Faculty Program Presentation

Glenn RogersMarch 12, 2009

Problem to solve

• Farmers expressing increased need for Farm Accounting / Record Keeping / Taxation of businesses / New Technology / Using computer programs for Accounting / Teaching new farmers how to use a popular farm accounting program

Program Planning

• Needs Assessment - Data collection• Audience - farmers• Collaborators • Advertizing – Mailings• Funding & Grants• Delivery• Evaluation

Needs Assessment

• Farm Viability Program– 122 Different Applications 2004 - 2007– 13 of 14 counties represented– 48,600 acres– 11,300 cows– 3,450 acres of sugarbush– $2.6 million net, ($1.1 million off farm

income) • 48 different areas of need requested

Technical Assistance-VT Farm Viability Enhancement Program:

• Farm Business Planning Energy Efficiency Maple Sugaring• Retirement/Estate Planning Milk Marketing Tree Fruits• Farm Accounting Wholesale Market Vegetables, Berries• Borrowing Capacity Market Niche Devlp. Small Grains• Health Insurance Dairy Cattle Health Beef• Expansion Dairy Nutrition Goats • Sale of Development Rights Dairy Heifers Hogs• Farm Transfer Dairy Sheep Horses• Personal/Family Stress Other Livestock Sheep• Farming with Disabilities Organic Dairy Poultry• Forage Crop Management Organic Livestock Bees• Labor Management Organic Crops CSA• Pasture Management Cattle Housing Agri-

Tourism• Manure Management Milking Systems Ornamentals• Soil Nutrients On-Farm Processing Christmas Trees• Environmental Concerns On-Farm Sales Composting

Responses to Farm Viability needs

Responses to Farm Viability needs

108

Farm Viability County Responses

Farm Viability County Responses

Location, location, location

• Gather from largest audience areas

• Addison, Bennington, Franklin, Rutland-55%

• Caledonia, Orleans, Lamoille, Orange – 25%

• Windsor, Windham - 10%

Collaborators, Communications• Instructors –UVM Extension, Yankee Farm

Credit

• Materials – Step by Step Book developed

• Financial support – SARE

– $800 Speaker support, RMA, Collaborators - assistance

• Support – NOFA, Intervale, Agency of Ag, Banks, Industry (coops), UVM Ext. Farm Viability, UVM Extension Ag and farmer e-mail lists

• Communications - $$$ issues– Innovative – e-mail lists exclusively

Attendance-Intro to Quickbooks

• Essex – 18

• Middlebury – 28 !!!!

• All got in

QuickBooks: Attendance by County

QuickBooks: Attendance by County

Audience

• Dairy - 15 Vegetable - 8• Maple – 5 Sheep - 3

• Years in Business1 to 5 years – 14 6 to 10 years - 511 to 15 years – 2 16 to 20 years – 221 – 25 years – 3 > 30 years - 3

Additional sites

• St. Johnsbury – 3 – Cancelled• Brattleboro – 3 – Cancelled

• Rutland – 11 – Scheduled March 26, 2009– Email lists - Targeted– NRCS/FSA mailings - targeted, Newspaper – USDA Risk Management support– Reduced direct costs to UVM Extension

Evaluations

• Immediate • 3 month follow – up – Survey Monkey

UVM Extension QuickBooks seminar survey results – Dec 2008

Your opinion on the QuickBooks overall presentation experience

Answer Options

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree

Neutral Agree

Strongly Agree

Rating Averag

e

Clear & easy to follow

0 0 0 11 2 4.15

Too much information

2 7 4 0 0 2.15

Instructors were well prepared for the class

0 0 1 7 5 4.31

Instructors adequately answered questions

0 0 3 6 4 4.08

Statements that most apply as a result of taking the Extension QuickBooks

Course Answer Options Strongl

yDisagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Rating Average

I have done nothing differently

1 5 4 1 0 2.45

I have a better understanding of QuickBooks

0 1 2 8 2 3.85

I have purchased a financial management program

2 0 2 5 1 3.30

Easier to use my financial record keeping system

Pg. 1

Pick the statements that most apply as a result of taking the Extension QuickBooks Course Answer Options Strongl

yDisagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Rating Average

I have used the information in QuickBooks to improve my decision making

1 0 3 6 1 3.55

I have saved money in my business/home

1 0 7 3 0 3.09

I have saved timeon record keeping

1 0 6 4 0 3.18

Pg. 2

What are you doing differently as a result of the course?

• I will be helping to transfer our farm’s bookkeeping to QuickBooks and then assisting my in-laws to do the farm bookkeeping.

• I’m getting used to using QB. Steep learning curve, requires more than occasional practice.

• I would like an advanced course on budgets• I learned some shortcuts that I had not know.

Recording deposits on line in the check register instead of going to the deposit window.

• I am better able to suggest/promote/instruct QB to my students who are learning farm business management and entrepreneurship.

Pg.1

What are you doing differently as a result of the course?

• I’m just getting started with QuickBooks now……,but I’m looking forward to it.

• I figured out how to do the 1099’s and I also learned little things about entering my transactions and the reports that it creates, that I can then use for tax purposes.

• I was looking for a little more out of the class but wished I’d had the opportunity to learn this years ago.

• Purchasing QuickBooks for the farm, contacting someone from Yankee Farm Credit for assistance.

(Cont.)

Pg. 2

What did you like BEST about the course?

• The fact that the course starts from the very beginning and the binder to use as a tool to set up when I'm at home.

• The notebook that we got to take home and write notes in during the class so you can go back and see for a quick reminder of how to do it.

• The instructors helped with the process.• I thought the course was good for someone just

starting out inn QuickBooks but I have been using it for 2 ½ years.

• Comfortable environment (good people leading the class and attending) made learning fun and easy.

• Started simple and did not get too advanced for the one day time limitation.

Pg. 1

What did you like BEST about the course?

(cont.)• Probably the most critical thing for me was the 3

ring binder that I expect to rely on heavily as I’m getting started.

• That it was visible on the screen, slow so you could absorb everything and especially the directions to take home after so if you forgot you had a resource to look back on.

• There was a great balance between basic and detailed information.

• Everyone in the course had the same interests. The teacher seemed knowledgeable.

• Step by step instruction to set up.

Pg. 2

What did you like least about the course?

• Nothing (4)• There was nothing about payroll• All OK• I am not sure I got a good answer on my inventory

question. It seems like you ought to be able to use the inventory module for agriculture businesses.

• No hands on navigation of the program• Sitting in a war room for several consecutive hours.

That’s a recipe for “nap time” for those who spend a lot of time wrestling outside with animals and equipment.

• Needed the next level.• Too short, would like follow up class or longer session.

What suggestions do you have for making the program more effective?

• Perhaps use a computer lap where we all enter the info at the same Time. It could get complicated….

• None at this time• Work on payroll• Workshop Day 2- Practice. (I have a laptop) Would

require a facility w/computers that have QuickBooks installed.

• Opportunities to work QB on a computer during the class using a simple farm operation as an example will reinforce the learning.

• I may have some suggestions as I get farther downstream, but I came away from the seminar feeling that it was very well done.

Pg.1

What suggestions do you have for making the program more effective?

(cont)• Maybe a follow up class for after you have used

it and now you have new questions since starting to use.

• Possibly more interactive learning.• Continuation and next level courses.• Have computers available to try the program,

and have QuickBooks available to purchase (at a discount would be even better!). Thank you for the course!

Pg.2

Quickbooks Discussion List

• QBOOKS@LIST.UVM.EDU

• Follow up after April 15th, 2009• On-line discussion – Webinar• Quarterly – 26 of 27 • 2 – 3 hours – if class & $20 -$30 for class

Mistakes

• Charged $35.00 – instead of $45.00– Much to the disappointment of some– Much to the delight of attendees– Still recorded a profit over expenses

inculding staff - (but not faculty)

Timing, financial environment, lead time, topic critical with program

Items learned

• Survey Monkey use• E-mail discussion lists for specific

topics• E-mail lists for mailing of notices • Need for both e-mail/mailers in some

instances• SARE resources• Webinar ideas

QUESTIONS?

VT Farm Transfer/Estate Planning-

Dairy• Compilation based on 38 survey

responses

VT Farm Transfer/Estate Planning

Maple• Compilation based on 54 survey

responses

What is your is your principal farming enterprise? Farm Show/Dairy•Dairy 64.9%•Other Livestock 21.6%•Field Crops 2.7%•Crops 5.4%•Large Fruit Crops 0.0%•Maple 0.0%•Other Ag 5.4%•Non-Ag 0.0%

What is your is your principal farming enterprise? Maple•Dairy 13.2%•Other Livestock 1.9%•Field Crops 0.0%•Crops 3.8%•Large Fruit Crops 1.9%•Maple 69.8%•Other Ag 1.9%•Non-Ag 7.5%

What county do you live in?• Dairy/Farm Show

Addison 2.8% Lamoille 2.8%Bennington 0.0% Orange 11.1%Caledonia 13.9% Orleans 36.1%Chittenden 5.6% Rutland 0.0%Essex 0.0% Washington 13.9%Franklin 5.6% Windham 2.8% Grand Isle 0.0% Windsor 5.6%

What county do you live in?• Maple

Addison 1.9% Lamoille 7.7%Bennington 5.8% Orange 5.8%Caledonia 7.7% Orleans 15.4%Chittenden 13.5% Rutland 1.9%Essex 0.0% Washington 19.2%Franklin 15.4% Windham 1.9% Grand Isle 1.9% Windsor 1.9%

Rank the top 4 with # 1 being most important to your business. Dairy/Farm Show

Answer Options 1 2 3 4

Farm Transfer Planning 8 2 4 2

Estate /Retirement Planning 3 6 2 3

Developing/using Farm Business Plans

4 8 6 3

Income statements, Balance SheetsBudgets Farm Financial Ratios

3 4 4 3

Setting farm financial books up on computer (QuickBooks, Quicken)

2 4 3 4

Increasing production on the farm 7 5 6 3

Marketing my product 9 5 5 5

Other (specify) 1 1 1 1

Rank the top 4 With #1 being the most important to your business. Maple

Answer Response 1 2 3 4

Farm Transfer Planning 6 4 4 8

Estate and Retirement planning 13 5 5 4

Developing/using farm business plans

6 7 11 2

Income statements, balance sheets, budgets, farm financial ratios

6 1 4 7

Setting farm financial books up on the computers

1 6 3 7

Increasing production on the farm 21 10 8 1

Marketing my product 16 10 5 6

Other 0 0 1 0

Rate the Following as to their importance to your farm business or

family. DairyAnswer Options

Not Important

Important

Essential

Farm Transfer Planning

8 12 18

Retirement Estate Planning

2 16 19

Rate the Following as to their importance to your farm business or

family. MapleAnswer Response

Not Important

Important

Essential

Farm Transfer Planning

14 23 14

Retirement and Estate Planning

4 26 21

Where are you with your Estate plan? - Dairy

• No Estate Planning done.48.6%

• Would like to do more planning.29.7%

• Planning up to date.21.6%

Where are you with your Estate plan? - Maple

• No Estate Planning done.38.9%

• Would like to do more planning.44.4%

• Planning up to date.16.7%

Where are you with your Farm Transfer? - Dairy

• No Farm Transfer Planning done.44.7%

• Would like to do more planning.34.2%

• Planning up to date.21.1%

Where are you with your Farm Transfer? - Maple

• No Farm Transfer Planning done.60.8%

• Would like to do more planning.29.4%

• Planning up to date. 9.8%

Would you like UVM Extension to offer programs on Estate Planning/Farm Transfer?Dairy• Yes 86.8%• No 13.2%

Would you like UVM Extension to offer programs on Estate Planning/Farm Transfer?Maple• Yes 80.4%• No 19.6%

How would you like information on Estate Planning/Farm Transfer presented? Dairy

Answer Options

1 Highes

t

2 3 4 5

Lowest

One to One Education 20 3 1 0 1

Small < 10 person seminar

7 12 2 0 1

Large >25 person seminar4 hour seminar

1 1 3 4 2

Interactive Television 1 2 0 4 2

On-line 2 3 5 1 2

Web based seminars 0 1 4 4 0

Mail you a packet of information

3 2 4 3 6

How would you like information on Estate Planning/Farm Transfer presented? Maple

Answer Options

1 Highes

t

2 3 4 5

Lowest

One to One Education 13 6 1 5 1

Small < 10 person seminar

9 11 11 0 3

Large >25 person seminar4 hour seminar

5 1 4 5 6

Interactive Television 0 1 1 7 5

On-line 7 7 4 3 2

Web based seminars 2 1 5 7 4

Mail you a packet of information

13 8 8 3 5

What is your age? Dairy

•Up to 30 years of age 5.6%

•31-45 years of age19.4%

•46-60 years of age38.9%

•Plus 60 years of age36.1%

What is your age? - Maple

•Up to 30 years of age 2.0%

•31-45 years of age19.6%

•46-60 years of age45.1%

•Plus 60 years of age33.3%

Gender - Dairy•Male 80.0%•Female 20.0%

Gender - maple•Male 75.0%•Female 25.0%

Thank You