Decision Tools

Decision Tools

Miscellaneous
Title Author Date Downloads
U.S. Supply and Demand (WASDE) Spreadsheets

The World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) are released on about the 10th of each month by USDA. These spreadsheets provides historical data for corn,  grain sorghum, wheat, and soybeans, from 1973 to present. 

June 9, 2023
Tips and Exercises for Using Excel Spreadsheets

A manual and exercises used at Excel workshops to help users understand the basics of using Microsoft Excel (pdf)

May 25, 2022
KSU-Streambank Stabilization

An Excel spreadsheet program to estimate the economic benefits and costs of streambank stabilization projects

March 14, 2017
KSU-Vegetative Buffer

An Excel spreadsheet program to estimate the economic benefits and costs of vegetative buffers

March 14, 2017
KSU-HomeWastewaterTreatment

An Excel spreadsheet program to estimate the economic costs of wastewater treatment systems for homeowners

May 5, 2016
Beef
Title Author Date Downloads
KSU-Merck Calf Vaccination Program Assessment Tool

This spreadsheet is a decision-aid tool for cattle producers to compare expected net profit difference between alternative calf vaccination programs. 

May 10, 2023
K-State Feeder Cattle Risk Management Tool

An Excel spreadsheet for evaluating feeder cattle risk management strategies

February 13, 2023
KSU-Beef Replacement

Excel spreadsheet to evaluate the economic value of purchasing replacement females

January 31, 2023
KSU-Beef Cow Lease (Simple)

An Excel spreadsheet for establishing a calf-income split or cash rental rate for leasing a beef cow herd

December 16, 2022
2023 KSU-Beef Farm Management Guide Spreadsheet

An Excel spreadsheet for beef cattle enterprise budgeting to evaluate potential income, costs and profitability. 

December 16, 2022
Hay Inventory Calculator

This tool helps assess how much hay will be needed for the cowherd and then how much hay is available based on inventory on-hand and expected tonnage to be bailed.

May 18, 2022
KSU-Detailed Cow Calf Budget

This spreadsheet allows a user to develop a detailed beef cow/calf enterprise budget to evaluate potential income, costs, and profitability.

September 9, 2021
Pasture Rental Rate Decision Tool

An Excel spreadsheet for establishing a pasture rental rate based on budgeted income and party contributions.

December 27, 2016
KSU-Cattle Supplementation Cost

An Excel spreadsheet to evaluate the total costs of various protein supplement programs for cow/calf and stocker producers

June 29, 2016
KSU-Bull vs AI Breeding Costs

An Excel spreadsheet to evaluate the economic costs and benefits of natural (bull) breeding versus artificial insemination (AI) in beef herds

November 11, 2015
Cattle Breakeven Prices Yearling-Fed

An Excel spreadsheet for calculating breakeven cattle prices of yearlings placed on feed

October 13, 2015
Cattle Breakeven Prices Calf-Yearling

An Excel spreadsheet for calculating breakeven cattle prices between the calf and yearling stages

October 13, 2015
Policy & Risk Management
Title Author Date Downloads
2023 Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) and Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) Payment Calculator

This calculator will show SCO and ECO payments based on final county yields and harvest price for a farmer's underlying crop insurance contract.

March 6, 2023
Tradeoff Between 2023/2024 ARC and PLC

This spreadsheet shows the tradeoff between ARC-CO and PLC payments at various Marketing Year Average prices and county yield levels.  

January 13, 2023
Financial Benchmarking Tool

A tool to assess a farm's financial position relative to other similar farms in the same region. 

August 23, 2022
Monthly Cash Flow for Operating Loan Determination

A spreadsheet to assist in building a monthly cash flow statement to determine operating loan levels.

August 8, 2018
KSU-Integrated Financial Statements

An Excel spreadsheet to build a balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow from farm records.  Financial ratios are also computed.

December 6, 2017
KSU-Insurance Alternatives for Winter-Damaged Wheat

An Excel spreadsheet for helping producers analyze options for wheat damaged by winter weather. 

May 11, 2017
Working Capital 5-Year Spreadsheet

A spreadsheet to evaluate working capital needs for a 5-year horizon.  Presented at the 2016/2017 "Top 10 Considerations to Navigate the Struggling Farm Economy" programs.

December 12, 2016
AGR-Lite Whole-Farm Revenue Insurance

An Excel spreadsheet to assess the AGR-Lite whole farm insurance program for a farming operation

May 24, 2016
KSU-Income Statement

This spreadsheet includes a cash only and accrual adjusted income statement.  This was presented at the 2020 Farm Finanical Skills for Kansas Women in Ag. series.

Swine
Title Author Date Downloads
KSU-Hog Contract Evaluation Tool February 17, 2023
2023 KSU Swine Farm Management Guide Spreadsheet

An Excel spreadsheet for swine enterprise budgeting to evaluate potential income, costs and profitability.

December 16, 2022
Dairy
Title Author Date Downloads
2023 KSU-Dairy Farm Management Guide Spreadsheet

Excel spreadsheet for dairy enterprise budgeting to evaluate potential income, costs and profitability.

December 16, 2022
KSU-SilageValue

A spreadsheet program to estimate the vaue of corn or grain sorghum silage based upon the price of grain, harvesting costs, and nutrients removed

July 8, 2016
Silage Storage: Economics of Bunkers, Piles, or Bags for Dairy

A spreadsheet to evaluate the storage capacity requirements and the economic costs associated with storing silage in bunkers, piles, or plastic bags

March 1, 2014
Sheep
Title Author Date Downloads
2023 KSU-Sheep Farm Management Guide Spreadsheet

Excel spreadsheet for dairy enterprise budgeting to evaluate potential income, costs and profitability.

December 16, 2022
Crop Production Economics
Title Author Date Downloads
Seasonal Cash Grain Prices

An Excel spreadsheet to evaluate seasonality in the Kansas grain market

September 7, 2022
Considerations for taking Prevent Plant in 2022 because of Drought Conditions May 4, 2022
KSU-Prevented Planting on Corn

A spreadsheet tool to help producers evaluate the options they have once they hit the final planting date for corn and what might be most economical given projected harvest prices.

June 3, 2021
Methods of Valuing Corn or Grain Sorghum Silage

A spreadsheet tool designed to look at silage pricing methods from both the owner and buyer perspectives.

August 2, 2018
Wheat Grazeout Partial Budget

This spreadsheet is designed to help a producer make the decision to pull cattle at wheat jointing and harvest as a grain crop or to grazeout wheat

April 17, 2018
KSU-Fertilizer Tool

An Excel spreadsheet to calculate which combinations of fertilizers will meet the nutrient requirements of a field, at the lowest cost. 

March 30, 2017
KSU-Cover Crop Cost-Return Budget

An Excel spreadsheet to analyze the economics of planting a cover crop based on short-term benefits

August 10, 2016
Bermuda Hay Economics

An Excel spreadsheet to analyze the economics of planting bermuda grass and harvesting as hay

July 8, 2016
Economics of Spraying Field Crops

An Excel spreadsheet to analyze the economics of spraying a crop field based on the anticipated yield response

July 8, 2016
KSU Irrigation Energy Cost

A spreadsheet to compare the costs of irrigation energy options

May 23, 2016
Guidance & Section Control Profit Calculator

A computer spreadsheet program to analyze the economics of investing in machine guidance and section control technologies

May 20, 2016
KSU-OptionStrategies

An Excel spreadsheet to compare alternative marketing strategies that use the futures and options markets

December 12, 2013
Land Leasing & Purchase
Title Author Date Downloads
Lease Simulation Tool

Instructional videos for using the Lease Simulation Tool:

1. General Overview
2. How to Create a New Budget
3. Cash Versus Share Rent
4. How to Interpret Results
5. How to Run Simulations

December 14, 2020
KSU-Lease

An Excel spreadsheet to determine equitable crop share and cash lease rental arrangements

July 8, 2016
KSU-Landbuy

An Excel spreadsheet to analyze land purchase prices and land values in general

August 20, 2013
KSU-FlexRent

An Excel spreadsheet to calculate flexible cropland rents based on price, yield, or revenue

January 18, 2012
Limit-Feeding Stockers
Title Author Date Downloads
K-State Feedlot Budget Tool - Limit-Fed or Ad Lib - Marketing on the Grid

Accompanying article HERE

September 16, 2020
K-State Feedlot Budget Tool - Limit-Fed or Ad Lib - Marketing Live Cattle

Accompanying article HERE

September 16, 2020
K-State Backgrounding Budget Tool - Limit-Fed or Ad Lib - Stocker Phase

Accompanying article and video HERE

September 16, 2020
Machinery & Building
Title Author Date Downloads
Machinery Cost Calculator

1. Click the link below to download the set-up file. 

2. Open the file, click "More Info", then the "Run Anyway" button. 

3. Click "Install", then "Finish" when completed. Locate the "Machinery Cost Calculator" on the desktop and double-click to open. 

Machinery Cost Calculator - Windows Version (Set-up)
July 7, 2020
KSU-Own Baler

An Excel spreadsheet to evaluate the economic costs of owning and operating a large square or large round hay baler

June 30, 2016
KSU-Own Combine

An Excel spreadsheet to evaluate the economic costs of owning and operating a combine

June 30, 2016
KSU-Own Tractor

An Excel spreadsheet to evaluate the economic costs of owning and operating a tractor

June 30, 2016
KSU-Own Sprayer

An Excel spreadsheet to evaluate the economic costs of owning and operating a self-propelled crop sprayer

June 30, 2016
KSU-Truck Cost

An Excel spreadsheet to estimate the cost of owning and operating a truck

June 30, 2016
KSU-Machinery Costs

An Excel spreadsheet to assist producers in calculating farm specific custom farming rates and benchmarking machinery costs

June 30, 2016
KSU-Building Cost-Rent

An Excel spreadsheet to estimate the annual cost of owning and maintaining agricultural storage buildings to aid in determining estimates for building rent

June 30, 2016
Guidance & Section Control Profit Calculator

A computer spreadsheet program to analyze the economics of investing in machine guidance and section control technologies

May 20, 2016