Corn Cost & Returns Estimator
Version 1.3
Thanks is given to the Kentucky Corn Growers Association and Kentucky Corn Promotion Council for providing the funding to make this product available
Downloading and Installing the Corn Cost & Returns Estimator:
Click on Corn Cost & Returns Estimator for Windows '95/'98, a self-extracting zipped file with a setup routine. With most browsers, you will get a choice of saving it to your hard drive or opening it. Save it to your hard drive. Go to the folder/directory in which you saved the file and double-click on 'baledcorn.exe' It will copy its files to your Windows/Temp directory, and then start the Setup routine. Just follow the Setup Routine instructions.
Note to Windows 2000 Users:
When installing baled budgets, you may get a message saying there is no disk in the drive. If you cancel this message (it may appear twice) the program should continue to install.
To Create a Shortcut:
After installing the Program, you will see a Program Group with an icon. DO NOT drag the icon out of the program group to create the icon. Right click on the icon that appears in the program group then click `Copy'. Close the Program Group. Now, right click in the middle of the screen and click `Paste'. This will copy and paste the icon.
Another way to create a shortcut is, somewhere on the main screen of Windows '95/'98/2000, click the right button of the mouse. Then click 'New', then click 'Shortcut'. Double-click the 'CORN' file, then click 'corn.exe'. Click next, and follow the directions.
Overview:
The Corn Cost & Returns Estimator is a stand-alone software program which calculates returns for field corn from user-input information. Information is entered into three main categories: Grower Information, Variable Costs, and Fixed Costs. The program then generates a budget based on this information, in terms of per bushel, per acre, and per field costs and returns.
To begin using the Corn Cost & Returns Estimator, double-click the blue buttons to enter information in each section. After all information is entered, double-click on the 'Go to Budget' button to view the final budget. You can also go to any of the input pages through the menu bar. Blue buttons are located in several places throughout the program. To activate these buttons, double-click on them.
A default file, 'Kfbmavg.bdt', is included with the program. This file is based on the Kentucky Farm Business Management Program publication, Yellow Corn Enterprises: 1999 Costs and Returns, Agricultural Economics - Extension No. 2001-09, and the Survey of Agricultural Input Prices, also from the UK Department of Agricultural Economics.
Grower Information:
This dialog box allows you to enter a specific farm and field name, crop year, variety planted, and expected yield and price. In the soil test boxes, enter levels of phosphorus and potassium from your soil test results. The program will calculate amounts of phosphate and potash to be applied per acre based on tables from the UK College of Agriculture, Lime and Fertilizer Publication, AGR-1. Likewise, enter water and buffer pH levels from soil test results, and the program will calculate the recommended lime amount based on AGR-1. The levels calculated for phosphate, potash, and lime can be changed by going to the Variable Costs dialog box and clicking on the "Fertilizer and Lime" button. You will see amounts (and prices) of phosphate, potash, and lime in blue. You can change these numbers. Any number or word in blue is a number or description you can change.
You can also enter your tenure arrangements and crop/ revenue insurance options by clicking on the appropriate buttons.
Variable Costs:
To enter information on seed, pesticides, fertilizer and lime, and other expenses, click on the appropriate button. On the pesticides and fertilizer and lime buttons, enter information in the format given by the example. This page is setup like a typical spreadsheet. Click on the appropriate cell and enter in the information. Arrow keys can move you from cell to cell. DO NOT use dollar signs when entering the prices. The program will enter those in for you. If you type in dollar signs, important formulas will not work. Any number that appears in blue can be changed. The amounts for phosphate, potash, and lime were calculated from the soil test levels you entered in from the 'Grower Information' dialog box. You can change those amounts if you desire.
Do not enter numbers and units in the same cell. The units column is for descriptive units of measure, such as gallons, quarts, pints, etc.
Fixed Costs:
Enter the appropriate fixed cost amounts for the designated units ($ per acre, etc). Use farm records, farm analysis values, or other sources to estimate fixed costs.
Ag Input Price Survey:
This is a list of agricultural prices that were collected from the most recent survey, conducted through the UK Department of Agricultural Economics. The far right hand column is a place for you to enter your prices.
Printing:
There are several different items that can be printed. On the menu bar, click on 'File'. You can chose to print the Help page, the Fertilizer list, the Pesticide list, and the Corn Budget. If you have problems printing, click on 'File', then click on 'Printer Setup', check the settings and change if necessary, and click 'OK'. When printing the budget, your print options should be to print to one page. When printing the help page, it is best to have print options set to print actual size. To check print options, from the menu bar, click on 'File', then 'Page Setup', then click on the 'Size' tab. Select your option and click 'OK'.
To Save a File:
Click on 'File' then 'Save as...' give it a name and click 'OK'. When you save your files, it will ask if you want to save the input cells, input cells and formula cells, or all cells. SAVE INPUT CELLS ONLY. This will save disk space and is the only way to open an existing file.
To Open a File:
From the menu bar, click on 'File', then click on 'Open', select the file you wish to open, and click on 'OK'.
To Exit the Program:
When you exit the program, you will be asked if you want to save changes in 'corn.bwb'. ALWAYS SAY NO. This *.bwb file is your default file. If you click on 'yes', you will lose the original budget numbers. It is recommended that when you first use the Corn Cost & Returns Estimator, create your own default file, with or without numbers, and save it as 'Default'. That way, in case you answer 'yes' to this question when you exit, you will always have a default file that can always be opened.
For More Information
For additional information about this interactive corn cost & return estimator, please contact,Steve Isaacs or Steve Riggins.