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Advanced Accounting Methods for Dairies and Other Agribusinesses

October 29-30, 2007

Penn State Harrisburg Campus
104 Educational Activities Building
Route 230, Middletown, PA
Hours: Day 1- 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Day 2 - 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
For overnight accommodations: See list


Fee:

Without discount: $295 per person; $125 each add’l person per farm
With WIB discount for PA dairy producers and their employees only: $118 per person; $50 each add’l person per farm


About the program:

Participants in this workshop will learn how to apply proper accounting principles and practices to their everyday accounting and bookkeeping chores. They will also learn how to organize their information to enable them to generate effective managerial accounting reports, which can help improve profitability. This workshop will be applicable to all accounting programs, including QuickBooks.


Program benefits:

An effective managerial accounting system can help pinpoint weaknesses in business operations that might otherwise go undetected. By defining the proper areas of activity and accountability, business owners can have access to cost data for specific processes, products, or activity areas of the operation. This information can lead to improved operational efficiency and can significantly improve the operation’s bottom line. Businesses participating in this program will be able to benchmark specific cost centers of their business with other producers in the future.


Program content:

  • Implementing proper accounting principles and practices
  • Understanding managerial accounting
  • Defining cost and profit centers
  • Exploring cost accounting principles
  • Defining activity center for the dairy business
  • Structuring the chart of accounts for managerial accounting systems
Program agenda

Instructors:

  • Brad Hilty, information management specialist, Dairy Alliance
  • Mike Peachey, certified public accountant, Acuity Advisors and CPAs
  • Tim Beck, dairy educator, Penn State Cooperative Extension

Sponsor:

Lancaster Dairy Farm Automation

Producer feedback about this program:

“The workshop covered a lot of accounting topics in an interesting way. I attended because our dairy was in the process of upgrading our accounting software, and the workshop was very helpful with the transition. It really pushed me to think about how to set up our chart of accounts in a way that would work best for us.” Stacey Nolt, chief financial officer, Red Knob Farm, Peach Bottom, PA

"The longer I am in the business the more I realize I need an accounting system that can monitor the various activities of my business. I can see how managerial accounting will enable me to do this.” Tom Frey, dairy producer, Lancaster County, PA

“The workshop helped me to start a more comprehensive accounting program on my dairy. We’ve come quite a way with our new accounting program since the workshop. For the first time, we are getting a true cost of production between the cropping side and the parlor. Now we’re looking at ways we can adjust costs.” Roy Beardslee, dairy producer, Lottahill Dairy, Troy, Pa.

“A big benefit of attending was also the chance to talk with others in the same business and to learn what works for them.” Gayle Hershberger, co-owner of Milky Springs Dairy, Quarryville, Pa.

Registration:

Register online with your credit card
Or complete a registration form and fax or mail it to the Dairy Alliance office.


For more information:

Email askdairyalliance@psu.edu
Phone toll-free 888-373-7232