agMIS farm management accounting in MIS mode

About agMIS  ...it's the simple-er way!

About our philosophy

We believe every farm producer knows what he or she is producing and when he or she is incurring costs in that production.

What many do not know, is how to express those events and decisions or their outcomes, in the language of the accounting profession.

It's not a condition unique to ag and ag producers, however.  Factory foremen, operations managers, other production-oriented persons elsewhere, even many vice-presidents -- are often in the same boat, i.e., financially astute but not accounting-trained.

Historically, that information gap -- and the need to bridge it -- has given rise to MIS computer tools elsewhere.

What we've done, in agMIS, is to research, define and build solutions for farms and farmers based on similar principles, and using similar methods and tools.

Briefly stated, that's different from 'farm accounting' programs which seek to bridge the information gap not with management tools, but by adapting tools meant for accountants' uses.

About the author

Tom Murphy's interest in farming, accounting and management reaches back as far as the age of horse- and steam-driven farm implements, and hand-posted farm 'record books'.  To say he's witnessed change through the years, therefore, is a gross understatement.

His 'accounting' began out of high school in a summer job (which lasted 2 years) in 'accounting' for industrial accidents using punched card machines in the State of Nebraska workers' compensation court.  He parlayed that experience into similar experiences in his navy enlistment in Washington, DC.  And years later, he was present at the unveiling by IBM of the first stored-program (IBM 1401) business computer.  All that, of course, preceded the changes brought about by today's personal computers.

He majored in accounting studies for 5 1/2 years at the University of Nebraska, while simultaneously managing the data processing department of a major department store, and launching a data services business that, among other things, engaged in government contract accounting.  In a decade of experience in manufacturing systems, he researched general ledger, payroll and assets management systems needs in the U.S., researched and designed a manufacturing cost system in Mexico, and warehousing and spare parts distribution systems in a dozen European countries.  And later, in international banking, a major systems effort involved design and development of a computer accounting system that continues today to handle billion-dollar daily trading in international bonds (www.euroclear.com).

And throughout all those efforts, he was also deeply involved and dedicated to the training and development of others in how to succeed in business systems research, analysis, design and development.

Ultimately -- at a time in his life when others generally look forward to retiring -- unmet needs in agriculture for good management accounting systems, was a challenge he couldn't ignore.  He bid farewell to his professional friends in Europe, New York and elsewhere, and returned to his Nebraska farm roots and research that led ultimately to today's agMIS system.

That system today -- though widely panned and criticized by those with less experience and perhaps a different agenda -- continues to be praised by all who use it.  And that's reason enough to keep it around and up to date. 

Tom Murphy is a long-time member of the Farm Financial Standards Council (www.ffsc.org), has served on its Board, and is currently a Partner in that organization.

All content (c) Copyright 1998-2011 - T, Murphy Associates