AS 101 "Taking Control of Your Farm Business"

The first in the series, AS 101's primary purpose is to provide you with the basic yet vital information needed to take full control of your farm business. In AS 101, you will review accounting principles while comparing your operation to other agricultural operations. You will learn how financial reports can assist in business decision-making. You will assemble your own business’ financial reports into an easy-to-learn and use format that illustrates the business’ operational efficiencies, financial trends and use of profits. This is an eye opening exercise that helps you see and think about your operation in new ways. This newfound understanding provides the basis for completing a detailed, 15-page financial action plan for your agricultural operation. This plan will greatly improve communication with lenders, family members, and other important decision-makers. The sections covered in the AS 101 are:

• Basic Accounting
• Financial Performance Analysis
• Asset Management
• Taking Control
• Operation Management

Advanced Preparation:
Bring the last five years of your operation's financial statements, tax returns or computer records, as well as a detailed asset listing.

Prerequisite: None
CPE Credit: 24 hours (3 days)
CPE Field of Study: Management
Instructional Method: Group-Live

AS 102 "Use History to Change Your Future"

AS 102's primary purpose is to provide you with the basic yet vital information needed to take full control of your farm business. In AS 102, you will review accounting principles while comparing your operation to that of other agricultural operations. You will learn how financial reports can assist in business decision-making. You will assemble your own business' financial reports into an easy-to-learn and use format that illustrates the business' operational efficiencies, financial trends and use of profits. This is an eye opening exercise that helps you see and think about your operation in new ways. This newfound understanding provides the basis for completing a detailed, 4-page financial action plan for your agricultural operation. This plan will greatly improve communication with lenders, family members, and other important decision-makers. The sections covered in the AS 102 are:

• Basic Accounting
• Financial Performance Analysis
• Asset Management
• Taking Control

Advanced Preparation:
Bring the last five years of your operation's financial statements, tax returns or computer records, as well as a detailed asset listing.

Prerequisite: None
CPE Credit: 16 hours (2 days)
CPE Field of Study: Management
Instructional Method: Group-Live

AS 103 "Taking Action to Improve Performance"

In AS 103, you will complete the Financial Performance Analysis. The results of this section of the course often generate highly emotional expressions of joy and relief or the stark realization that the financial status of the farm operation is far from satisfactory. Using your own operation's financial data (simply tax returns from the previous five years and six years of balance sheets), you prepare and produce a unique historical farm financial performance report. Analysis of this report demonstrates the historical revenue-generating capacity and efficiency of the operation, reveals potential financial opportunities, and highlights areas in need of improvement. This report serves as the critical instrument that drives the remainder of the course; providing a unique learning experience customized to each producer's individual and specific business needs. The three sections covered in the AS 103 are:

• Basic Accounting
• Financial Performance Analysis
• Taking Control

Advanced Preparation:
Bring the last five years of your operation's financial statements, tax returns or computer records.

Prerequisite: None
CPE Credit: 16 hours (2 days)
CPE Field of Study: Management
Instructional Method: Group-Live

AS 104 "Growth and Debt Funding"

In AS 104, you will analyze the impact on operations of Asset decisions. You will study key debt and equity principles and be able to apply these concepts to your business to determine how much debt your operation can handle. You will also evaluate working capital requirements for your situation and current financial position. Finally, you will combine your total debt position with your working capital to generate a complete picture of the solvency of your business. The three sections covered in the AS 104 are:

• Asset Management
• Debt Management
• Equity Management

Prerequisite: None
Recommended: AS 103
CPE Credit: 16 hours (2 days)
CPE Field of Study: Management
Instructional Method: Group-Live

AS 121 "Debt Control and Lender Communication"

Working capital and debt control are major concerns for any business. AS 121 has the answers needed to get ahead. You will study key debt and equity principles and be able to apply these concepts to your business to determine how much debt your operation can handle. You will also evaluate working capital requirements for your situation and current financial position. Finally, you will combine your total debt position with your working capital to generate a complete picture of the solvency of your business. The section covered in the AS 121 is:

• Debt Management

Advanced Preparation
Bring your operation's latest financial statements, tax returns or computer records and a detailed debt listing, as well as action plans you completed during AS 101: Taking Control of Your Farm Business or AS 102 Use History to Change Your Future, if you attended either on of these courses.

Prerequisite: None
Recommended: AS 101, AS 102
CPE Credit: 16 hours (2 days)
CPE Field of Study: Management
Instructional Method: Group-Live

AS 201 "Commodity Managerial Accounting"

AS 201 points out why you may want to go beyond “whole farm” reporting and helps you structure your business into easily understood and managed cost and profit centers. You will gain knowledge of how to “drill down” or magnify specific areas of the business. A certified instructor will assist you in matching the way you manage, and the management intent of your business, with the appropriate cost and profit center structure. Commodity Managerial Accounting refers to determining manager performance, profitability, asset effectiveness, and costs by commodity (pork, dairy, beef, corn, soybeans, etc.).

Whether you manage your business by the...

• types of commodities you produce,
• various locations of your business,
• different activities used to produce your commodities, and/or
• individual fields of crops or pens of livestock...

..the analysis skills, reporting tools and techniques you learn are the key to unlocking profitability for your operation.

Advanced Preparation
Bring your operation's current Chart of Accounts, and completed pages from the Managerial Workbook (mailed to you prior to the class).

Prerequisite: None
Recommended: AS 101, AS 102, or AS 103, and AS 104
CPE Credit: 16 hours (2 days)
CPE Field of Study: Management
Instructional Method: Group-Live

AS 202 "Activity Managerial Accounting"

AS 202 points out why you may want to go beyond "whole farm" reporting and helps you structure your business into easily understood and managed cost and profit centers. You will gain knowledge of how to "drill down" or magnify specific areas of the business. A certified instructor will assist you in matching the way you manage, and the management intent of your business, with the appropriate cost and profit center structure. Activity Managerial Accounting refers to further detailing commodity, location, and/or group/field/pen by activity within commodity and/or location.

Advanced Preparation
Bring your operation's current Chart of Accounts, and completed pages from the Managerial Workbook (mailed to you prior to the class).

Prerequisite: None
Recommended: AS 101, AS 102, or AS 103, and AS 104
CPE Credit: 16 hours (2 days)
CPE Field of Study: Management
Instructional Method: Group-Live

AS 203 "Managerial Analysis"

AS 203 helps agricultural producers define profit and costs associated with the various activities within their farming operations. They are able to measure and monitor the following factors for each of their centers:

• Center/Area Performance (management personnel and key production factors)
• Profitability
• Asset Efficiency and Effectiveness
• Cost Control

Because of this course, producers will be able to measure, using standardized methods, their business performance within different commodities, livestock groups, farms, and fields. You will be able to see true profit and costs "per head, per cwt, per bushel, per acre" which will result in changed enhanced decision-making.

Prerequisite: AS 101 or AS 202
CPE Credit: 16
CPE Field of Study: Management
Instructional Method: Group-Live

AS 301 "Leading Your Farm Business"

After completing the first AgriSolutions programs, you will have taken greater control of your operation and will have become more confident in your understanding of how to drive financial performance. Having identified a clear path to success, you will then be ready to commit to a long-term plan of action. (However, even if you have not attended any other AS classes you can attend the AS 301.) This program provides you with the foundation for developing a three-to-five year business plan that will help you achieve your goals. This plan will help improve internal business and family communications and will help open the door to new opportunities with investors, landowners and farm managers. You will leave thinking in unconventional ways, realize your goals by envisioning the future, and build the support needed to achieve them.

Advanced Preparation:
Think through your business goals and objectives, future direction and business structure then be prepared to develop your own business plan.

Prerequisite: None
Recommended: AS 103, AS 104
CPE Credit: 16 hours (2 days)
CPE Field of Study: Management
Instructional Method: Group-Live

AS 303 "Strategic Planning Workshop"

Studies indicate that successful farms are the result of planning, execution, and follow through. To stay competitive and meet the needs of a rapidly changing agricultural industry, individual producers need to regularly evaluate their operations. They should make sure all of their financial and production practices continue to provide growth and value to their business. Producers should be on the lookout for new opportunities that address the needs for growth, competitive advantages and advancing technology.

This workshop is a proactive, organized approach to building and managing a business. "Strategic Planning" helps agricultural producers define how well their operations' current business strategy is working. They will effectively evaluate acreage growth, human resources, crop sales, production processes and costs, asset utilization, and financing as it relates to their operation. Throughout the course, producers will complete exercises that help them answer the following questions:

• What are the operation's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats?
• How strong is the current competitive position?
• Will they still be competitive 10 - 20 years from now?
• What strategic issues does the operation face?

Advanced Preparation:
Think through your business goals and objectives, future direction and business structure then be prepared to develop your own business plan.

Prerequisite: None
Recommended: AS 301 - Leading Your Farm Business
CPE Credit: 16 hours (2 days)
CPE Field of Study: Management