2005 Year in Review

FAST Tools for Farm Management

Source: Travis Farley, 217-333-1817

Farmers will have the opportunity to learn how to use a computer software tool to help in financial management decisions at two University of Illinois Extension workshops offered throughout the state in January and February.

"Farm Financial Management Using FAST" will be offered at six locations between January 10 and January 24, and "Extending Your Farm Financial Management Using FAST" will be offered at five locations between January 31 and February 7.

"FAST includes a series of Microsoft Excel spreadsheets that help lenders and farmers evaluate various aspects of a farm business," explained Travis Farley, University of Illinois Extension FAST educator. "The first workshop will aid farmers in evaluating the financial health of their business by using FAST. The second workshop will aid farmers in assessing the financial condition of their business and in conducting short- and long-term financial planning using FAST."

Both workshops include a morning session and afternoon session. Each workshop will be conducted using a mobile computer lab.

"Participants can bring their own portable computer but a Microsoft Excel version 97 or higher is required," said Farley. "All participants will receive a FAST CD, workshop notes, and a subscription to FAST. Each workshop site is limited to 25 participants."

Registration for the "Farm Financial Management Using FAST" workshop is $45. The same fee applies to the second workshop unless the participant has enrolled in the first workshop. In such cases, the fee is $25.

Registration for each of the workshops can be completed online at: FAST Tools Workshop or by contacting Farley at (217) 333-1817.

Dates and locations for the "Farm Financial Management Using FAST" workshops are:
Jan. 10 - Macon County Extension office, Decatur
Jan. 11 - McDonough County Extension 4-H Auditorium, Macomb
Jan. 13 - Henry County Farm Bureau, Cambridge
Jan. 17 - Centralia Technology Center, Centralia
Jan. 18 - Ogle County Farm Bureau, Oregon
Jan. 24 - Ford/Iroquois County Extension office, Onarga

Dates and locations for the "Extending Your Farm Financial Management Using FAST" workshops are:
Jan. 31 - Champaign County Extension office, Champaign
Feb. 1 - Jefferson County Extension office, Mount Vernon
Feb. 3 - Warren County Extension office, Monmouth
Feb. 6 - Sangamon County Extension office, Springfield
Feb. 7 - DeKalb County Extension office, Sycamore

Other sponsors of the workshops are the USDA Risk Management Agency, the Illinois Farm Bureau, and U of I farmdoc.

by  Editor, theCity1.com
December 11, 2005