A few weeks back, prior to Figured appearing at our QBTalks-Extra event, I wrote a feature titled, "We 'figured' you might need a change of niche" which was about the tremendous opportunities that exist within the specialty of Agricultural Accounting.
I know what you must be thinking, "what's the big difference between Agricultural accounting and accounting for a manufacturer, or an eCommerce business, or a restaurant for that matter?" I mean, you have 'cost of goods' (for your crop seed, or animal feed) and you have labor expense, and you've got raw materials or finished goods you sell for your agricultural income. Income, COGS, Expense, what's the big deal of that?"
But answer me this, "when is the last time you had manufacturing raw materials, or restaurant food items, or saleable items just appear out of nowhere, quite literally, slide onto the ground in front of your own eyes?" As is pretty much the case with a calf or colt that's born on a ranch and now multiply that by the hundreds or more each year.
Or "when's the last time your client's manufacturing raw materials in the warehouse just shriveled up and couldn't be used to make those 'widgets' (finished goods) they produce?" But that's what can happen to an entire crop of strawberries shriveling in the hot summer sun and dying on the plant.
I could go on giving you example after example of how 'Agricultural Accounting' is (or should be) treated differently than other 'niche' accounting, but the reality is that much of it does boil down to farmers and ranchers taking their notebooks and bank statements to their local tax man once a year, having some quick numbers calculated on the ten-key, and getting their federal and state taxes file with hopes that they are 'as good as they need to be' while leaving real value behind because the local tax man, even in a rural community is still a 'generalist' handing the tax returns for everyone from the town's family doctor to the movie show owner, from the grocery store to the hairdresser, and from the local dairy operator to the 5-and-10 store.
On August 27 at 12:00 PM Eastern, the folks from Figured Agricultural Software will be presenting their first of a three-part webinar series on transitioning from a compliance-based accounting, bookkeeping, tax preparer and business consultant (including ProAdvisors) to an Agricultural specialized advisory practice. You will see the importance of understanding the difference between Agriculture be that farming, ranching or dairy operations. Those key differences warrant specialized metrics and require tracking of the real 'numbers' that many times just 'remain in the crop records, or the dairy production spreadsheet, or the cow-calf notebook and never are valued for a meaningful look at Assets, Liabilities, Profit and Loss.
And even if you have never set your foot on a farm, ranch or dairy, can learn the specialized needs of one of the leading 'industries' in our country, "Agriculture." "You won't even need to buy yourself a pair of cowboy boots to become an Agricultural Accounting Advisor, but you may want to by the end of these webinar series."
I want to encourage you to 'step out' and take a glimpse into a world you know exists but perhaps had no idea just how close it was, how large it was, and how much potential for a rewarding new practice specialization existed, by attending the first of the three-part series. I would bet my 'beef' on the fact that you will come away with at least a new outlook on what 'mother earth' has to offer you by putting your 'knowledge of the numbers' to work in the advising those that grow, raise and produce all she has to offer.
So, don't be 'Bull-headed' thinking you can't do anything different with your career. You can, and should, register HERE for the August 27, 2026, Agricultural Accounting Advisory webinar, it might just sweeten-up your entire practice outlook.
You will find additional details, webinar learning objectives, CPE related information and other specifics on the registration page.
