Decision Tools

An Excel spreadsheet program to estimate the economic benefits and costs of vegetative buffers

An Excel spreadsheet program to estimate the economic costs of wastewater treatment systems for homeowners

A spreadsheet tool to help producers evaluate the options they have once they hit the final planting date for corn and what might be most economical given projected harvest prices.

Dan O’Brien evaluates the numbers from the USDA WASDE grain supply and demand report.

This spreadsheet is designed to help a producer make the decision to pull cattle at wheat jointing and harvest as a grain crop or to grazeout wheat

An Excel spreadsheet to analyze the economics of planting a cover crop based on short-term benefits

An Excel spreadsheet to analyze the economics of spraying a crop field based on the anticipated yield response

A computer spreadsheet program to analyze the economics of investing in machine guidance and section control technologies

An Excel spreadsheet for evaluating feeder cattle risk management strategies

An Excel spreadsheet for beef cattle enterprise budgeting to evaluate potential income, costs and profitability. 

An Excel spreadsheet for beef cattle enterprise budgeting to evaluate potential income, costs and profitability. 

An Excel spreadsheet for establishing a pasture rental rate based on budgeted income and party contributions.

An Excel spreadsheet to evaluate the economic costs and benefits of natural (bull) breeding versus artificial insemination (AI) in beef herds

An Excel spreadsheet for calculating breakeven cattle prices between the calf and yearling stages

This calculator will show SCO and ECO payments based on final county yields and harvest price for a farmer's underlying crop insurance contract.

A tool to assess a farm's financial position relative to other similar farms in the same region. 

This spreadsheet will allow you to calculate a 2019 SCO payment based on the final county yield and underlying crop insurance contract.

An Excel spreadsheet to build a balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow from farm records.  Financial ratios are also computed.

A spreadsheet to evaluate working capital needs for a 5-year horizon.  Presented at the 2016/2017 "Top 10 Considerations to Navigate the Struggling Farm Economy" programs.

This spreadsheet includes a cash only and accrual adjusted income statement.  This was presented at the 2020 Farm Finanical Skills for Kansas Women in Ag. series.

Instructional videos for using the Lease Simulation Tool:

1. General Overview
2. How to Create a New Budget
3. Cash Versus Share Rent
4. How to Interpret Results
5. How to Run Simulations

An Excel spreadsheet to analyze land purchase prices and land values in general

An Excel spreadsheet for sheep enterprise budgeting to evaluate potential income, costs and profitability. 

An Excel spreadsheet for swine enterprise budgeting to evaluate potential income, costs and profitability

Excel spreadsheet for dairy enterprise budgeting to evaluate potential income, costs and profitability

A spreadsheet to evaluate the storage capacity requirements and the economic costs associated with storing silage in bunkers, piles, or plastic bags

Accompanying article HERE

Accompanying article and video HERE

1. Click the link below to download the set-up file. 

2. Open the file, click "More Info", then the "Run Anyway" button. 

3. Click "Install", then "Finish" when completed. Locate the "Machinery Cost Calculator" on the desktop and double-click to open. 

Machinery Cost Calculator - Windows Version (Set-up)

An Excel spreadsheet to evaluate the economic costs of owning and operating a combine

An Excel spreadsheet to evaluate the economic costs of owning and operating a self-propelled crop sprayer

An Excel spreadsheet to assist producers in calculating farm specific custom farming rates and benchmarking machinery costs

A computer spreadsheet program to analyze the economics of investing in machine guidance and section control technologies