The primary impetus for this book is that the cash flow budget can be the central focus of all three of the major planning problems marketing, production, and investment of a commercial farm or ranch
– Introduction to Part 1
This book will be used to farm management practitioners and undergraduate students in agriculture business, and farm management curricula. The authors are no–nonsense–type farm management specialists who are heavily involved with the day–to–day problems of operating farm managers and with the training of farm management students.
– Dennis R. Starleaf, Professor and Chair Department of Economics, Iowa State University
Preface.
.
Part I. Introduction to Cash Flow.
The Importance of Cash Flow.
Relationships between the Financial Statements.
A Cash Flow Plan..
Part II. Plan Components.
Strategic Planning.
Market Planning.
Production Planning.
Purchasing Schedules and Inventory Planning.
Investment, Repair, Debt Service, and Other Expenditure Planning..
Part III. Compilation and Use of a Total Plan.
Putting the Plan Together.
Assessing Risk through Cash Flow.
Cash Flow Monitoring..
Part IV. Limitations and Other Concerns.
Cash Flow Deficiencies, Problems, and Long–Run Projections.
Index.
Inadequate market planning, poor production planning, and absolutely terrible investment planning have all contributed to the severe financial crisis faced by many current farmers and ranchers. The cash flow statement can be the central focus of all three of the major planning problems (marketing, production, and investment) of a commercial farm or ranch. All three forms of planning are essential.
Cash Flow Planning in Agriculture is and easy–to–read manual that gives farmers, ranchers, and farm management students step–by–step instructions on how to pull together and analyze the information required to develop a whole–farm or whole–ranch cash budget. Examples throughout the book, accompanied by supporting figures and tables, clearly illustrate the cash flow planning process and allow readers to apply the techniques to their specific operations. As they teach the process, the authors also explain why the cash flow budget is an invaluable tool for achieving and maintaining long–term profitability while ensuring the positive cash flow that is vital to the short–term survival of every farm or ranch business.
The authors of Cash Flow Planning in Agriculture were colleagues in developing a series of intensive, integrated business management workshops for agricultural producers. James D. Libbin is professor, Department of Agricultural Economics and Agriculture Business, and Extension farm management specialist at New Mexico State University, Las Cruces. Lowell B. Catlett is professor, Department of Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Business, and Extensive marketing specialist at New Mexico State University, Las Cruces. Michael L. Jones is a business consultant in Indio, California.