Rooted in finance

Today, farmers are growing specialty crops. These include things like herbs, mushrooms, flowers, tree nuts, grass seed, nursery crops, and even Christmas trees. These crops can bring in more money and help farmers try out new and sustainable ways to grow food. They also let farmers offer something unique and valuable to local customers who are looking for fresh and different products. Dive in to learn more

This article explores why income statements are so crucial for agricultural lenders, how they support borrowing and repayment decisions, and how platforms like FarmRaise Tracks can reshape the financial position of farms across the country.

The USDA announced that around 2,100 county-level FSA offices will reopen for limited, core operations (two staff per office, five days a week) during the current federal funding lapse. These offices will prioritize programs funded through the Commodity Credit Corporation (such as ARC/PLC, marketing assistance loans, and certain farm loan services), enabling the release of over $3 billion in farmer payments that had been delayed. While some services (particularly non-CCC and conservation-partner programs) remain limited or on hold, this move signals a restoration of key safety-net functions for producers.

This blog will show how FarmRaise Tracks is revolutionizing agricultural loan processing, why it matters for loan officers, and how banks can optimize their services by offering this cutting-edge solution.

A government shutdown can ripple through agriculture fast. If you work with the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) or rely on the Agricultural Marketing Program (AMP), it pays to know how a federal government funding lapse affects grants, deadlines, and support.

Launching a successful agritourism enterprise takes more than charm and scenic fields—it requires a thoughtful business plan, strategic marketing, and close attention to logistics, liability, and legal compliance. Whether you’re a small business owner exploring new markets or a family farm ready to welcome guests, here’s how to turn your operation into a thriving agritourism business.

In this guide, we will explore how to build a grant application process that is approachable, efficient, and designed specifically with beginning farmers, first-time ranchers, and small-scale entrepreneurs in mind.

This article will explore how organizations can use effective grant management, streamlined reporting, and strategic communication to turn today’s program success into tomorrow’s funding opportunities.

Check out our blog on not letting your farm finances fall through the cracks.

Check out our tips on how to keep track of what you used, bought, and still have in farming inventory!

Jump in to learn five things to do to keep up with your books even when you are stuck in the tractor or combine!

This blog is your step-by-step guide to starting that conversation with your lender, showing them how FarmRaise Tracks can strengthen your farm business and theirs.

FarmRaise has officially partnered with BTC Bank, Missouri’s largest agricultural lender, to modernize ag lending and support farmer financial health. Together, FarmRaise and BTC Bank are building a new model for agricultural finance, one rooted in trust, technology, and a shared commitment to farmer success.

Check out our 5 tips to save time with FarmRaise Tracks During Harvest Season

We’re thrilled to announce our new partnership with BTC Bank, a community-focused bank with deep roots in supporting farm families across the Midwest. Together, we’re working to make farm financial management simpler, faster, and more useful so farmers can focus less on paperwork and more on the work they love.

Here’s how to create a tax-ready farm in just 30 minutes a week—and how FarmRaise Tracks makes it easier.

Check out our tips on what your farm accountant wants you to know before you file this year

Understanding your farm cash flow — the movement of money in and out of your farm business — is vital for long-term success. A clear cash flow statement and diligent monthly expense tracking help ensure you can meet both planned and unexpected costs, maintain liquidity, and make smarter financial decisions.

This post walks you through how to position your farm operation as a legitimate business, not just a personal pastime.

Running a farm or ranch isn’t just about growing crops or raising animals—it’s about managing money smartly to support long-term stability and well-being. Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating a good budget that supports both your farm and your family.

Completing the NRCS-CPA-52 Environmental Evaluation Worksheet is one of the most common pain points in conservation planning today. For partners in the USDA’s Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) initiative, the form is more than paperwork; it is the backbone of conservation planning. In this blog, we’ll break down each section of the worksheet, highlight practice standards, provide templates and guide sheets, and share practical “do/don’t” examples. Along the way, we’ll tie requirements to real-world scenarios like composting, riparian buffers, wetlands mitigation, and wildlife habitat enhancement.

Digital invoices—created and delivered in electronic format—are revolutionizing the way farms manage their finances. Unlike paper invoices that can get lost, damaged, or delayed, electronic invoicing allows for real-time monitoring, automation, and greater data security.

In this blog, we’ll provide a clear guide to when a new CPA-52 is required, how to manage renewals, and what happens if landowners add or drop acres. We’ll also highlight how FarmRaise’s Program Management Solution streamlines this process for AMP partners by connecting environmental reviews to real-time contracting and payment systems.

his blog offers a step-by-step walkthrough of the new Box process, guidance on required file formatting, and a checklist you can keep at your side. If you are submitting for the first time or revising a packet, this guide will help you move forward with confidence.

Partners in the USDA’s Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) program are facing a new reality: environmental evaluation requirements have changed. While many AMP grantees have already been working hard to enroll farmers, streamline payments, and track outcomes, NRCS recently clarified that all projects must now follow updated compliance rules under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and related statutes.

This guide explores three practical strategies to bounce back after a surprise bill hits your budget, so you can keep your farm operations moving forward.

Check out our tips on how to know which part of your farm is profitable.

In this blog, we’ll explore why integration matters, how FarmRaise leverages its technical support team to enhance outcomes, and what it takes to transform farmer retention from a hope into a strategy.

In this article, we’ll explore the compliance burden facing recipients of government-funded producer incentive grants, why outdated processes slow everyone down, and how FarmRaise's Program Management Solution helps turn compliance into confidence.

Check out this information on regenerative agriculture.

By focusing on tax planning throughout the tax year, you set yourself up for success when it's finally time to file your income tax return.

When the pressure is on and every decision counts, farmers and ranchers must rely on more than gut feelings. Accurate, timely information about your farm finances can be the difference between ending the season in the black or struggling to cover next year’s input costs. That’s where expense tracking steps in as a powerful tool for smarter in-season decision-making.

For funders, grantees, and other key stakeholders in farmer incentive programs, tracking the real-world effects of funded initiatives is no small task. Whether you represent a nonprofit, a cooperative, or a tribal government, demonstrating measurable social impact to your beneficiaries and the philanthropists, agencies, and program officers who make your work possible requires far more than checking a box on a grant report.

Check out our tips on what type of filing is best for your farm.

Check out our tips on what beginning farmers should focus on before fall

Traditional spreadsheets and Excel templates often fall short in capturing the full picture of a farm business. Find out how FarmRaise Tracks can help you make better decisions, be more sustainable, and tell the story of your farm!

When it comes to administering government-funded producer incentive programs, scalable systems are more than a luxury; they are the backbone of program sustainability. Staff turnover, shifting grant timelines, and evolving funder requirements can quickly expose inefficiencies in program workflows. Without a strong, data-driven infrastructure, organizations risk compliance gaps, payment delays, and the loss of institutional knowledge.

Check out these tips for balancing farm work and mental health during peak season

Check out our tips on making the most out of U-Pick fields in the late summer

Let’s explore five of the most common hidden costs that show up in your transaction reports — and how FarmRaise can help you find them, understand their true cost, and eliminate them.

In this guide, we’ll walk through financial planning steps that place core values at the center of every dollar decision while showing how FarmRaise Tracks can streamline the heavy lifting and steer you toward long-term goals.

Check out our tips for how to talk to a lender about Fall and Winter Plans

Managing a modern farm is about more than just growing crops or raising livestock—it’s a business. And like any business owner, a farmer needs tools that support sound financial decision-making. Yet too many in agriculture are still stuck playing guessing games when it comes to tracking their invoices, managing insurance policies, or preparing for monthly payments.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through the basics of farm accounting using a step-by-step approach. You’ll learn why accounting software like FarmRaise can be a game-changer for your operation. Let’s dive in!

Talking about the farm transition can feel uncomfortable, but every season you delay adds risk to your farm’s future. Whether you raise corn in Iowa or run a small dairy farmer enterprise in Vermont, you owe it to the next generation to start the succession planning dialogue now.

Check out our tips on how to prepare your farm for a successful fall harvest

In this guide, we’ll break down each month’s accounting priorities and show how FarmRaise, a leading farm accounting software, can simplify the process and help you make better financial decisions in real time.

Running a farm is rewarding, but when a natural disaster or sudden injury knocks you out of commission, an emergency situation can turn routine farm operations upside down. To protect your well-being and keep livestock and crops safe in all weather conditions, you need solid emergency preparedness long before trouble strikes.

Check out our mental health tips for farmers during busy season

Whether you’re offering hayrides, hosting farm events, or listing a farm stay on AirBNB, it’s easier than ever to create additional revenue through agritourism activities. But there’s a catch: managing multiple income streams can quickly turn into a bookkeeping nightmare. Let’s break down how you can track your agritourism finances without the chaos, so you can focus on growing your bottom line.

Good records turn complex facts into simple tools for better decision-making. They also protect your farm business and your farm’s legacy. This blog shows how organized data becomes the roadmap that guides everyone forward with open communication.

Check out our tips on why every farming operation needs a solid budget plan

If you want to build a successful farm, avoid these top five mistakes farmers often make when they don’t use a proper farm accounting or management software system.

When you invite family members and trusted employees into money talks, you transform daily farm work into a united playbook. That sort of teamwork keeps the family farm strong today and hands the game ball to the next generation tomorrow.

Check out our tips for farmers to understand seasonal weather patterns

This guide will help you understand the patterns of farm spending and income, and show you how to make informed decisions for your financial health and long-term success.

Agricultural research thrives on high-quality, unified data, but too often, it’s trapped in spreadsheets or lost in paperwork. At FarmRaise, we’ve built a platform that makes data collection easy for farmers and useful for researchers. Here’s how we can support cooperative extension programs and ag studies with tools that drive real engagement in the field.

In this blog post, we tackle seven common myths about cloud accounting software for farmers. If you’ve ever hesitated to switch from in-house bookkeeping or felt confused about cloud solutions, read on. We're here to clear the air and help you make informed, cost-effective decisions.

Check out our blog on mid-season equipment maintenance checklist: how to keep you gear running strong.

NRCS has confirmed funding for 28 of the 92 originally announced 2024 RCPP projects. This post breaks down what happened, why some projects lost funding, and what conservation partners can expect next.

Whether you’re hauling hay or harvesting greens, streamlining your invoicing process can help protect your cash flow and keep late payments at bay. Here’s how to do it—right from the field.

Check out our tips on some of the top cover crops to plant after harvest

Let’s explore how creating invoices can help farmers like you enhance cash flow, save time, and stay on top of your financial responsibilities.

Check out our tips on What Every New Farmer Should Know Before Applying for a Loan

Specialty crops can offer higher prices, better margins, and more sustainable practices. They can also help support soil health, attract pollinators, and open new doors in local food systems like CSA programs and farmers markets. Whether you’re running a small farm, a small business, or looking to add a different crop to your on-farm mix, these high-value options are worth a second look.

In this blog, we’ll dig into the often-overlooked power of invoicing and show how modern e-invoicing systems—like those supported in FarmRaise Tracks—can unlock serious benefits, especially when it comes to navigating complex tax regulations and securing funding.

Learn how to manage heat stress, drought conditions, and other summer challenges affecting your crops and livestock in A Farmer's Guide to Summer Stress on Crops and Livestock.

Water isn’t just something you use. It’s a lifeline for your crops, your animals, and your entire operation. Whether it’s for irrigation, drinking water for livestock, or processing produce, clean water is key to your farm’s success.

FarmRaise Tracks helps small businesses and independent operators send professional invoices right from the tractor seat or home office. With easy-to-use invoicing tools, you can document your income, follow up on late payments, and streamline your cash flow without complicated accounting software. Here's how to get started and why it matters.

USDA has transitioned from the Climate-Smart Commodities program to the new Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) initiative, requiring that 65% of project funds go directly to producers. This blog outlines what awardees need to know to amend their projects, meet the new requirements, and continue receiving funding through 2028.

Check out our tips on Why Verbal Agreements and Paper Notes Hurt Your Bottom Line

Check out our blog on record keeping and selling tips for your hay harvest.

Check out our blog on insuring your farm stand, livestock operation, and CSA

When it comes to paying family members, there are some important rules you need to follow. Just because someone is in the family doesn’t mean you can skip things like taxes or paperwork.

Check out our tips for agriculture insurance for farmers

Unpack how managing seasonal employees can turn into a yearlong administrative burden if not properly addressed. We'll explore how labor laws, tax withholding, state law, and federal compliance intersect, while introducing strategies and tools to keep farm labor operations smooth, compliant, and audit-ready.

Check out our tips on avoiding common farm budgeting mistakes

Choosing the right payroll software is one of the most critical decisions for any agricultural employer. From processing paychecks to managing payroll taxes, your payroll service must match the specific needs of your small farm or ranch.

Discover how flower farmers can streamline their finances and boost profitability with FarmRaise’s easy-to-use tools

Check out our tips on starting a Farm Store, CSA, or Farmstand

This beginner's guide will walk you through everything you need to know about setting up and running payroll for your farm or ranch, including why it matters, the legal requirements, and how FarmRaise can help simplify the process through our partnership with Salsa payroll software.

Check out our tips on how to write the ultimate farm business plan

Jump in to explore the pros and cons of compensating children for their farm & ranch work, the tax benefits, and how it can foster financial independence in your children.

When disaster strikes a farm—whether from drought, flooding, wildfires, or price volatility—every second matters. Thanks to FarmRaise’s reporting tools, farm families can now tell their stories more clearly and effectively to lenders, agencies, and policymakers.

Check out this blog on why Farmers are the Last American Workers Stuck in the Paper Age

Bookkeeping may not be the first thing new beekeepers think about, but it's just as important as choosing the right beekeeping supplies or inspecting your queen bee.

One area where many agricultural employers struggle is in payroll. Agricultural payroll has its own rules, exemptions, and reporting obligations, and mistakes here can lead to fines, audits, or even loss of labor access. In this post, we’ll outline five common pitfalls in agricultural payroll and how you can avoid them using smart farm management, solid bookkeeping, and modern payroll software.

A blog on a farmers guide to surviving planting season.

Check out why keeping organized farm records makes life easier and getting funding faster.

Switching to a new farm accounting software might sound like a stressful, overwhelming process. But if you're still using a checkbook, stacks of receipts, or bulky spreadsheets to manage your farm business, making the switch could save you time, money, and sanity.

Managing payroll in the agricultural industry can feel like herding cattle during a thunderstorm. Between seasonal workers, tax filings, certifications, and strict IRS guidelines, payroll becomes a significant part of your farm business operations.

Across rural America, family farms are under pressure like never before. High input costs, delayed federal funding, and uncertainty around future farm policy are creating a challenging environment for growers, ranchers, and farm businesses of all sizes.

Check out this blog on Why America’s Farmers Are Struggling to File Their Returns.

Planning your next growing season can feel overwhelming, especially for new farmers or homesteaders working with limited funds.

Small farmers are the backbone of our food system, but agricultural production has changed dramatically over recent decades, making it harder for smaller farms to stay competitive.

Check out why financial survival is just as important as crop yields!

Tax time can be overwhelming when you get behind, especially your Schedule F. Let FarmRaise help make your taxes a breeze!

Making the switch from spreadsheets to farm management software can be tough, but this article will talk you through the pros and cons and what's the right choice for you!

Composting on farms transforms organic waste into nutrient-rich "black gold," improving soil health, reducing costs, and promoting sustainable agriculture.

Mobile-friendly accounting software is essential for farmers on the go, allowing them to track expenses, manage finances, and make informed decisions anytime, anywhere.