/EINPresswire.com/ BRIGHTON, IL, November 17, 2011 – December marks agricultural producers’ first opportunity to access a freshly updated set of Farm Business Planning Workshops, offered by AgriSolutions Inc., of Brighton, IL. The financial training sessions reflect current farmer concerns and needs recently identified through AgriSolutions’ proprietary market research.
Three hands-on financial training sessions will be offered, at multiple times and diverse locations, to farmers beginning December 12 and 13, 2011. The sessions include “Taking Control,” “Growth & Debt Funding,” and “Managerial Analysis,” and will be conducted in two-day blocks through March at several Midwest and Plains states locations.
Marketing research conducted in August, 2011, among U.S. farmers shows that diverse producer types struggle with many of the same financial questions. Common financial quandaries include; “Can I afford to grow and by how much?” “Should I lease or buy?” and “How much debt can my operation afford to carry?”
Exploring current needs and financial challenges among farmers and ranchers has helped AgriSolutions’ fine-tune the content of its already successful Farm Business Planning Workshops, explained Leona Cox, Chief Operating Officer at AgriSolutions.
“Farmers and ranchers who want to grow need financial tools and answers upon which to base decisions and long-term plans,” said Cox. “We’re using this research to make our educational tools better and more relevant than ever.”
The company has been providing hands-on, producer-focused education for over 40 years. Offerings for the 2011-2012 session details include the following:
1)Participants in the “Growth & Debt Funding” workshop learn to better understand the value of assets for management and growth purposes. Assets are ranked and also identified as productive or non-productive. Producers learn to determine how much debt those assets can carry, and to structure debt to support cash flow. Timing of cash flow needs is a big issue in the current lending environment. “Growth & Debt Funding” is being offered as follows:
•December 12 & 13, 2011, Des Moines, IA
•January 12 & 13, 2012, Brighton, IL
•February 1 & 2, 2012, Brighton, IL
•February 9-10, 2012, Fargo, ND
•March 21 & 22, 2012, Sioux Falls, SD
•March 28-29, 2012, Indianapolis, IN
•March 7 & 8, 2012, Kearney, NE
2)In the “Taking Control” workshop, producers use their operation’s tax returns and balance sheets to conduct a financial performance analysis. The resulting financial report card is used to better understand revenue-generating capacity and efficiency of the operation. From there, participants identify critical objectives and build action plans to accomplish objectives. “Taking Control” is being offered as follows:
•January 10 & 11, 2012, Brighton, IL
•February 7 & 8, 2012, Fargo, ND
•February 21 & 22, 2012, Indianapolis, IN
•February 28 & 29, 2012, Mankato, MN
•March 5 & 6, 2012, Kearney, NE
3)Farmers and ranchers participating in the “Managerial Analysis” workshop learn to better understand profit and costs associated with different farm activities. They establish “activity centers,” and can then clearly assess true profit and cost either per acre, per bushel, per head, or per hundredweight. The “Managerial Analysis” workshop is being offered as follows:
•January 30 & 31, 2012, Brighton, IL
•March 5 & 6, 2012, Mankato, MN
To learn more about AgriSolutions’ education opportunities, or to hear about AgManager(R) and AgriSolutions financial management services, visit AgriSolutions on the Internet at www.agrisolutions.com, or call (800) 454-4524. You can also email them at education@agrisolutions.com
AgriSolutions, Inc., provides industry-leading management consulting, accounting software and services, educational programs, and tax planning and preparation, all specifically designed to help agricultural producers be more effective business managers. AgriSolutions is headquartered in Brighton, IL, 35 miles northeast of St. Louis, Missouri. For more information please visit www.agrisolutions.com.
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For more information
Leona Cox, Chief Operating Officer
Toll free: (877) 372-3003
Email: lcox@agrisolutions.com