The Rural Voice, 1981-05, Page 21VOICE OF A FARMER
The why
of record keeping
BY ADRIAN VOS
For as long as I can remember farmers have been urged to
keep good records. Not only had financial records to he kept for
tax purposes. but lately farm management personnel have put a
lot more emphasis on the need for good
production records.
It is readily apparent that good records
tvill soon weed out the animal which is not
performing well. he it a dairy copy or a
sow. Relying on memory for the per-
formance of 40 sows or dairy cows. or
scores of fed cattle, is impossible unless
the farmer has a computer in his skull.
At last fall's agricultural Crcdit Con-
ference Dr. Frey. Professor of Agri-
cultural Economics at the University oI'
Illinois, spoke on the subject of inter-
preting thc recorded financial in-
formation.
Wally Matte. a director of thc OPPMB. vyho attended that
meeting. was a bit disappointed this advice %vas given to
bankers. He thinks it's much more useful to teach farmers the
importance of farm finance analysis.
Matte says every farmershould consult
a chartered accountant who is familiar with the farming
business. it's not that the decision making should be transferred
to the CA. that should remain where it is now. But a CA keeps
up-to-date on tax law and can advise on the consequences of
financial transactions. •
" . . .If they (the CA's) can't save'. ou a considerable amount
of money. then either you arc too smart to be a farmer, or they
arc no good." according to Matte.
it's likely that thc vast majority of farmers nccd sonic
education on analysing their operations. or nccd competent'
advisors to do it for them.
With the vast sums going through every farm operation. it
appears strange there still arc farmers who disregard common
sense practices like analysis.
Performance record keeping is another way of preventing
waste of money on Tess productive animals or on thc use of too
much or not enough fertilizer on fields.
While the emphasis put on record keeping at present done by
OMAF extension personnel should continue. it should be
extended to include analysis. That way a farmer can learn the
WHY of recordkccping, besides keeping governments' revenue
department satisfied.
Seafo rth
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THE RURAL VOICE/MAY 1981 PG. 19