Budgets, cash flow, break-even, records and the numbers behind a profitable farm. Every guide links its official sources, shows when it was last reviewed and tells you who to confirm with. Program terms change often, so we teach how things work and point you to the official page for current numbers.
| No. | Guide |
|---|---|
| 1 | Farm Profitability Benchmarks for 2026 How to use profitability benchmarks to judge your farm, where to find current USDA and university data, and why your own numbers matter… |
| 2 | Average Net Cash Farm Income: What the Data Says What net cash farm income measures, how USDA reports it, why averages hide big differences between farms, and how to read the data without… |
| 3 | Farm Business Income by Commodity Specialization Why farm income differs by type of farm, how USDA groups farms by commodity specialization, and how to use those groupings to read your… |
| 4 | Cost of Production per Acre and per Unit How to calculate cost of production per acre and per unit, which costs to include, and how to use the result in pricing, rent and loan… |
| 5 | Break-Even Analysis for Farms How to find the price or yield at which your farm covers its costs, what to include, how to test scenarios, and how lenders read… |
| 6 | Gross Margin Analysis for Crops How to calculate gross margin per acre for each crop, compare crops fairly, and avoid the common trap of ignoring fixed costs and labor. |
| 7 | Whole-Farm Budgeting Basics How to build a whole-farm budget that combines every enterprise, overhead and family living costs into one picture, and how to use it with… |
| 8 | Enterprise Budgets for Vegetables How to build an enterprise budget for a vegetable crop, including labor, packaging and marketing costs that make or break a small produce… |
| 9 | Enterprise Budgets for Livestock How to budget a livestock enterprise, from feed and pasture to vet costs, death loss and timing, so you know what each animal or herd… |
| 10 | Enterprise Budgets for Row Crops How to build corn, soybean, wheat or cotton budgets that include land, machinery and risk, and how to use them to choose crops and plan… |
| 11 | Partial Budgeting for Farm Decisions How partial budgeting helps you test a change on the farm, such as a new crop, machine or practice, by looking only at what changes in… |
| 12 | Farm Cash Flow Planning How to plan farm cash flow month by month, find shortfalls before they happen, and share a projection with your lender in a way that… |
| 13 | Annual Farm Operating Plans What goes into a yearly farm operating plan, how to write one that a lender will read, and how to keep it useful through the season. |
| 14 | Farm Financial Ratios: Liquidity, Solvency, Profitability A plain guide to the main farm financial ratios in three groups, what each one tells you, how to calculate them and how lenders read them. |
| 15 | Current Ratio and Working Capital for Farms What the current ratio and working capital tell you about your farm's ability to pay bills, how to calculate them, and what to do if they… |
| 16 | Debt-to-Asset Ratio Benchmarks Learn how the farm debt-to-asset ratio works, how lenders read it, and why benchmarks vary by operation, so you can judge your own balance… |
| 17 | Return on Farm Assets and Equity Understand return on farm assets and return on equity, how to calculate them from your own records, and what they say about profitability… |
| 18 | Farm Financial Scorecard Build a simple farm financial scorecard covering liquidity, solvency, profitability, repayment and efficiency, and learn how to track it… |
| 19 | Managing Razor-Thin Margins in 2026 Practical ways to manage tight farm margins: know your cost of production, plan cash flow, talk early with your lender, and decide where… |
| 20 | Farm Input Cost Management A practical guide to managing farm input costs: track spending, test before cutting, plan purchases, and compare suppliers without harming… |
| 21 | Reducing Feed Costs Without Cutting Corners How livestock producers can lower feed cost per unit of gain or milk through testing, storage, grazing and smart buying, without harming… |
| 22 | Fertilizer Cost Strategies Practical fertilizer cost strategies for crop farms: soil tests, rate decisions, timing, manure and legume credits, and smart buying, all… |
| 23 | Fuel and Energy Cost Management Ways to manage farm fuel and energy costs: track use, maintain engines, cut idle time, plan field passes and review irrigation and… |
| 24 | Labor Efficiency on Farms How to get more done with the labor you have: measure hours, simplify tasks, schedule well, train people and weigh hiring against… |
| 25 | Farm Machinery Cost Analysis Learn how to figure true machinery costs per hour and per acre, including depreciation, interest, repairs, fuel and labor, so choices rest… |
| 26 | Custom Hire vs. Owning Equipment Compare custom hire with owning equipment by looking at per-acre cost, timeliness, labor, capital and risk, and learn what to ask a custom… |
| 27 | Land Rental Economics: Cash Rent vs. Share Lease Understand how cash rent, crop share and flexible leases split risk and income between tenant and landowner, and what to weigh before… |
| 28 | Owned vs. Rented Farmland Returns Compare returns on owned and rented farmland by separating operating income from land ownership gains, and see what to ask before buying… |
| 29 | Farmland Value Trends and Drivers Learn what moves farmland values, including income, interest rates, supply, and demand, and where to find official data without guessing… |
| 30 | Farm Succession and Financial Planning A practical overview of farm succession planning: start family talks, define roles, plan money for retirement and transfer, and choose the… |
| 31 | Estate Planning for Farm Families Why farm estates need special planning, which documents and questions matter, and how to prepare for an attorney meeting. Concepts only… |
| 32 | Farm Business Structures: Sole Proprietor to LLC Compare sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs and corporations for farms at a concept level, with questions for an attorney and a CPA. |
| 33 | Farm Taxes: An Overview for Producers A plain-English overview of how farm income is taxed, records you need, accounting methods and where to find IRS guidance. Not tax advice. |
| 34 | Schedule F Tax Filing for Farmers What Schedule F is, who uses it, what goes on it and how to prepare, with pointers to IRS instructions. Concepts only, not tax advice. |
| 35 | Farm Depreciation and Section 179 Understand the idea behind farm depreciation and Section 179 expensing, why limits change, and what to ask a CPA before buying equipment. |
| 36 | Farm Tax Deductions You Should Not Miss How to find deductions your farm may be entitled to by keeping records, using IRS Publication 225 and meeting your CPA early. Not tax… |
| 37 | Quarterly Estimated Taxes for Farms How estimated tax payments work for farmers, why farm rules differ, how to plan cash for them, and where to confirm dates and amounts. Not… |
| 38 | Farm Payroll and Employment Taxes A concept-level guide to farm payroll: employees versus contractors, withholding, records, and where to confirm current rules. Not legal… |
| 39 | Farm Insurance: Crop, Liability, and Property Understand the main kinds of farm insurance, what each covers in general, how to compare coverage and what to ask an agent. Concepts, not… |
| 40 | Crop Insurance Basics for Row Crops How federal crop insurance works for row crops: yield and revenue protection, coverage levels, deadlines and what to ask an agent. Check… |
| 41 | Whole-Farm Revenue Protection Whole-Farm Revenue Protection insures a farm's total revenue, not one crop. Learn how it works, who it fits and which records to bring to… |
| 42 | Livestock Insurance Options Livestock insurance covers price drops and margins, not death loss. See how federal plans differ from private cover and what to ask before… |
| 43 | Farm Risk Management Strategies Farm risk falls into five areas: production, marketing, financial, legal and human. Learn to spot yours and match each with a practical… |
| 44 | Hedging with Futures and Options Hedging with futures and options can lock in a price or set a floor. See how it works, what margin calls mean and what to settle before… |
| 45 | Forward Contracts for Grain A forward contract fixes a grain price and delivery with a local buyer. Learn the terms to read, the short-crop risk and what to ask… |
| 46 | Basis Contracts and Marketing Strategies Basis is the gap between your local cash price and futures. Learn how basis contracts and other marketing tools work, and when each one… |
| 47 | Storage Economics: Sell Now or Store? Should you sell at harvest or store grain? Learn the costs of storing, how market carry works, and how to compare both choices before you… |
| 48 | Farm Marketing Plans for Profit A farm marketing plan sets goals, costs, buyers and timing so sales support profit. See what goes in a plan and how to build one in a few… |
| 49 | Direct-to-Consumer Pricing Strategies Pricing direct sales starts with your true costs, not the grocery shelf. Learn to set prices, cover your time and adjust by channel… |
| 50 | Value-Added Product Profitability Turning raw farm goods into jams, cheese or cuts of meat can raise income, but it adds costs and rules. Learn how to test profitability… |
| 51 | Agritourism Revenue and Costs Agritourism can add income through events, tours and stays, but it also adds costs, liability and labor. Learn how to budget it before you… |
| 52 | Farm Diversification Economics Adding a new enterprise can spread risk, but it can also spread you thin. Learn to judge diversification with budgets, margins and honest… |
| 53 | Enterprise Stacking for Small Farms Enterprise stacking layers several income streams on the same land. Learn to pick complementary enterprises, share costs and avoid… |
| 54 | Farm Financial Record Keeping Good farm records feed taxes, loans and decisions. Learn what to keep, how to organize it, how long to hold it, and how to build a simple… |
| 55 | Farm Accounting Software Compared Spreadsheet, general bookkeeping or farm-specific software: compare the types by features, cost and fit so you can choose one your farm… |
| 56 | Working with a Farm Accountant A good farm accountant does more than file taxes. Learn how to find one, what to bring, what to ask, and how to make the relationship pay… |
| 57 | Farm Financial Audits and Reviews Audits, reviews and compilations give different levels of assurance on farm financial statements. Learn what each is and when lenders ask… |
| 58 | Benchmarking Your Farm Against Averages Benchmarking compares your costs and returns with similar farms to spot strengths and gaps. Learn which measures to use and how to read… |
| 59 | Farm Business Planning: A Template A farm business plan template you can fill in at the kitchen table: sections to write, numbers to gather and questions to answer before… |
| 60 | Preparing a Farm Business Plan for Lenders Lenders read a farm plan to judge repayment ability, not enthusiasm. Learn what they look for, which numbers to show and how to present… |
| 61 | Farm Feasibility Studies A feasibility study tests whether a farm idea can work before you spend money. Learn the steps: market, production, finances and a clear… |
| 62 | Starting a Farm: Startup Costs Startup costs go beyond land and tractors. Learn the categories to budget, ways to start smaller, and where beginning farmers can look for… |
| 63 | Expanding a Farm: Financial Considerations Growing the farm adds debt, risk and workload as well as income. Learn how to test an expansion, project cash flow and decide how fast to… |
| 64 | Exiting Farming: Financial Steps Whether you sell, transfer or wind down, an exit takes years of planning. Learn the financial steps, who to involve, and the questions to… |
| 65 | Farm Financial Crisis: Warning Signs Spotting financial trouble early gives you more options. Learn common warning signs on a farm, what to do first, and where to turn for… |
| 66 | Managing Farm Debt During Downturns How to take stock of your farm debt when prices drop, talk early with your lender, and use FSA and extension resources before payments… |
| 67 | Drought Economics for Farms How drought changes farm income, costs and cash flow, what insurance and FSA disaster programs are for, and how to plan before the next… |
| 68 | Disaster Financial Recovery for Farms A practical order of operations after a flood, fire, storm or other farm disaster: document losses, call insurers and FSA, protect cash… |
| 69 | Farm Profit per Cow, per Acre, per Hour Learn three simple ways to measure farm profit, per unit of livestock, land and your own time, and how to use them to decide what to change. |
| 70 | Annual Farm Financial Review Checklist A year-end checklist for farm owners: statements, debt, insurance, records, taxes and goals, so you start the season knowing exactly where… |