Beginning Farmer & Land Access
Beginning Farmer Bookkeeping Basics
A guide to bookkeeping basics for beginning farmers. It explains simple habits for recording income and expenses so the farm finances stay clear. Keep it with your farm records.
Download free PDF1 page, US Letter, prints clean in black and white
GuideBeginning Farmer & Land AccessFree PDF
The steps on this page
- Separate farm and personal accounts
- Choose a recording method
- Record every sale
- Save every receipt
- Sort expenses into categories
- Reconcile the bank statement
- Keep payroll records separate
- Review monthly totals
- Ask an accountant to review
How to use this guide
Walk a new hand through the steps once, then let them use the page on their own. Add your own notes as you learn what works.
Where to check the details
This sheet is a general template, so confirm specifics with your own manuals, labels and local rules. For current official guidance, start with IRS and eXtension.
For more in this area, see the farm loans, grants and taxes. Between chores, farm.FM has farm humor, including Farmer Jokes, and agribusiness farm stories.