Online calculator helps producers compare costs

Mar 11 2008 by Gwyn Howells, Western Mail

FARM costs seem to be constantly rising at present and so it is really important that a close check is kept on outgoings and returns and how they compare with those of other local producers.

But now the days of checking basics on a tick sheet and cross-referencing paper entries are becoming a thing of the past for the modern farmer, armed with a PC and internet understanding.

The industry development section of Hybu Cig Cymru’s website will take a visitor to the site through a simple set of screens that, within half an hour, can produce a reliable guide to a farm’s costs and a comparison to the outgoings of equivalent producers in Wales.

It really is a swift, simple-to-use – and completely confidential – online system. You only need to be able to type numbers and click the mouse; full instructions are listed on screen and at any stage you can easily review your work to change the figures entered.

This technology has started to play an important part in HCC’s Farming Connect discussion groups since the turn of the year. The groups are now beginning to meet at a venue where computers with internet access are available.

Support is on hand to find relevant figures on the accounts and to help with any questions raised. The figures are then entered into an on-screen lamb costings calculator. No accounts secrets are shared and the Farming Connect support team offer free advice on cutting costs.

Costs are compared to the price per kilogram received for every animal and each farm gets its own confidential print-out of their lamb costs on the evening, encouraging the wider spread of good practice and effective ways to reduce costs.

For details of a Farming Connect group near you, contact HCC on 01970 625050 or try the calculator yourself online at www.hccmpw.org.uk.