2011 Annual Report of the Southwestern Minnesota Farm Business Management Association

This report summarizes the individual farm records of the members of the Southwestern Minnesota Farm Business Management Association for 2011. Whole-farm information and enterprise costs and returns are reported. The year-end analysis of the individual farms was performed by the Association fieldmen using the FINPACK software from the Center for Farm Financial Management. The individual analyses were summarized at the Department of Applied Economics using RankEm Central. In addition to the average of all farms, the averages for the high and low income groups are also presented. The tables are divided into four major groups: whole-farm information, crop enterprises, livestock enterprises, and summary information. The summary information includes whole farm historical trends and information by county, farm size, type of farm, debt to asset ratio, and operator age. Of the 114 farms in the Southwestern Association, the data for 107 farms are included in this report. The rest were omitted because the records were incomplete at the time that this report was prepared. In addition to this report, members receive an annual farm business analysis; on-farm instructional visits; end-of-year income tax planning and preparation; periodic meetings, tours, and seminars; a monthly newsletter; and other managerial and educational assistance. Each farmer pays an annual fee which covers the majority of the cost, with the balance defrayed by University of Minnesota Extension and research programs of the University of Minnesota.