Tools

Culling:

• Culling Sheet (Excel spreadsheet)
• Culling Guide (Excel spreadsheet)

DairyCOP$

• DairyCOP$ - (Excel spreadsheet - 2007 version)
  
• DairyCOP$ - (Excel spreadsheet - 1997-2003 Version)
• DairyCOP$ - (Excel spreadsheet - 1997-2003 DEMO version)
• DairyCOP$ - Data Collection Form - 1997-2003 Version (pdf)
• Managing Production Costs: A Study of 2001 Milk Production Costs of a Small Sample of Pennsylvania Dairies (pdf)

Dairy Management Analysis:

• Dairy Management Analysis (Excel spreadsheet)

Fresh Cow Record:

• Fresh Cow Records - (Excel spreadsheet)

Milk Check Summary:

• Milk Check Summary - (Excel spreadsheet)

Monthly Cash Flow Projection:

Updated for 2010!

The Monthly Cashflow Budgeting Spreadsheet is a tool to help you develop a month by month cashflow budget for your dairy business. The tool consists of several section including:

• Income & Expense Projections
• Owner Draws
• Investing Activities (Capital Purchases/ Sales)
• Financing Actitivites (New Loans Borrowed/Loan Payments)
• A cow flow calulation section
• A milk price calculation section
• A Use and Expense Calculation Section

• A Sensitivity Analysis

This tool determines when an operation generates cash surpluses or deficits to help producers make better cash flow management decisions. For reference, use this Monthly Cash Flow Projection - Sample Sheet

Monthly Monitor:

Updated version!

Recommended Chart of Accounts:

Recommended Chart of Accounts The chart of accounts provides structure to data in the accounting system. By standardizing the "Data Organization" phase of information management, we can develop uniform benchmarks. The Dairy Alliance Standardized Chart of Accounts has been developed and refined with input from professionals serving the dairy industry throughout Pennsylvania and the Northeast. It can be implemented into any accounting system.

For a paper copy of the standardized chart of accounts, download this PDF file. A back-up file and instructions for using the Chart of Accounts with Quick Books can be found at the links, below. For more information on chart of account files for other software programs contact bhilty@psu.edu.

• Recommended Chart of Accounts - Back-up File for Use with QuickBooks
• Instructions for using RCOA Back-Up File with QuickBooks

Standardization of Data:

Standardization of Data An important, but often overlooked, step in information management is data organization, which provides structure to the raw data so it can be processed, reported and analyzed. Standardization in data organization is critical to developing uniform and useful benchmarks.

Veterinarian Invoice Spreadsheet:

Veterinarian Invoice Spreadsheet This simple spreadsheet can help you compile and categorize the charges on your monthly vet statement. If you are like most dairy producers, you pay all or a portion of your vet bill when you receive the month-end statement. It is our recommendation that you categorize these charges for management purposes. Breaking down vet costs such as those itemized in the spreadsheet can help you better analyze whether your vet costs are under control and if not why.

The pre-set categories also allow you to evaluate the cost of your reproductive synchronization program. There are two user defined categories that you can customize to accommodate your management needs. Simple instructions are embedded in the program to help you understand how to use it. If you usually carried an open balance on your account, my recommendation is to set up an account payable for vet expenses and enter the data in it. This will provide you with a more accurate set of accrual, not cash, accounting records.