$ Participants will understand how to apply appropriate
agricultural accounting principles with QuickBooks™ software
infrastructure.
$ Producers will execute management changes from routine
analysis of operational financial reports.
$ Participants will adopt and integrate industry specific data and
reports into their financial records management.
QuickBooks™ software is used by many farm businesses in Pennsylvania
for financial recordkeeping. Farmers often report frustration with their level
of understanding of QuickBooks™ software, and feel that they are not
using the program to its full potential. In response to this need, a series of
statewide workshops were held in five locations in Pennsylvania during
the fall and winter of 2011/12. The primary objective of these workshops
was to increase the understanding and skills of participants about using
QuickBooks™ for completing several key farm recordkeeping and
analysis tasks common to most farm businesses. Workshops were
conducted as a two-part series. Response to the workshops was
excellent, with several full locations. The workshops used a computer lab
of ten laptop computers, each with QuickBooks™ 2010 Accountant
Edition installed. Each workshop was customized to the individual needs
of participants through polling of topics during the introduction of the
workshop. An evaluation survey was conducted at the conclusion of the
workshops. The majority of respondents to the surveys rated the program
to be “Good” (30%) or “Excellent” (63%). Based on answers to post
program survey questions, these workshops were successful in improving
the knowledge, attitudes, and likely actions of participants with respect to
key financial management and analysis tasks using QuickBooks™
software in their agricultural businesses. There is good demand for this
workshop subject matter, and it will be continued in the future.
$ Computer lab utilized for interactive training and question
responses.
$ Partnered with Ag Choice Farm Credit for marketing, delivery,
and some site locations increased client participation.
$ Day and a half workshops at five sites across Pennsylvania:
¢ Sites limited to 10 operations, 2 participants per operation
¢ 46 operations and 61 participants for all five sites
¢ Half day scheduled six weeks after initial session for concept
application by participants on individual operations
$ 53 (87%) of participants evaluating initial workshops reported
(n=61):
¢ Rated program delivery as “Excellent” or Good”: 93%
¢ Program “Exceeded “or “Met” their expectations: 90%
$ 100% improved (1 level on 4-point scale) for at least 1
understanding, importance, or intended use key concept: Key
concepts focused on profit/loss statements, cash flow
statements, record system structure, and accrual methods:
¢ Greater understanding for 1+ concepts (Chart 1): 96%
• Improved generation of profit/loss statement (Chart 2): 72%
¢ Realized importance for 1+ concepts (Chart 1): 70%
• Comprehended accrual accounting (Chart 3): 57%
¢ Intended to adopt 3+ concepts (Chart 1): 49%
• Envisioned quarterly cash flow statement use (Chart 4): 74%
"I would definitely recommend it-even if you already use QuickBooks,
it is beneficial to work with someone and have them show you how
to use features. It is also nice to work with other farm employees, on
one computer, in the same session-learning together.“.
“I learned how to use the ‘class’ system to categorize my
income/expenses. This makes it much easier to run reports and see
if a commodity is profitable.”
“Actually upgraded our system. Can track income/expenses with
more detail.”
$ Finalize discussion blog for past and future program
participants
$ Integrate portions into other existing Penn State Extension
educational programs
$ Revise modules to be basic, intermediate, and advanced
$ Employ online survey for future participants to identify correct
training level
$ Incorporate pre-requisite webinar accounting sessions
More information: Keith Dickinson, [email protected] or Rob Goodling, rcg133@psu
Where trade names appear, no discrimination is intended, and no endorsement by Penn State
Cooperative Extension is implied.
Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce.
Goodling*,R.C. Jr.1, Dickinson*, K.R2 1Dairy Extension Associate, Penn State Extension, Department of Dairy and Animal Science, University Park, PA 2Agricultural Business Management Extension Educator, Penn State Extension in Chester County, Chester, PA
$ 28 (46%) program participants responded to six month
financial records evaluation (Chart 5):
¢ Learned benefits of good records for calculating cost of
production: 86%
¢ Evaluated current system to improve cash flow planning: 75%
¢ Revised financial structure to improve cost calculations: 29%
Producers, agricultural professionals, and extension educator during hands on
“Managing your Farm Business with QuickBooks ™” session.
0%
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% P
art
icip
an
ts (
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Level of Understanding
Pre-Workshop Post-Workshop
Chart 2: Understanding profit/loss statement generation
0% 20% 40% 60% 80%
Understanding
Importance
Intended Use
% Participants with 1+ level of change (n=53)
Key C
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ce
pts
0 Topics 1-2 Topics 3+ Topics
Chart 1: Understanding, importance, and intended use of
key concepts
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Not veryimportant
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ts (
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Level of Importance Pre-Workshop Post-Workshop
Chart 3: Increase in realized importance of accrual method
0%
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Not likely Somewhatlikely
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% P
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ts (
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Level of Intended Use Pre-Workshop Post-Workshop
Chart 4: Quarterly utilization of cash flow statements
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
Improved Cash FlowReports
Computed Cost ofProduction
Restructure FinancialAccounts
% Participants that implemented change (n=28)
Key C
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pts
Chart 5: Financial record adjustments based on workshop