Record keeping

[DLMKA]

I'll admit, I'm not good at keeping records. I've tried for several years to keep close tabs on how many pounds of tomatoes, green beans, squash, etc I harvest from the garden but when it gets busy that drops to the bottom of my priority list.

We're starting to raise some pork, eggs, and pastured broilers with the intent of making a little money on the side. Here is a little info on what I envision each of the operations looking like.

Eggs: ~50 free range hens. They have a secure coop for sleeping at night and in warmer months will primarily forage with some amount of supplemental feed. Eggs are not particularly high value or volume. We've been selling for $3/doz but may raise to $3.50 after Jan 1 except for weekly subscribers. Chickens are primarily there for pest control.

Broilers:
Raised our first batch of 100 Freedom Rangers late summer-Fall. They were in Salatin tractors and moved daily. Grasses and clover were pretty much grazed down to dirt and poop in 24 hrs, could have been moved 2x daily fewer to a tractor. I started with bagged feed for the first 6 weeks and switched to home ground mash with non-GMO corn, soybean meal, mineral concentrate, 10% oats. Milling feed at home saves tons of money on feed being able to buy grain from the elevator or direct from farmer to further keep handling costs down. Switching from soybean meal to whole roasted soybeans for 2015 for higher energy content.

Pork:
Have two berkshire gilts that will be bred in January if all goes well. Going to keep up to 15 feeders to finish and sell anything beyond 15 if we get that fortunate. I have two barrows going to locker in a month or so and just put my name on 3 tamworth cross feeders to be picked up in 3 weeks. Planning to keep the sows on 2x yearly farrowing to keep them in good condition for longer and will eventually get them schedule that we can work with as we learn more. Have 4 acres of pasture already fenced in to 1/2 acre +/- paddocks and may break those paddocks down further for more intensive grazing. Planning on selling freezer pork in halves or whole and not selling individual cuts at least for now.

What kinds of records do you all keep for feed costs, amount of feed being consumed, other expenses? Anyone care to share an outline of your record keeping spreadsheets?

[okiemom]

I keep the records of store purchases for the taxes and then use them but as for spreadsheet type stuff I'm lost and could use some major help. I would love to see how others do it but I really need some better lessons on how to get MS office to work better for me. Good record keeping is so vital m system works but only as a year end review not as a up to the second look. We only have cattle now so the expenses are fairly rare. yearly costs (hay) vs weekly/monthly.

[deb_rn]

Can you actually FIND Non-GMO Soybeans? I have read they are all GMO, so I stopped eating all food with soybeans as an ingredient!

Debbie

[DLMKA]

Originally Posted by deb_rn

Can you actually FIND Non-GMO Soybeans? I have read they are all GMO, so I stopped eating all food with soybeans as an ingredient!

Debbie

Yup. Amish feed mill in Arthur, IL gets SBM from a processor in Beardstown, IL that specializes in conventional and organics. They roast their own non-GMO beans and also sell expeller pressed meal.

And get this! It's cheaper than buying GMO solvent extracted SBM from my local elevator/mill by 20%

[Awnry Abe]

I use the non-GMO version if quickbooks from Intuit. The revenue-in vs. expenses out is easy with it. What it will not tell you is how many freedom rangers per tractor.

[DLMKA]

I guess I'm more interested in keeping track of how much feed you're using vs what comes back from the locker/processor. I can keep track of receipts and income easy enough. I want to know how efficiently I'm converting purchased feed into saleable product, not simply income-expenses=profit. I don't feel that is a good way to know HOW to make your operation better.

[Horseyrider]

I simplify the garden stuff. It comes from long years of experience, and knowing how much we're likely to eat. Then when I want to remember specific varieties of seed, I just refer to the packing list from the previous year's order and adjust accordingly.

As for my animals, I grow them solely for my own use, so I pay what it costs for organic, and don't care if it costs more than store bought. I want what I want.

Speaking of getting what I want, perhaps we can talk pork next fall. We don't live that far apart. I've been looking for someone who grows them like you do, with clean food, sunshine, and fresh air. That saves me from having to do some fencing, and gives you a buyer in line waiting.

[slingshot]

I use my iPhone...

I have an app called xpence tracker works real good for what I need to do.

Keeps everything separate and running, from mileage costs to feed cost and everything in between. By categorizing my income I know exactly how much each animal cost me and the return I get.

Sounds complicated but it's very simple and works great