--- title: Cash Cow Farmer Blog | Farm Business Tools (3) description: Farm Business Tools | Efficiently manage your farming operation and grain marketing (3) --- ### About Us CashCow helps all farmers manage and market their grain. [Find out more](https://cashcowfarmer.com/about) ### Contact Us - Customer Service - (605) 622-0208 - [admin@cashcowfarmer.com](mailto:admin@cashcowfarmer.com) - 16106 395th Ave Turton, SD 57477 [![Logo](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/hs-fs/file-2187096008-svg/images/logo.svg)![Logo header](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/hs-fs/file-2187116028-svg/images/logo_header.svg)](https://cashcowfarmer.com/)Marketing Support for Farmers - [Home](https://cashcowfarmer.com/) - [Our Blog](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts) - [About Us](https://cashcowfarmer.com/about) - [Contact Us](https://cashcowfarmer.com/contact) - [Login](https://cashcowfarmer.com/users/sign_in) - [Sign Up](https://cashcowfarmer.com/users/sign_up) ## [Live Webinar: Managing Farm Data](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/live-webinar-managing-farm-data) Posted by [Scott Anderson](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/author/scott-anderson) on Jan 27, 2016 11:37:02 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) *The BIGGEST challenge in farming right now is managing all the data that happens throughout the season and being able to make better management and financial decisions based on that data.* *Watch as Scott walks you through solutions to managing the data into an actionable format.*   [Read More](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/live-webinar-managing-farm-data) 6 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/live-webinar-managing-farm-data#comments-listing) Topics: [Farm Management](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/topic/farm-management), [Farm Business Tools](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/topic/farm-business-tools) ## [Adding Personal Living Expenses to Your Farm and Viewing Profits Per Field](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/adding-personal-living-expenses-to-your-farm-and-viewing-profits-per-field) Posted by [Scott Anderson](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/author/scott-anderson) on Jan 24, 2016 2:17:04 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/hubfs/Scotts_Images/Farm_Equipment_Product_Launch_Screenshot.png)](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/adding-personal-living-expenses-to-your-farm-and-viewing-profits-per-field) *The biggest challenge in farming right now is managing all the data that happens throughout the season and being able to make better management and financial decisions based on that data.* [Read More](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/adding-personal-living-expenses-to-your-farm-and-viewing-profits-per-field) 4 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/adding-personal-living-expenses-to-your-farm-and-viewing-profits-per-field#comments-listing) Topics: [Farm Management](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/topic/farm-management), [Farm Business Tools](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/topic/farm-business-tools) ## [6 Methods for Farm Tax Management](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/6-methods-for-farm-tax-management) Posted by [Scott Anderson](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/author/scott-anderson) on Dec 28, 2015 9:15:00 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/hubfs/Blogs/6_Methods_for_Farm_Tax_Management_4_A.jpg)](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/6-methods-for-farm-tax-management) [Read More](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/6-methods-for-farm-tax-management) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/6-methods-for-farm-tax-management#comments-listing) Topics: [Farm Management](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/topic/farm-management), [Farm Business Tools](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/topic/farm-business-tools) ## [5 Things You should know about Hedging Grain with Futures Contracts](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/5-things-you-should-know-about-hedging-grain-with-futures-contracts) Posted by [Scott Anderson](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/author/scott-anderson) on Nov 25, 2015 11:11:28 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/hubfs/Blogs/position.jpg)](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/5-things-you-should-know-about-hedging-grain-with-futures-contracts) Don't have time to read, click play above or [subscribe](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cash-cow-farmer-podcast/id1038454682) to our podcast on itunes. Every farmer needs to take advantage of futures contracts, here’s an important first question: *What are they?* **Futures** are derivatives of a commodity that allow buyers and sellers of that commodity to fix prices at some point in the future. The whole purpose of the futures market (for you, the farmer) is to manage price risk. For a stock or bond, you buy and sell it whenever you want. Futures, on the other hand, have contracts that expire. That’s what makes them so complicated: every contract moves at a different rate than the next. Still, with a little knowledge, you can use futures contracts to hedge your grain. These five nuggets will help you learn how to use futures to manage your risk. [Read More](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/5-things-you-should-know-about-hedging-grain-with-futures-contracts) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/5-things-you-should-know-about-hedging-grain-with-futures-contracts#comments-listing) Topics: [Farm Management](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/topic/farm-management), [Farm Business Tools](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/topic/farm-business-tools) ## [7 Strategies to Hedge Stored Grain](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/7-strategies-to-hedge-stored-grain) Posted by [Scott Anderson](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/author/scott-anderson) on Nov 14, 2015 12:41:12 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/hubfs/Blogs/7_Strategies_to_Hedge_Stored_Grain_3_82.jpg)](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/7-strategies-to-hedge-stored-grain) Don't have time to read, click play above or [subscribe](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cash-cow-farmer-podcast/id1038454682) to our podcast on itunes. Hope is not a good grain marketing strategy. The price risk you run when you store grain doesn’t go away, even if you hold your breath. Even though harvest is over, a lot of the numbers are coming out. If you’re already tight with your break-even cost of production, you want to make sure you’re not losing more money as that grain sits at the elevator. How do you this? By developing a specific risk management strategy—or multiple strategies. Here are seven strategies you can use to hedge stored grain. [Read More](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/7-strategies-to-hedge-stored-grain) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/7-strategies-to-hedge-stored-grain#comments-listing) Topics: [Farm Management](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/topic/farm-management), [Farm Business Tools](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/topic/farm-business-tools) ## [6 Ways to Uncover Hidden Profit on Your Farming Operation](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/6-ways-to-uncover-hidden-profit-on-your-farming-operation) Posted by [Scott Anderson](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/author/scott-anderson) on Nov 2, 2015 7:26:39 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/hubfs/Blogs/6_Ways_To_Uncover_Hidden_Profit_2_62.jpg)](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/6-ways-to-uncover-hidden-profit-on-your-farming-operation)         Don't have time to read, click play above or [subscribe](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cash-cow-farmer-podcast/id1038454682) to our podcast on itunes. It feels like video games back in the day were always hiding something. In all those classic 2-D games (e.g., Super Mario and Donkey Kong) there were secret parts of the “level” that led to treasure, goods, or new places—if you knew where to look. The good stuff was all right there, under your nose, but you wouldn’t find it unless you were looking. I think there’s a good lesson farmers can learn here. There are nuggets of profit hidden all over your operation, right now, that you can find if you know what to look for. Honestly, a few tweaks here and there can be the difference of tens of thousands of dollars for you annually. Let me help you start looking by showing you six areas where your profit is hiding. [Read More](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/6-ways-to-uncover-hidden-profit-on-your-farming-operation) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/6-ways-to-uncover-hidden-profit-on-your-farming-operation#comments-listing) Topics: [Farm Management](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/topic/farm-management), [Farm Business Tools](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/topic/farm-business-tools) ## [5 Pieces of Data You Should Be Tracking](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/5-pieces-of-farm-data) Posted by [Scott Anderson](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/author/scott-anderson) on Oct 28, 2015 8:56:00 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/hubfs/Blogs/5_Pieces_of_Data_4_59.jpg)](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/5-pieces-of-farm-data)         Don't have time to read, click play above or [subscribe](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cash-cow-farmer-podcast/id1038454682) to our podcast on itunes. ***Data organization****: The ability to organize and structure data to locate strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities in the farming operation.* On every operation, big or small, there are a lot of data points. Those data points have to be organized into a structure in order to locate efficiencies and inefficiencies. Otherwise, you might go into a negotiating meeting not unprepared. A lot of farmers go to the negotiating table simply saying “that’s too expensive.” But if you bring specific, organized data from last year’s purchases, you’ll give yourself bargaining power and protection. Data is useless unless it’s organized into a usable format. That’s really the point of the Cash Cow Farmer program: to manage your expenses and revenue so you can find the best investments in your operation. Whether you use Cash Cow or some other means of recording, there are main types of farm data you should be tracking. [Read More](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/5-pieces-of-farm-data) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/5-pieces-of-farm-data#comments-listing) Topics: [Farm Management](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/topic/farm-management), [Farm Business Tools](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/topic/farm-business-tools) ## [5 Steps to Building A Grain Marketing Plan](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/5-steps-to-building-a-grain-marketing-plan) Posted by [Scott Anderson](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/author/scott-anderson) on May 11, 2015 11:52:00 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/hubfs/Blogs/Grain_Marketing_Plan_Title_Image.png)](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/5-steps-to-building-a-grain-marketing-plan) That corn has been sitting in bins for two years... When it was first harvested, it was worth $8 a bushel. You held out a little longer, hoping for a little more value, but today it’s worth $3. The money lost is staggering: if you have a million bushels stored away, you’ve lost the equivalent of about 50 Lamborghini tractors. That becomes your story when you wait too long to sell. Bottom line: you need a grain marketing plan. It’s the only way to protect yourself from getting too **greedy**... Here are five things you need to do to establish an effective grain marketing plan.   [Read More](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/5-steps-to-building-a-grain-marketing-plan) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/5-steps-to-building-a-grain-marketing-plan#comments-listing) Topics: [Farm Business Tools](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/topic/farm-business-tools) ## [7 Proven Strategies to Overcome Low Commodity Prices](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/7-proven-strategies-to-overcome-low-commodity-prices) Posted by [Scott Anderson](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/author/scott-anderson) on Apr 13, 2015 2:59:00 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/hubfs/Blogs/Cash_Bales-01.jpg)](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/7-proven-strategies-to-overcome-low-commodity-prices) I don’t need to tell you that farms are under a lot of financial pressure right now... You’re well aware that there’s a huge supply of grain and a great harvest worldwide, and because of that...commodity prices are low. Real low. But there’s hope... There are ways to lean up your farming, and we’re about to show you how. We’ve compiled a list of seven proven strategies to help you come out on top, even when commodity prices are low. At the very least, it’ll make your banker happy  :) [Read More](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/7-proven-strategies-to-overcome-low-commodity-prices) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/7-proven-strategies-to-overcome-low-commodity-prices#comments-listing) Topics: [Farm Business Tools](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/topic/farm-business-tools) ## [Farm Software: 5 Tools Every Farmer Should Be Using](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/farm-software-5-tools-every-farmer-should-be-using) Posted by [Scott Anderson](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/author/scott-anderson) on Apr 8, 2015 9:16:00 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/hubfs/Farm_Software_Image.jpg)](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/farm-software-5-tools-every-farmer-should-be-using) ---   When I first started farming, my dad told me: “You have to know what every field costs to produce that crop”. My experience working on Wall Street taught me that to measure profits, I needed to keep good records---I needed some kind of personal farm software. I found that most farmers use pencil and paper for record-keeping, and often the hassle of digging through the mess isn’t even worth the attempt. So I started using spreadsheets. Soon, I was using those spreadsheets for almost every decision on the farm. Since then, I’ve found some incredible farm software that puts simple spreadsheets to shame. Farming precision has never been more achievable. Here’s the must-have farm software that helps us grow profitability on our farm. I know these tools can work for you too... [Read More](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/farm-software-5-tools-every-farmer-should-be-using) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/farm-software-5-tools-every-farmer-should-be-using#comments-listing) Topics: [Farm Business Tools](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/topic/farm-business-tools) [Previous](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/topic/farm-business-tools/page/2) [All posts](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/all) [Next](https://blog.cashcowfarmer.com/posts/topic/farm-business-tools/page/4) ### Access to New Farm Management Updates [![Risk Free 30 Days Trial](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/462749/924ac1a4-47b0-4e2a-94f4-15c2ca690611.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/462749/924ac1a4-47b0-4e2a-94f4-15c2ca690611) ### Top Posts [![Subscribe on itunes](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/462749/a810fd89-49b7-4c5f-a0a4-982d19a31d3e.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/462749/a810fd89-49b7-4c5f-a0a4-982d19a31d3e) ### Contact Us - Customer Service - (605) 622-0208 - [admin@cashcowfarmer.com](mailto:admin@cashcowfarmer.com) - 16106 395th Ave Turton, SD 57477 ### About Us CashCow helps all farmers manage and market their grain. 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