Main Page

User Guide

Common Menu Items

Main Nav Bar

The main nav bar (top-bar) will always contain the same menu items, which you can click at any point to navigate to any of the top level pages

Contex Nav Bar

The contextual nav bar (in green) will display links relevant to the page you are on. When you get into scenario editing mode it will contain buttons to take you to any page relevant to editing a scenario at any point you wish. Allowing you to do things like fill out a scenario in whatever order you want, or to go back/forwad and review any aspects of a scenario as they currently stand

Wizard Buttons

At the bottom of most pages will be a "logical" back and next button, which will guide you to the recommended next page. You can see at the bottom of this page the back button is disabled as there is no logical page to come before this, where-as the next button will take you to your list of scenarios. (You will also get to scenarios by clicking "Scenarios" in the main nav bar).

Tips for using FEAT

If you choose to omit information in any entry area, please just put 0 (if a number is required), or a full stop or hyphen if text is required. The four Action buttons are Edit, Copy, Share and Delete:

• Edit: In most sections this opens up the input box, with the information entered filled out, so users can make edits and save them by clicking submit.

• Copy: On the scenario list page this copies the selected scenario so users can change the name of the scenario and modify the information. On growing cost pages this button adds in information from the selected crop in the drop down option.

• Share: On the scenario list page this shares the scenario with another user of FEAT Online. When edits are made by the other user to the shared scenario, the changes do not affect the original user’s scenario file.

• Delete: On the scenario list page this deletes the entire scenario and users need to take care not to accidently delete scenarios when using this function. On other pages this action generally deletes a row of entered information.

Home Page

This is the home page for the tool.

The Farm Economic Analysis Tool (FEAT) is a planning and decision-making tool used to assist cane farming enterprises. FEAT enables users to evaluate the economic impact from changing farm management practices. Other uses for FEAT include evaluating farm labour requirements, preparing cash flow budgets and quantifying the impact of “what if” scenarios. The type of questions FEAT can help answer include;

• How would my farm profitability change if I adopted a new farming practice?
• What is the economic impact of changing row widths or adopting controlled traffic?
• How do different farming systems compare in terms of the amount of labour required?
• How profitable is my farming enterprise at different sugar prices?
• What is the most profitable mix of fallow crops on my farm?
• How many ratoons should I grow to maximise profitability?
• Should I buy new machinery or use a contractor?
• If the price of diesel increases, how will this affect my profitability
• Should I purchase a new farm or lease a portion of the farm?
• Which farm should I sell?

Farm information required to use FEAT

FEAT calculates economic performance indicators based on specific production information entered by the user. Users do not require accounting records to use FEAT. In general, the information required to use FEAT includes;

• Production data
• Harvest costs
• Sugar price
• Agronomic practices in cane (plant, ratoons and rotational crops) such as;
  • Land preparation and planting operations (implements used and number of operations, contractor rates)
  • Chemical input; type, rate and cost
  • Irrigation; volume applied and cost
  • Machinery and implement information (repairs and maintenance costs, speed, field efficiency)
• Fixed costs (insurance, land rates, etc.)
• Asset values (land value, value of machinery)

Scenario List

This page lists all the scenarios developed by the user (and the regional scenarios) and enables users to edit, copy, share and delete scenarios or compare the performance of two different scenarios. Users can either add a new scenario, continue working on a previously created scenario or modify a regional scenario.

Name

The ‘Name’ column lists all of the scenarios that have been developed by the user as well as the regional scenarios (that users can copy and modify). Users can open and make changes to any of the listed files by clicking on each scenario’s name.

Status

The ‘Status’ column indicates how much of each scenario has been completed using a colour and tick system. GM represents the gross margin stage (income minus variable costs) and if coloured green and ticked this indicates that all information up to the cane summary page has been entered (including the Scenario Assumptions, Cane Assumptions and Cane Growing Costs pages). If the ‘GM’ is red with a cross then some missing information still needs to be entered. Gross Margins can be used to compare profitability between two scenarios when fixed costs and capital expenditures are exactly the same.

Four more pages need information entered before users get to the Profit page (Assets, Depreciation, Fixed Costs and Other Income pages). If Profit is green and ticked then all information up to the Profit page has been entered, which enables users to view key measures of profitability like Farm Operating Return and Return on Investment as well as other measures on the Farm Performance Indicators page. Farm Operating Return can be used to compare profitability between two scenarios when fixed costs are different between scenarios, while Return on Investment goes a step further and enables comparison when total assets are different.

Entering the required information into the Cane Sensitivity and Optimum Ratoons pages will show the Risk stage as being completed (green and ticked). These pages provide users with useful information around: (1) the sensitivity of gross margins to different sugar prices and average CCS than expected, and; (2) the optimum number of ratoons grown to maximise profitability. There is also an Other Sensitivity page if you have other crops in your scenario and it works similar to the cane one.

Action

The four ‘Action’ buttons are Edit, Copy, Share and Delete:

Edit (pen icon): Enables growers to open an existing scenario and make changes to it. Copy (sheets of paper icon): Copies the selected scenario so users can change the name of the scenario and modify the information. Share (molecule or three dots icon): Shares the scenario with another user of FEAT Online. When edits are made by the other user to the shared scenario, the changes do not affect the original user’s scenario file. Delete (garbage can icon): Deletes the entire scenario. Users need to take care not to accidently delete scenarios when using this function.

Compare

This function compares the profitability of two different scenarios as well as various other key Farm Performance Indicators. For example, important measures like Gross Margin, Operating Return, Return on Investment and Casual Labour Hours are compared between two different management practice or farming system scenarios.

Compare scenarios by checking the boxes of two scenarios and clicking the ‘Compare’ button.

Contact Us

This page provides users with contact information.

Sending an email enquiry to the email FEATregistration@daf.qld.gov.au will reach employees from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries that can help. As per the page, please add the following keywords to the subject line:

• “FEEDBACK:”
• “SUPPORT:”
• “BUG:”

For example, your email subject could be "SUPPORT: Help with machinery setup page" if you require assistance with entering information on the machinery page. Please still send an email through if you require assistance with any other matters related to FEAT online.

Data Security

This page displays the Terms and Conditions of Use and Privacy Statement for FEAT Online. New users must accept the Terms and Conditions of Use before using FEAT by checking the ‘Accept’ box at the bottom of the page. Users can view the Privacy Statement by clicking on the ‘Show Privacy Statement’ button.

User Account/Profile Settings

This page can be found by clicking on the username beside the logout button. Profile is where users can enter or update their First Name, Last Name, Organisation Name and Phone Number in the respective boxes and choose Role and Mill Area from the drop-down menus.

The next section is Account where users can also update their security and password settings.

Scenario Home

This page shows a flow diagram illustrating the process involved when developing a FEAT scenario.

Users can select the next button with the right arrow to start or alternatively select a heading on the left hand side. It is recommended that first time users follow the next buttons by pressing the arrows on the bottom of the page (the ‘user wizard’).

Scenario Assumptions

This page is used to calculate the cost of harvesting, cane price and net revenue.

1. Select your mill area from the drop-down list. This may be different from the mill area you entered for your profile.
2. Enter the sugar price, row width, harvesting cost ($/tonne, including fuel after rebate) and tractor fuel price ($/L, after rebate).
3. Enter the levies paid and any bonuses received. These can be added as a total levy/bonus or you can put in the individual amounts for each levy/bonus.

Cane Assumptions

This page is for entering cane growing area, yield and CCS for each crop class. Other Crops information for area should also be entered in, if applicable.

1. Enter an area in hectares for each crop class grown on the farm. A simple way to do this is to divide total cane growing area by the average number of ratoons, plant crop and fallow. For example, if the total cane growing area is 150ha and four ratoons are grown on average, then 150ha divided by 6 equals 25 ha per crop class and fallow area (e.g. 6 is calculated by summing 4 ratoon crops + plant crop + fallow).
2. Enter long term average yield and CCS values for each cane crop class.

Cane Growing Costs

This page is used to calculate cane growing costs per hectare, including the costs of machinery operations, fertiliser, pesticides and irrigation. Once you have entered information for one growing cost page, click the next tab to navigate to the next crop entry.

Please see headings below for step-by-step details on how to enter information for Cultivation, Land Preparation, Planting, Fertiliser/Ameliorants, Weed/Insect/Disease Control and Irrigation. Step-by-step details for entering information for Machinery Operations and costs are below.

Cultivation (bare fallow crop entries only)

Add all machinery operations undertaken for cultivation by selecting the ‘Own Tractor’ option, choosing the machinery and number of operations. Operations undertaken by a contractor are entered by selecting the ‘Contractor’ option, naming it appropriately, choosing number of operations and the contractor rate.

Land Preparation (plant, plough out replant and ratoon entries only)

Add all types of machinery operations undertaken to prepare land for planting along with the number of operations (e.g. 1 operation with a zonal ripper/rotary hoe).

Planting

Add planting operation by entering the:

1. Name the planting operation. Provide details here on whether planting yourself or by using a contractor.;
2. Tonnes of cane setts planted per hectare for ‘Planting Material Amount (units/ha)’;
3. Cost of cane setts per tonne in place of ‘Planting Material Cost ($/unit)’. This is automatically calculated as the opportunity cost of cane setts based on average CCS, but this cost can be altered by users;
4. Users have the option of either (or both), (1) entering a machinery operation (e.g. planter) and labour use requirement if they do their own planting, or (2) entering how much they pay for a contract planter per hectare.
5. If you choose to omit information in any entry area, please just put 0 (if a number is required), or a full stop or hyphen if text is required.

Sugar Research Australia (SRA) have a QCaneSelect tool which provides variety information and productivity reports.

Fertiliser/Ameliorants

Add fertiliser/ameliorant costs by clicking the ‘Add fertiliser’ or ‘Add Ameliorants’ buttons and entering the:

1. Type of fertiliser or Ameliorant (e.g. Urea or Lime);
2. Number of applications (e.g. 1);
3. Fertiliser application rate (e.g. 250 units/ha);
4. Fertiliser application rate units (e.g. kg/ha);
5. Fertiliser price (e.g. $750/unit);
6. Fertiliser price units (e.g. $/tonne).

Add fertiliser application costs by clicking the ‘Add Machinery Operation’ and entering the details for the implement used to apply fertiliser (e.g. stool splitter). If fertiliser is applied by the planter then do not enter an implement.

Fertfinder can help you select the right fertiliser blend that matches the nutritional requirements of the paddock. CogCalibrator makes calibrating a cog driven fertiliser applicator easier by providing a recommendation on the cogs to use to achieve your target application rate. NutriCalc can help you develop nutrient management plans for use on-farm.

You can access these three SRA tools here.

Weed/Insect/Disease Control

Add chemical costs by clicking the ‘Add Weed Control’, ‘Add Insect Control’ or ‘Add Disease Control’ buttons and entering the:

1. Type of Chemical (e.g. 2,4-D, Confidor or Bumper);
2. Number of applications (e.g. 1);
3. Chemical application rate (e.g. 1 units/ha);
4. Chemical application rate units (e.g. L/ha);
5. Chemical price (e.g. $8.50/unit);
6. Chemical application cost rate units (e.g. $/L).

Add chemical application costs by clicking the ‘Add Machinery Operation’ and entering the details for the implement used to apply the chemical (e.g. Boom sprayer or Irvin legs sprayer) and the number of operations. If the chemical is applied by an implement already added (e.g. stool splitter or planter) then do not enter an implement (as it would be double counting the costs).

SRA have a Weed ID Tool that can help growers identify weeds they may find on their cane farm. Also Burdekin Productivity Services (BPS) have a Spray Calibration Calculator which can help with sprayer nozzle calculations. BPS also have a range of other grower tools.

Irrigation

Add irrigation costs by clicking the ‘Add Irrigation Costs’ button and entering the:

1. Application rate of irrigation water per hectare (e.g. 10 megalitres/ha);
2. Percent of applied water that is pumped from recycle pits (20% of the application rate); Water purchase costs will not be included for the quantity of recycled water;
3. Percentage of water that is pumped using electric and diesel-powered water pumps (e.g. 80% electric and 20% diesel) by dragging the circle to the left (for Diesel up to 100%) or to the right (for Electricity up to 100%);
4. Electric pump/s power usage (kilowatts) and water flow rate (litres/second). If multiple pumps are used then users should enter the average power usage and flow rate of all the pumps (or weighted average where applicable);
5. Diesel pump/s fuel usage (litres/hour) and water flow rate (litres/second);
6. Percentage of water pumped during the day and night (electric pumps only);
7. Electricity tariff charged during the day and night ($/kWh). If these are the same then please enter the same number twice;
8. Information regarding irrigation labour requirements. Firstly, enter the percentage of water applied using furrow irrigation, travelling gun or some other type of irrigation method. Secondly, enter the time spent on irrigation activities for each type of irrigation (e.g. travelling to the paddock and turning pumps on and off or checking on water progression, preparation time such as changing cups etc.,). Lastly, enter any variable labour cost rate if applicable (please be careful not to double count if these labour costs are also being included on the fixed costs page).
9. Repairs and maintenance (R&M) costs for the irrigation system (e.g. $5/megalitre). This can be calculated by summing R&M costs for the whole farm and dividing by the total megalitres of water applied (e.g. $5000/year divided by 1000 megalitres equals $5/ML). Irrigation R&M costs include maintaining, repairing and replacing irrigation equipment and infrastructure including servicing diesel motors, repairing electric motor burnouts and replacing pump packing (seals), fluming and drip tape.

Machinery Operations and Costs

When entering Cane Growing Costs, add machinery costs by clicking on the ‘Add Machinery Operation’ button and entering tractor and implement details. If tractor and implement details have already been entered then users will be able to select the tractor and implement from the drop down box and then enter the number of operations (or passes) undertaken. If tractor and implement details have not been entered then users will need to click on the ‘+’ button located on the right. See headings for Tractor Costs and Implement Costs below for step-by-step details on how to enter information.

Tractor Costs

Add Tractor Costs by clicking the ‘Add Machinery Operation’ button and then clicking on the ‘+’ button to the right of ‘Machinery’ and then the ‘+’ button on the right of ‘Choose Tractor’. Then enter:

1. A name for the tractor (e.g. JD 180HP).
2. Tractor horsepower PTO (e.g. 150HP PTO).
3. Based on tractor horsepower PTO, FEAT will calculate expected fuel use in litres/hour. This is maximum fuel use when the tractor is performing at maximum load (users change this figure if required).
4. An estimate of the tractor’s expected productive life in years (e.g. 20 years).
5. The number of hours per year the tractor is used (e.g. 500 hours/year).
6. Estimate the total amount spent on repairs and maintenance over the tractor’s productive life (e.g. $30,000 over the life). R&M should include spending on servicing (e.g. oil and filters), tyre replacements and other minor and major repairs (e.g. electrics, hydraulics, GPS) over the life of the tractor. For example, a tractor might require servicing every 250 hours at a cost of $250 per service totalling $10,000 over the life of the tractor (approx. 10,000 hours). Tyres might be replaced twice over its life (e.g. $1,250 x 4 tyres x 2 sets = $10,000) plus $10,000 of repairs (total R&M = $30,000).

Implement Costs

Implement information can be entered once the Tractor information has been added. Add implement costs by entering:

1. Choosing the associated tractor from the drop down list, or click the plus icon to add a tractor.
2. The name of the implement (e.g. Offset discs 28 plate).
3. An estimate of how hard the tractor is typically working when the implement is being used as a percentage of full load. For example, rotary hoeing heavy ground may require the full power of a 180HP tractor so 100% should be entered, while boom spraying may only require a 120HP tractor to operate at half power so 50% should be entered.
4. Enter the number of hectares per year the implement is operated across. Offset discs might be used across 25ha of fallow paddocks twice so 50ha should be entered, while a sprayer with tracking legs might be used once in 25ha of plant cane and twice in ratoons (4 ratoons, 25ha each) so 225ha should be entered.
5. The expected productive life of the implement in years (e.g. 15 years).
6. An estimate of the total amount spent on repairs and maintenance over the implement’s productive life. For example, a grower might replace the discs of their Offsets (28 plate) three times ($100/disc x 28 discs x 3 sets = $8,400) and spend $100 each year on general maintenance over the 15-year life ($1,500) totalling $9,900.
7. The width of the implement’s pass or swath width. A 3-row stool splitter might have a 5.4 metre width of pass, which could be entered as 5.4m or 3 rows (if row width has been entered as 1.8m on the ‘Scenario Assumptions’ page).
8. The speed the implement is typically operated at down the drill (e.g. 7 km/hr).
9. An estimate of the implement’s field efficiency. Field efficiency is a ratio of the time spent actually using an implement relative to the total time spent in the tractor. For example, when ripping most time is spent ripping in the paddock (90secs/row) plus some time spent turning at the end of each row (22 sec/row). Field efficiency in this scenario is 80%, which is calculated by dividing 90 secs by 112 secs (90 secs+22secs). Chemical application is likely to have lower field efficiency than tilling due to additional time spent refilling tanks. Users can evaluate the accuracy of field efficiency by cross-checking with the implied work rate (ha/hour – shown on the ‘Machinery’ page after clicking the submit button).

Machinery Setup

The Machinery Setup page can be accessed via the navigation pane on the left side of the page. This page can be used to edit existing information for tractors and implements or to add additional information to calculate machinery costs. Most of the Machinery Setup page should already be filled out before users get to it if users entered their machinery operation details along the way in the Cane Growing Costs page.

Contract Rate Calculator

The ‘Contract Rate Calculator’ is an additional calculator located in the navigation pane on the left side of the page. It enables users to calculate a contractor rate by factoring in depreciation and interest expenses for their tractors and implements, contract labour and profit margin – in addition to the Fuel, Oil, Repairs and Maintenance costs transferred from the Machinery Setup page. A contractor rate for each tractor and implement combination can be calculated by entering:

1. The average ‘Interest Rate’ paid on loans for new machinery (e.g. 7%) to factor in an opportunity cost.
2. The ‘Contract Labour Rate’ (e.g. $35/hr).
3. A suitable ‘Profit Margin (e.g. 10%).
4. Click on the ‘Submit’ button.
5. Click on the edit button for each tractor and implement that users want a contract rate calculated for.
6. The price paid for the tractor or implement.
7. An estimate of the salvage value of the tractor or implement, which is an estimate of how much the tractor or implement could be sold for at the end of its expected productive life (e.g. 15 years).
8. Click on the submit button and a contracting rate ($/ha) will be shown in the table in the farthest right column. This is the Total FORM, interest, labour and depreciation + profit figure.

Cane Summary

This page is a summary of gross margin information based on information entered on the Cane Assumptions, Cane Growing Costs and Scenario Assumptions pages. No entry of information is required on this page.

Gross margins are calculated by subtracting variable costs from gross income. Comparing the cane gross margins of two different farming systems is a useful way to examine the profitability of adopting new management practices, which helps to inform farm management decisions. However, farm managers also need to account for any changes in fixed costs that might occur from the adoption of new practices as well as any required capital expenditures on new equipment. If so, a comparison of operating return would be a more precise indicator of relative profitability, which would require completion of the Depreciation, Assets and Fixed Costs pages.

Other Crop Assumptions

This page enables users to calculate net revenue from growing crops other than cane on fallow blocks. Users have the choice to enter information specific to legumes, peanuts and/or various other fallow crops. Net revenue can be calculated by clicking either ‘Add Legumes’, ‘Add Peanuts’ or ‘Add other crops’ and then entering the required information. For example, if ‘Add Legumes’ is chosen then users would enter:

1. Legume crop name and/or short description (e.g. Soybeans - Summer A).
2. Fallow Year 1 or Fallow Year 2. Users should select Fallow Year 1 if they grow a legume crop on a fallow block when the block is fallowed for less than 12 months. Furthermore, users should select Fallow Year 1 if they grow a legume crop on a fallow block that is left to fallow up to 2 years when the legume crop is grown in the first 12 months of the fallow’s length. Alternatively, users should select Fallow Year 2 if the legume crop is grown in the fallow’s 2nd year.
3. The area planted with legumes (e.g. 25 hectares).
4. The price received by the grower from sale of the legume crop (e.g. $500/tonne). If the crop is used for green manure then $0 should be entered.
5. Freight costs ($/t, wet and dirty) to the grain merchant for drying/cleaning.
6. Transport costs ($/t, clean and dry) to the depot (e.g. $25/tonne).
7. Levies, if applicable (e.g. 2% of market price).
8. Yield wet and dirty (t/ha).
9. Payment yield (t/ha).

Other Crops Growing Costs

This page is used to calculate the variable costs per hectare from growing crops other than cane on fallow blocks. Once you have entered information for one growing cost page, click the next tab to navigate to the next crop entry.

Please see headings in the Cane Growing Costs section above for step-by-step details on how to enter information for Land Preparation, Planting, Fertiliser, Weed/Insect/Disease Control and Irrigation. Step-by-step details for entering information for Machinery Operations are available in the Machinery Setup section.

Add harvesting costs by clicking on the ‘Add Harvest Cost’ button and entering a name or description (e.g. soy harvest contractor A), the crop yield in units/hectare (e.g. 4 tonnes/ha), the harvesting cost per unit ($20/tonne) and any labour required (hours/hectare).

Add drying costs ($/tonne) for legume crops by adding another entry in the Harvest Cost section by pressing “Add Harvest Cost”. Call it “Drying Costs” for the name, enter the same number as Yield (Wet and Dirty) (from Other Crop Assumptions Page) for the rate (unit/t), enter the cost ($/t) of drying, and put a 0 for labour if there was no labour involved.

Desiccation costs can be also included in the weed control section. Please make sure you name it as “Desiccation costs” and/or add further details in the name. By placing desiccation in these sections please be aware that you may have machinery operations which are for the application of chemicals and machinery operations for desiccation.

Other Crops Summary

This page is a summary of Gross Margin information (from growing crops other than cane on fallow blocks) based on information entered on the Other Crop Assumptions, Other Crop Growing Costs and Scenario Assumptions pages. No entry of information is required on this page.

Comparing the gross margins of different fallow crops is informative and helps users to make fallow crops choices that enhance whole-of-farm profitability. If growers are evaluating the profitability of growing fallow crops they have not grown before then they would need to consider any changes in fixed costs that might occur and/or any required capital expenditures on new equipment. If so, a comparison of operating return would be a more precise indicator of relative profitability, which would require completion of the Assets, Depreciation and Fixed Costs pages.

Depreciation

Users have two options on how to include Depreciation:

• Option 1: Enter the depreciation rate (e.g. 10%) then enter the total value of all depreciating assets into the Assets page by (a) clicking ‘Add Asset’ and (b) selecting ‘Plant and Machinery’ then (c) entering a name and the total value of all depreciating assets (e.g. $350,000).

OR

• Option 2: Complete the Depreciation Schedule with information about every tractor, implement and other types of depreciating assets (e.g. vehicles, pumps and equipment) by entering:

1. The name of the depreciating asset (e.g. John Deere 7830 Tractor);
2. Value at beginning of year (e.g. $100,000);
3. Number of years of use remaining (e.g. 10 years);
4. Residual salvage value (e.g. $30,000), which is an estimate of how much the depreciating asset could be sold for at the end of the ‘Number of years of use remaining’.

Users can only choose one of the above-mentioned options otherwise depreciation costs will be included twice – and therefore double counted.

Why include depreciation?

Depreciation is regarded as a fixed cost. Unlike other fixed costs there is no cash flow for depreciation. So why include it when calculating profit? At some point assets will wear out and need to be replaced. Including depreciation ensures that profit is sufficient to cover their eventual replacement.

Annual Depreciation (Depreciation Schedule)

Annual depreciation is calculated in FEAT according to the formula:

Annual depreciation = (Value at beginning of year – Residual salvage value)/(Number of years of use remaining)

Value at end of year = value at beginning of year – annual depreciation

The average of the opening value of all items (a) and the closing value (b) is transferred to the Asset page and displayed in the assets table.

Assets

This page is used to calculate total farm assets. Add assets by entering:

1. An estimated value of your land including the value of all fixed improvements (i.e. dams, buildings, etc.).
2. If you have entered machinery values (etc.) into the full Depreciation Schedule (using option 2), the value of plant and machinery will be shown here. If not, then please enter an estimated current value of all plant and machinery.
3. Enter the value of any livestock, if applicable.
4. Estimate the value of any inventory (i.e. fertiliser).
5. Enter additional assets as required.

Fixed Costs

This page is used to sum all of the fixed costs, including the cost of insurance, land rates, accounting fees, and building and vehicle repairs and maintenance, and more.

‘Fixed Yearly Labour’ should also be added here and users should check the amount of ‘Total Casual Labour’ costs below the table for guidance and to ensure no double counting (machinery or irrigation labour costs may have already been included). A step-by-step guide to entering Fixed Costs and Water costs is below.

Fixed Costs

Add each of the fixed costs by clicking on the ‘Add Fixed Cost’ button and:

1. Selecting the type of fixed cost you are adding (e.g. Insurance);
2. Entering the name of the fixed cost (e.g. Farm property insurance);
3. Entering the annual cost (e.g. $10,000/year).

Water Costs

Add water costs by entering:

1. Water costs if paid on a per hectare basis ($/hectare). For example, Burdekin Delta users would enter their water costs here but subtract the portion paid by the miller (e.g. $82/ha), while BRIA users would enter $0 and enter their water costs in the following entry cells;
2. The total water allocation for the farm if water is paid on a per megalitre basis (e.g. 800 megalitres = 8 ML X 100 hectares);
3. Part A and C water costs if water is paid on a per megalitre basis. For example, Burdekin BRIA (or BHWSS) users would enter their fixed part A and C water costs here (e.g. $3.5 + $39 = $42.5/ML), while Delta users would enter $0;
4. Part B and D water costs if water is paid on a per megalitre basis. For example, Burdekin BRIA (or BHWSS) users would enter their variable part B and D water costs here (e.g. $0.5 + $29.5 = $30/ML), while Delta users would enter $0.
5. Press the submit button and it will show the total of fixed water costs below.

Other Income

This page is used to enter additional income that users may receive. For example, farmers may obtain other income from undertaking contract work, hiring out equipment or leasing land. Add other income by clicking on the ‘Add Other Income’ button and:

1. Entering a name for the other income;
2. Entering a description of the other income (optional);
3. Entering the total annual income from this source.
4. Clicking on the ‘Submit’ button.

Profit

This page shows a breakdown of Area, Total Income, Total Variable Costs and Total Gross Margin for cane and any other crops entered into FEAT. Furthermore, Fixed Costs are subtracted and Other Income added to the Total Gross Margin in order to calculate the Farm Operating Return. The Return on Investment (%) is also calculated by dividing Total Assets (from Assets page) by the Operating Return.

Farm Operating Return

Farm operating return, calculated as gross income less total costs (excluding interest and tax), is a good measure of profitability to compare two farming systems with different fixed costs and capital expenditure (i.e. comparing one farming system with irrigation to another farming system without irrigation).

Return on Investment

Return on Investment (ROI) measures how effectively farm assets are working to generate profit and calculated as Operating Return divided by Total Assets. ROI is a useful measure to compare two farming systems with different assets (i.e. comparing one farming system with old machinery to another farming system with new machinery).

When evaluating management practice changes, it is important to evaluate cash flow implications and determine whether the business has sufficient cash flow to cover the changes. Completing a Cash Flow budget in FEAT will provide a forecast of any deficits and surpluses in cash throughout the year so that a plan can be enacted to ensure bills and loan repayments are paid on time.

Farm Performance Indicators

This page provides users with a range of Farm Performance Indicators for the selected FEAT scenario. Users do not need to enter any information into this page. Each Farm Performance Indicator is listed below together with a short definition.

• Key Indicators
• * Total Farming Area (ha): identifying whole of farm area. This may include land that is used to grow other crops in rotation with the sugarcane enterprise.
• * Tonnes Harvested: Total tonnes of cane harvested across the whole farm.
• * Sugar Price ($/t): Average sugar price received per tonne of sugar.
• * Total Income/Revenue ($): income derived from both sugarcane and other crops. The calculated figure is directly influenced by crop prices, yields and crop quality (e.g. CCS for sugarcane). This does not take into account production costs and therefore does not measure profit.
• * Total Variable Costs ($): costs associated with growing cane and other crops that are directly related to the level of output from the business (eg. harvesting, chemicals, fertilizer, fuel, oil repairs, contractors etc). The amount spent is under the control of the manager and can be changed quickly in the short term. A high figure may indicate that the business needs to review its farming system practices or it may have a high proportion of contracted operations, leased land or casual labour.
• * Total Cane Gross Margin ($): the difference between total income and total variable costs for the sugarcane enterprise. Cane gross margin is the sugarcane enterprise’s contribution to fixed costs and profits after the variable costs have been paid. This figure is important for maximising whole of farm profit in the short run as fixed costs are difficult to change.
• * Total Other Crop gross Margin ($): the difference between total income and total variable costs for the other crops enterprise. Other crop gross margin is the other crop enterprise’s contribution to fixed costs and profits after the variable costs have been paid. This figure is important for maximising whole of farm profit in the short run as fixed costs are difficult to change.
• * Farm Operating Return ($): calculated by subtracting fixed costs from the whole of farm gross margin and adding miscellaneous income.
• * Return On Investment - whole enterprise (%): measures the economic return achieved relative to the value of all the farm’s resources. The figure indicates whole of farm profitability, however it does not include financing costs or taxes.
• * Casual Labour Hours (hrs/yr): calculated by summing both machinery and irrigation labour hours across the whole farm. Casual Labour Hours are important when comparing two scenarios with different management practices that influence labour requirements (different row spacing or irrigation systems), particularly when variable labour has not been allocated costs (e.g. $35/hr).
• * Casual Labour Cost ($/yr): calculated by summing both machinery and irrigation labour costs across the whole farm. This will be zero if users have not added a casual labour cost into the ‘Machinery’ page and the ‘Cane Growing Costs’ and ‘Other Crop Growing Costs’ pages (within the irrigation sections). Casual Labour Costs are important when comparing two scenarios with different management practices that influence labour requirements (different row spacing or irrigation systems) if variable labour has been allocated costs (e.g. $35/hr).
• * Permanent (Fixed) Labour Costs ($): transferred from the ‘Fixed Costs’ page. Vital when comparing the performance of two different farming systems.
• Physical
• * Total farming area (ha): already defined above.
• * Cane harvested area (ha): area of sugarcane harvested.
• * Cane yield (t/ha): average tonnes of sugarcane per hectare for all crop classes.
• * Farm average CCS (relative): average relative sugar concentration for the entire sugarcane crop.
• * Tonnes sugar per hectare: determined by the yield and CCS levels of the sugarcane crop and indicates the amount of sugar produced per hectare. Provides an overall indication of the enterprise production output.
• * Rotational crops area (ha): area of crops grown in rotation with a sugarcane crop production system (eg. Legumes).
• Resources
• * Land and fixed improvements ($/ha): estimated market value of the whole farm expressed on a per hectare basis. The calculation includes land and fixed improvements (eg. sheds, water mains and dams) and influences the return on investment calculation.
• * Machinery Investment ($/ha): a guide to whether the whole of farm business is over or under capitalized. Includes all machinery and equipment used to run the farming business. This measure should only be compared with values for farms of the same type and size. This figure can also influence the return on investment calculation.
• * Sugarcane tractor operations (hrs/ha - plant, ratoons & bare fallow): provides an indication of the farming system efficiency by calculating the amount of time spent undertaking tractor operations in the plant, ratoon and bare fallow areas of a sugarcane crop.
• * Whole farm casual labour efficiency (labour hrs/ha): measures the effectiveness of the manager to use labour resources to operate the business. Businesses must have similar characteristics to allow for a comparison. For example, mixed enterprises will generally have a higher labour input per hectare because of the labour required to grow another crop.
• * Sugarcane irrigation casual labour (hrs/ha): measures the effectiveness of the manager to use labour resources to irrigate the sugarcane crop. The calculated figure may be influenced by irrigation practices, irrigation system, environmental conditions or the availability of water.
• * Sugarcane irrigation efficiency (tonnes/ML applied): tonnes of cane per ML irrigation water applied. This PI will be most meaningful when comparing farms in a geographic location with similar soil types and receiving a similar amount of rainfall (both annual total and distribution).
• Profitability
• * Total sugarcane farm income, net of levies and bonuses ($/ha and $/tonne): income derived by the sugarcane enterprise relative to its size in hectares and tonnes. Already defined above.
• * Cane variable costs ($/ha and $/tonne): costs associated with growing cane that are directly related to the level of output from the business (e.g. harvesting, chemicals, fertiliser, fuel, oil repairs, contractors, etc.). The amount spent is under the control of the manager and can be changed quickly in the short term. A high figure may indicate that the business needs to review its farming system practices or it may have a high proportion of contracted operations, leased land or casual labour.
• * Cane gross margin ($/ha and $/tonne): already defined above.
• * Cane operating return ($/ha and $/tonne - if 100% cane only): calculated by subtracting the whole of farm fixed costs from the cane enterprise gross margin. This figure is not applicable to mixed enterprises as fixed costs may not be solely attributed to the sugarcane enterprise.
• * Whole of farm gross margin ($/ha): the summation of gross margins for all cropping enterprises.
• * Whole of farm operating return ($/ha): As defined above but on a per hectare basis.
• Cost Ratios
• * Fixed costs ($/ha): whole of farm fixed cost expressed on a per hectare basis. The expectation would be that the greater the size of the farm the lower the fixed costs per hectare.
• * Total fixed costs/Total farm income: indicates what proportion of total farm income went towards the payment of whole of farm fixed costs. Lower figures may be attributed to economies of scale, a more efficient farming system which requires less machinery or a high income. This figure will be influenced by price fluctuations, therefore it is difficult to benchmark over time.
• * Total cane variable costs/Total cane income: indicates the proportion of total sugarcane enterprise income that went towards the payment of sugarcane variable costs. A high figure may indicate that the business needs to review its farming system practices or it may have a high proportion of contracted operations, leased land or casual labour. This figure will be influenced by price fluctuations, therefore it is difficult to benchmark over time.
• * Average growing expenses plant cane ($/ha): the average land preparation, planting, fertilizer, weed control, insect control, disease control and irrigation costs for growing a crop of plant cane. The average includes spring plant, autumn plant and plough-out replant. The calculation only considers the crop class on the farm i.e. if there is no autumn crop it is not part of the average.
• * Average growing expenses ratoon cane ($/ha): the average cultivation, fertilizer, weed control, insect control, disease control and irrigation costs for growing a crop of ratoon cane. The average includes all ratoon crop classes.
• * Average land preparation costs for plant cane ($/ha): the cost of land preparation prior to planting sugarcane. A high figure may indicate excessive tillage before planting or contracted tillage operations causing higher variable costs.
• * Sugarcane fertiliser and soil ameliorants cost ($/ha): the average cost of fertiliser and soil ameliorants (e.g. lime, gypsum) for plant, ratoon and fallow areas.

Cane Sensitivity

This page provides a cane sensitivity analysis table, which shows the cane average gross margin at different sugar prices and CCS values. Given uncertainty around the price growers will receive for their sugar and their season average CCS, sensitivity analysis is useful to explore the impact to profitability (gross margin) if the sugar price and CCS vary from what is expected.

Users can generate a cane sensitivity analysis by:

1. Entering the starting sugar price, which should be the lowest sugar price growers might expect to receive (e.g. $340/tonne);
2. Entering the incremental change in sugar price, which is the dollar change per column moving to the right of the table. For example, if a user enters $20 then the sugar price in each column to the right will increase by $20 each column (e.g. $340, $360, $380, etc.);
3. Entering the starting CCS value, which should be the lowest season average CCS growers expect (e.g. 12);
4. Entering the incremental change in CCS, which is the CCS change per row in the table moving downwards. For example, if a user enters 0.4 then the CCS in each row moving downwards will increase by 0.4 each row (e.g. 12, 12.4, 12.8, etc.);
5. Clicking the ‘Submit’ button.

After entering those four values and pressing submit, users can then examine the cane sensitivity table to determine the average gross margin at different combinations of sugar price and CCS. For example, the worst case would be the gross margin that corresponds to the lowest sugar price and CCS combination (top-left value), while the best case would be the gross margin that corresponds to the highest sugar price and CCS (bottom-right value).

Other Crop Sensitivity

This page contains provides a sensitivity analysis table for each of the other crops entered by the user. After choosing the particular ‘Other Crop’ that users want to examine, the sensitivity table will show the average gross margin at different combinations of market prices and yield. Given the similarities, please see the step-by-step details for Cane Sensitivity above for instructions on how to enter the starting price/yield and incremental changes.

Cash Flow

This page enables users to download a Cash Flow Worksheet. When downloaded, the worksheet is pre-filled with specific information from the FEAT scenario such as revenues and expenses.

To download the Worksheet, users need to click on the ‘Download Worksheet’ button and save the file to a familiar folder on their computer.

To complete the Cash Flow Worksheet, users need to open the file and:

1. Enter the Delivery Advances of sugar ($/t) for the corresponding month (e.g. $285 in July, $0 in August and September, $10 in October, etc.);
2. Enter the percent of cane crop delivered (and paid) in each month over the harvest season;
3. Allocate percentages of ‘Other Crops’ and ‘Other Income’ (if applicable) to the corresponding months over the financial year. For example, if 100% of ‘Other Crop’ income is received in March then enter 100 in March and leave zero in the other months. This will allocate all of the Other Crop income to March;
4. Allocate percentages of ‘Variable Costs’ and ‘Fixed Costs’ to the corresponding months over the financial year. For example, if approximately 25% of fertiliser costs are paid in August, September, October and November then enter 25 into each of these months and leave the other months zero;
5. Enter total Investment Sales and Purchases into the total column (B) and allocate percentages of Sales and Purchases to the corresponding months over the financial year;
6. Enter money coming into the business, via ‘New Borrowings’, ‘Contribution from Owners’ and ‘Interest Earned’ (under Finance heading), in each month over the financial year.
7. Enter money going out of the business, via ‘Loan Repayments’ and ‘Drawings’ (under Finance heading), in each month over the financial year.
8. The next section will show all outgoing (expenses) and incoming (income) for the corresponding month over the financial year.
9. Add in last year’s final balance if applicable.
10. Navigate to the sheets ‘Cash Flow (Yr 2)’ and ‘Cash Flow (Yr 3)’ if you wish to fill out those years.
11. Navigate to ‘Cash Flow Summary’ to see a summary for each year.

Optimum Ratoons

This page calculates the optimum number of ratoons grown in a crop cycle that maximises profitability. The optimum number of ratoons is identified by the ratoon that produces the highest average gross margin per hectare over the crop cycle.

Calculate the optimum number of ratoons by selecting the cane planting time (early, late or plough-out replant) to be used for the calculation from the drop-down list. Please note that you can only select these options if you have a crop entry for them from the Cane Assumptions page. The optimum ratoons table also includes additional ratoons that have not been entered by the user (e.g. 5th to 10th ratoons). The yield and CCS values for these additional ratoons should be edited by the user by entering estimates that reflect their particular situation.

The optimum number of ratoons will be shown below the table (on the left) in the light blue shaded area once the planting time has been chosen.

More Information

If users require any further information not outlined above, please send us an email by following the instructions on the ‘Contact Us’ page – accessed by clicking on ‘Contact Us’ at the very top of this page.