From Loan Applicant to Bank Board Member

When Bob Wieland asked to borrow a significant amount of money from a bank to cover needs during an extended period of "inverse market," he was not surprised when the banker responded that Bob's expectations for future farm earnings were "too high!" Not easily discouraged, Bob invited the banker to come to his office and inspect his records for himself. Bob had confidence as he arranged that inspection because of the current, specific data provided by AgManager, the computer program he uses for his farm operation. As Bob explains, "It shows the numbers which are important for them to see." When the banker had studied Bob's meticulous records with exact data on every field, the banker was so impressed that he not only gave Bob the loan but also invited him to join the bank board! Bob remains a member of that bank board to this day.     

Detailed Records for Sound Management Decisions 

            How did Bob arrive at this point in his life as a farmer, where his detailed production and financial records are so exact and easily deciphered that he can impress even the most cynical banker? From the time he was 24 years old and supporting his extended family on just 240 acres, Bob quickly learned the importance of meticulous accounting, especially when seeking bank loans. Bob kept those detailed records by hand until the early 1980's, always on the lookout for a computerized accounting program that would work well for his farming business.           

            Even though he considers himself to be "not a masters degree person," Bob realized early on that he has "common sense to work through problems." What he needed was an accounting system that would sort through all the production and financial data, then break down and process that data to provide the information needed for making sound management decisions (corn v. soybeans in any particular field, for example). This information would have to be readily available, always current, very specific (exact data on every field) and in an easily deciphered format.                  

The Data You Need...at Your Fingertips

            Bob began using AgManager twenty-plus years ago and has never looked back. AgManager provides production and financial records combined with GPS maps, giving Bob "more and more information and data to make management decisions." Over the years, his farming operation has grown in size considerably, producing corn, soybeans and pumpkins. Bob has found the program not only helps him in providing the information bankers need to see, but also in providing information needed for government programs, and, of most importance, in making sound management decisions. The program breaks down data to allow him to determine exactly how much to pay for cash rent, to see the exact progress of the farm, and even to print out records for landlords. 

Support "Second to None"

            In many years of using AgManager, Bob has learned that support for the AgManager program is readily available and of top quality, "second to none." Support staff at AgriSolutions and at John Deere are both very willing to get involved, Bob says, "at your level, to help with any problems you may have. They work my computer via the internet (from their office) when I need help."  Any request for help is answered immediately. Not only do they provide a great program, "the perfect marriage of John Deere and AgriSolutions," but they also continually improve and enhance the program. "They are like family to me; they want my operation to succeed and I can feel that. They are there for me, and, just as important, I can count on them to be there next year and the years after that, as well."