Economical Farm Records Software Is "All-Encompassing"

Economical Farm Records Software Is "All-Encompassing" COMPUTERS Computers 24-1-31 "The Farmer's Bookkeeper" is an "all-in-one" software program that offers advanced financial capabilities at a "middle-of-the-road" price. Its creator, Roger Jackson of Jonesboro, Arkansas, lived and worked on a farm until he was 20 years old. In 1983, he graduated from Arkansas State University with a bachelor's degree in computer science. After a five-year stint doing custom programming and selling computers, Jackson started his own company, "Diamond Software". After a friend requested he write a farm software program, he completed the first version of "The Farmer's Bookkeeper" in 1991. "My friend found it easy to use and it did everything he needed. I decided to show it to other farmers I knew, and every one who looked at the program bought it, even some who were using Quicken or Quickbooks," says Jackson. The crop records segment of the program allows you to keep track of all of the different crops on each field including the number of acres, the projected price and yield, as well as the actual price and yield for each crop. You can apply expenses to specific fields and crops, then print an expense report by field, crop, and date. It will give you the total expenses, gross income, and net income for each field. There is a diary that will record any information by date. It stores field records for each year so you can print out yields and income for past years, giving you an average for however many years you want. You can store spraying records, including fertilizer, chemicals, and restricted pesticides. The program includes all of the information that is required by the USDA and EPA concerning restricted and non-restricted chemicals. The cattle record-keeping segment of the program was developed in conjunction with animal science professors at Arkansas State University. You can specify different herds and each animal can be entered by animal ID number, registration number, or tattoo number. You can specify its breed, sex, and whether it is for breeding or for sale. The software will keep track of birth, weaning, purchase, and sale information. You can also record each animal's health records, including weight, body condition, and hip height. Herd vaccinations can be recorded by date. There is a machinery inventory section that will record VIN numbers, description, hours in use, purchase information, resale value, sale information, loan amount and balance, and a comments section to enter any information about that piece of equipment. "What sets The Farmer's Bookkeeper apart from many other programs on the market, is its financial capabilities," Jackson says. "You can enter expense checks and the program will print the check on a printer, or you can hand write the check and enter it later. As you enter the check, you can immediately apply any or all of the check to field, cattle, or machinery expenses. You can also apply the check directly to the general ledger that is also included within the program. There is no need for multiple entries into your field or cattle records. You don't have to maintain a separate financial journal." You can also enter bank deposits and apply those to your general ledger. If you set up your general ledger and post the checks and deposits to it, you can even reconcile your bank account. The general ledger can be as simple or as comprehensive as you want. You can set up asset, liability, capital, income, and expense accounts. This will allow you to produce balance sheets and income statements. Or you can just set up the income and expense accounts to only produce an income statement. Or you can just print out a list of your checks and deposits to send to your accountant. How you want to set up your financial reporting is up to you. The Farmer's Bookkeeper is not designed to replace your accountant, but rather to organize your information, making your accountant's job easier, taking less time, and saving you money. The Farmer's Bookkeeper also includes a payroll option. Enter your employee's inform

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