Tools for the Trade:

Marketing and Risk Management Software, Information

Marketeer
Marketeer is a crop market planning software program jointly developed by the University of Minnesota Center for Farm Financial Management and Country Hedging, Inc.  The software helps producers evaluate various marketing and crop insurance strategies. A trial version can be obtained online at www.cffm.umn.edu or by calling the CFFM at 800-234-1111 or Country Hedging at 800-378-5056.

FairRent
This software assists farmers/ranchers in determining what is an affordable price to pay for land rent, including revenue and expense projections for each crop in the plan. It can be found online at www.cffm.umn.edu or by calling the CFFM at 800-234-1111.

AgRisk
AgRisk software predicts the distribution of a farm’s gross revenue at harvest time under different pre-harvest risk management strategies that may involve any combination of crop insurance products and various grain pricing contracts. Available free from The Ohio State University, http://aede.osu.edu/Programs/AgRisk/

Interactive Options Pricing Calculator
A joint project of AgriBiz.com and The Office for Futures and Options Research, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the Interactive Options Pricing Calculator is a tool for estimating the price of agricultural options given required input variables. A database of historical options closes is included to aid in educational applications. It can be found online at www.agribiz.com/cfor/

Risk Calculator 2.1
Developed by Matthew Diersen, risk and business management specialist at South Dakota State University, the Risk Calculator spreadsheet is designed to combine different risk management strategies to see how they affect crop revenue. Harvest-time “what if” scenarios can be conducted. It can be found free online at www.abs.sdstate.edu/ag_econ/

Breakeven worksheet
In-your-face marketing guru Randy Allen offers a breakeven worksheet on his web site, www.farmrwa.com.  The easy-to-follow online worksheet helps you calculate gross variable and fixed expenses for several different crops, including corn, soybeans, and wheat.

HedgeSim 3.0
This is a computerized simulation program where users practice applying risk management strategies to alternative farming units. The user manages either a grain farm or livestock feeding operation. Various marketing strategies can be implemented over time using cash, futures, and options markets. The user receives reasonable production costs and actual historical daily prices and government reports. Cost is $20. It can be found online at www.ace.uiuc.edu/ofor/hedgesim/hsim3.htm

Farm Software Downloads
Montana State University offers a host of public domain spreadsheet templates that can be downloaded free to help producers make effective farm and ranch management decisions: www.montana.edu/wwwextec/software/software.htm.  Another website, http://www.farmsoftware.com/ was created by the Canadian Farm Business Management Council to help farmers more easily find the software they need.

Crop Sequence Calculator
This free CD-ROM from the USDA-ARS Mandan Northern Great Plains Research Lab helps producers assess crop production options, and calculate the potential returns of ten different crops.  Expected crop prices and loan deficiency payments (LDP) can be input to provide rapid calculations of potential returns. The program contains information to assist producers in evaluating management risks associated with different crop sequences. The program may be requested on the NGPRL web site, www.mandan.ars.usda.gov or by contacting the lab: ph. (701) 667-3000.

Livestock Management Spreadsheets
Downloadable spreadsheets for cow herd drought management alternatives, cow-calf drought management, and for evaluating feed value, can be found on the NDSU extension livestock economics web site, www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/aginfo/lsmkt/livestock.htm

“Toolshed” CDs Offer Tech, Ag Info
The Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council, Syngenta and Northland Community and Technical College have put together CD-ROMs at no charge to producers that include information on: Internet application skills, commodity marketing information, the University of Minnesota Small Grains Production Guide and tutorials on how to use Toolshed Ag Information Network.

The MWRPC created “Toolshed” as a system for sharing ag-based information over the internet. It includes regional ag news and weather information, futures and local market prices, basis charts, Red River Farm Network radio broadcasts and archives, commodity marketing Q&As, LDP information, and industry contacts.  Producers may request a free copy of the CD by logging on to Toolshed, available on the web site,www.smallgrains.org

Requests may also be taken by phone by calling 1-800-242-6118.