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Farm Business Management

All Farm Business Management Content

A man in a warehouse surrounded by bags of wool speaks to a group of people

Sheep producers invited to apply to SDSU Extension Elevate Ewe cohort program

June 28, 2024

South Dakota State University Extension is inviting beginning sheep producers to apply to the 2024-2025 Elevate Ewe program.

Sarah Sellars smiles at the camera. Her shoulder-length blonde hair is down, and she is wearing a purple top with a black blazer

SDSU Extension hires new farm and food systems specialist

June 25, 2024

South Dakota State University Extension is pleased to welcome Sarah Sellars as a new Specialist in Sustainable Farm and Food Systems.

neighborhood street flooded with melted snow and water runoff. FEMA News Photo

Flood Insurance

The higher amounts of snow this year will increase the chance of flooding and the potential water damage to homes and residential properties. Now is the time to consider purchasing a flood insurance policy.

A man reviewing an information packet on creating a last will and testament.

End of Life Documents You Should Have in Place

COVID-19 infection and mortality rates fill the news programs. Across South Dakota and the nation, people are have made changes to their lifestyle and the way they accomplish many everyday activities. In response to this illness and the potential for long-term hospitalization and even death, individuals over 18 should also ensure their end of life documents are up-to-date.

Graduation table display with photos, awards, and keepsakes. Courtesy: Matthew Beckler [CC BY-SA 2.0]

Graduation Presents

With graduation season upon us, consider gifting your high school or college graduate with the necessary medical, financial and legal paperwork they're need for the next stage of their lives.

A pen and calculator sitting next to an accounting binder.

Bookwork, The Missing Management Component: Consistency of Financial Records

Consistent record keeping will allow for accurate ratios and trend analysis. While operations will change, grow, or contract, having a standard operating procedure will allow for analysis and decision-making.

A male with three female farm administrators reviewing a binder of financial records. Courtesy: USDA

Bookwork, The Missing Management Component: Balance Sheet Valuations

The financial crash of the 1980’s has been attributed to changes in producer’s balance sheets, due to a decline in land prices. After this time, a two-column balance sheet was developed to help prevent that type of balance sheet collapse from occurring in the future.

Farmer sitting inside the cab of a green tractor parked inside a machine shed.

Bookwork, The Missing Management Component: Depreciation Determination and Use

Another component of determining net income is depreciation. This is one component of the Schedule F that many understand the least. Typically, the most use it gets is to minimize income tax through accelerated tax depreciation under section 179.

IRS Schedule "F" Form, Profit or Loss From Farming

Bookwork, The Missing Management Component: Farm Income Determination

Many ag producers do not like bookwork. Many times this job gets pushed to the side, until a bill is due or taxes need to be filed. It is also fair to say it is a missing component to the management of most operations. A missing component that could lead to the collapse of the operation.

A vast, rolling grassland area.

Change in South Dakota Agricultural Land, Tenure of Farm Operation, and Producer Characteristics 2012-2022

Report using the newly released data from the 2022 Census of Agriculture to provide an update on land in farms, the number of farms, tenure of farm operations, and producers’ characteristics in South Dakota for the last ten years, from 2012 to 2022.