Never Badmouth a Farmer with Your Mouth Full, or Is That Full

Stomach?

Agriculture Business Management Program

Mission:

To improve farming and ranching operations through an improved financial management approach.

Present Day Farmers & Ranchers

• Too wrapped up in what we’re doing.

• “Can’t see the forest for the trees”

History of the Program

• Started in Oklahoma 1977 with 2 pilot programs

• Today there are 17 programs statewide

• Serving over 500 Oklahoma farms annually

• Approximately 1000 individuals participating

Adult Education Program

Featuring:

•Farm and Family Goal Setting•Financial Record Keeping (using Quicken)

•Cash Flow Management (using Excel)

•Budgeting

•Income Tax Management

•Marketing Alternatives

•Farm Organizations

•Financial Analysis

Technology in Training

• From hand to computerized record keeping

• “Let your fingers do the walking”

Regularly scheduled classes

• Evening classes meet monthly.

• Classes are held year round, starting each fall.

• Program designed to fit your specific needs make financial training.

Individualized Instruction

• On-farm visits• Specific approach to

each operation• Confidentiality

dealing with personal finances

Size up the situation

• What are the goals of this producer?

• Expand operation, is bigger better?

• To be more profitable?

• These may not necessarily be the same!

Adult Education, Lifelong Learning Process

• Never stop being inquisitive.

• Ask questions.

• Turn to others who may seem to be a little different.

• Think about the past sometimes, but always be looking to the future!