This story is a must-read! Writers by Ezra Klein and Susannah Locke came up with maps, charts, and historical information about how food in America has changed over time: where it's made, what we eat, how it has evolved and more. You will not be disappointed.

40 Maps that Explain Food in America

By Stephanie Elsen

Keeping track of financial information for your farm is crucial to generating profits. Tracking that information allows you to analyze the numbers, so you can see what’s working and what needs improvement. If you are currently using manual methods or a very basic bookkeeping program, you can benefit by taking your farm record keeping a step further. You might be amazed at the results and growth you will experience by analyzing your numbers, and basing your decisions on those numbers. Here are some of the advantages to upgrading your financial management system.

Easily provide your banker with any documents needed.

An agricultural financial management system, when used properly, allows you to keep track of important information. When you need to provide documents for loans or loan renewals, that information is already stored within your system, so you can pull up reports such as a balance sheet or income statement with ease.

Plan for profits.

Knowledge is power, and when you have accurate information available at your fingertips, you are able to plan for future profits based on actual history, using tools like budgeting, asset information, and cash flow analysis. None of these are available with manual record keeping methods.

Track each enterprise as its own entity for analysis.

With manual recordkeeping, it can be hard to know how each area of your operation is performing. By implementing a computerized farm record keeping system, you will be able to see which of your profit centers are performing poorly and either improve or eliminate them. Also, knowing which areas are performing well will give you insight into what you should continue to focus on for maximum profits.

Distribute expenses to the right profit center.

Wondering what your true cost of production is? Understanding your cost of production gives you valuable insight that makes it easy to see where cost cutting or pricing adjustments are needed. Using a good Ag financial management tool allows you to distribute costs to multiple profit centers or production centers from one transaction, so you can run reports and understand your true cost of production. And with this information in hand, you’ll be on your way to increased profits.

As with any process or system, you get out of it what you put into it. Using a better financial management system for your farm record keeping, and making sure you keep it up to date, will send you on your way to increased profits. With your effort and an Ag financial management tool, you can improve your farm’s profitability and be more confident in decision making for your farm.

Congratulations to Red Wing Software customer, Frank & Sims Price Ranch! They have recently been recognized the national winners of the Environmental Stewardship Award Program, sponsored by the National Cattleman's Beef Association, National Beef Federation, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Dow Agro Sciences and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Frank & Sims Price Ranch have used Red Wing Software accounting programs since the early 1980's. Frank, the owner of the ranch, says, "Your accounting program is an integral part of our success in operating a sustainable ranching operation. Benefiting the rangeland, wildlife and our family's opportunity to remain on the land and preserve it for future generations."

Check out the recent Farm Futures Ag Finance Boot Camp that was recently held in St. Louis. The program was hosted by Farm Futures magazine and was sponsored by John Deere, Farm Credit, and the Council. More than 80 farmers attended!

Officers and board members of the Farm Financial Standards Council presented, and Julie Strain of Red Wing Software was a speaker at the event.

Read more here: Council Members Featured at Farm Futures Boot Camp

Check out this amazing video by Farm Credit East! The video gives first-hand details about how CenterPoint Accounting for Agriculture works for farms, and how Farm Credit East helps farms.