Beef Farm Business Summary Helps Calculate Cost of Production

SOUTHWEST, NEW YORK (August 7, 2020) – Cornell Cooperative Extension’s SWNY Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program provides our region’s livestock producers with free and confidential programming to help with their farm business management goals. Katelyn Walley-Stoll, Farm Business Management Specialist with the program, works with farmers to analyze their farm’s financial standing with the Beef Farm Business Summary program. For more information, contact Walley-Stoll by calling 716-640-0522 or emailing kaw249@cornell.edu.

The Beef Farm Business Summary involves collecting and analyzing the farm’s financial information, including cattle inventories, sales revenues, and farm-related expenses. Specialists across the state work with farms one-on-one to determine what information is needed to complete the analysis. This provides the farm an opportunity to look at different areas of production, develop plans to increase profitability or weather times of financial instability, and monitor the success of their market sales and production methods.

One important aspect of financial analysis is calculating a farm’s cost of production. This is the measure of what it costs to produce a unit of product. “Knowing your cost of production and maintaining accurate farm financial records is the first step towards building a profitable farm business,” says Walley-Stoll. “While farming is a lifestyle and a passion, it also needs to make sense financially to stay sustainable. I’m proud to be a part of Cornell Cooperative Extension’s efforts to assist our region’s livestock producers with their financial and business management.” Beef producers in Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, and Steuben Counties can contact Katelyn Walley-Stoll for more information about the program by calling 716-640-0522 or emailing kaw249@cornell.edu.

Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Program specialists are here to help provide research-based resources and support during this challenging time. Their team of four specialists includes Katelyn Walley-Stoll, Farm Business Management (716-640-0522 or kaw249@cornell.edu); Joshua Putman, Field Crops (716-490-5572 or jap472@cornell.edu); Alycia Drwencke, Dairy Management (517-416-0386 or amd453@cornell.edu); and Amy Barkley, Livestock Management (716-640-0844 or amb544@cornell.edu). While specialists are working remotely at this time, they are still offering consultations via phone, text, email, videoconferencing, and mail along with socially distanced site visits. They are also providing weekly updates with timely resources and connections via email and hardcopy and virtual programming. For more information, or to be added to their notification list, contact Katelyn Walley-Stoll, Team Leader, at 716-640-0522, kaw249@cornell.edu or visit their website swnydlfc.cornell.edu.

The Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Program is the newest Cornell Cooperative Extension regional program and covers Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, and Steuben Counties. The Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops regional specialists work with Cornell faculty and Extension educators to address the issues that influence the agricultural industry in New York by offering educational programming and research based information to agricultural producers, growers, and agribusinesses in the Southwestern New York Region. Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities

If you would like more information about this topic, please call Katelyn Walley-Stoll at 716-640-0522 or email kaw249@cornell.edu. For more information about Cornell Cooperative Extension, contact your county’s Association Executive Director. Allegany County – Laura Hunsberger, lkh47@cornell.edu or 585-268-7644. Cattaraugus County – Dick Rivers, rer263@cornell.edu or 716-699-2377. Chautauqua County – Emily Reynolds, eck47@cornell.edu or 716-664-9502. Erie County – Diane Held, dbh24@cornell.edu or 716-652-5400. Steuben County – Tess McKinley, tsm223@cornell.edu, or 607-664-2301. 

Contact

Katelyn Walley-Stoll
Team Leader, Business Management Specialist
kaw249@cornell.edu
716-640-0522

Last updated August 10, 2020