time, so you can achieve long-term financial growth.

By using Ratio analysis, you can access information and trends that you may not have noticed, so you can make changes accordingly, which will benefit your farm!