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Farm and Agribusiness Management

MS Budget Generator

For New Users

MSBG Installation Suggestions

Enterprise budgeting and whole farm budgeting are tools used by farm managers to aid in decision making. The information derived from budgeting includes estimates of income, expenses, and net income for a specific enterprise or a whole farm plan. Budgeting allows the decision maker to systematically evaluate alternative plans "on paper" in an attempt to determine the plan which maximizes profits. Computerization of budgeting procedures increases the speed at which budgets may be developed and should improve the accuracy of income and cost estimates.

The Mississippi State Budget Generator (MSBG) Version 6.0 is the latest version of MSBG. Version 5.5 is the immediate predecessor and is still available for downloading. MSBG is a menu driven computer program designed to compute annual costs and returns for individual crop enterprises and whole farm plans.

MSBG was designed to provide consistent calculation methods and ease of operation for the user. Calculation procedures are consistent with the AAEA Task Force recommendations on costs and returns. Time multipliers are provided to allow tractor usage to be a function of implement usage. Fuel multipliers allow tractor fuel consumption to be modified based on the draft requirements of the implement being pulled. Labor multipliers are provided to allow powered machinery operator labor time to be a function of powered machinery time. Also, additional labor can be associated with individual specialized implements and operations. Unallocated labor (or overhead labor) may be specified as a multiple of operator labor.

Twelve different budget report formats are available for viewing on screen and printing to paper for each enterprise budget. The use of operating input categories and residual cost items adds flexibility to the content and format of budget tables. Four report formats are available for whole farm plans. Input listings and input tables with calculations are available for printing.

MSBG requires a Windows compatible computer with Windows 98 or higher.

The MSBG program and associated data files are distributed in two forms as described below. First time users should download and install MSBG v6.0. The full installation sets up the appropriate data structures and data paths necessary for MSBG to operate. This installation also downloads the latest available Mississippi State University Department of Agricultural Economics row crop enterprise budget files so users can start right away viewing budgets and features of the program. After users have changed data or created their own data sets, users can obtain the latest program update without requiring a full program installation. This section allows the user to download MSBG60.exe and copy it directly to the MSBG60 folder created by the install version.

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For Existing Users

Download Release Date Notes
MSBG60 program Only 04/30/08
  • Contains the latest MSBG60.exe file and Work_data folder.
  • Use the "Save" option when prompted. After Saving, extract the contents of the zip file into your MSBG60 folder. Requires that you have previously installed MSBG version 6.0.
2010 Row Crop Input Data files 12/8/09
  • Contains 2010 row crop input data files within a folder.
  • Use the "Save" option when prompted. After Saving, extract the contents of the zip file into your MSBG60/Input_data/ folder. Requires that you have previously installed MSBG version 6.0.
2010 Row Crop Budget files 12/14/09
  • Contains 2010 row crop budget files within individual folders.
  • Use the "Save" option when prompted. After Saving, extract the contents of the zip file into your MSBG60/Bud_data/ folder. Requires that you have previously installed MSBG version 6.0.
2009 Vegetable Input Data files 03/16/09
  • Contains 2009 vegetable input data files within individual folders.
  • Use the "Save" option when prompted. After saving, extract the contents of the zip file into your MSBG60/Input_data folder. Requires that you have previously installed MSBG version 6.0
  • This input data file was developed by Mississippi State University. Funding was provided by the Southern Region Risk Management Education Center.
2009 Vegetable Budget files 03/16/09
  • Contains 2009 vegetable budget files within individual folders.
  • Use the "Save" options when prompted. After saving, extract the contents of the zip file into your MSBG60/Bud_data folder. Requires that you have previously installed MSBG version 6.0
  • This budget data file was developed through a multidisciplinary effort of scientists located at Mississippi State University, the University of Arkansas, Louisiana State University, the University of Tennessee, Auburn University, and the University of Georgia. Funding was provided by the Southern Region Risk Management Education Center.
2009 Forage Input Data files 01/07/09
  • Contains 2009 forage input data files within a folder.
  • Use the "Save" option when prompted. After Saving, extract the contents of the zip file into your MSBG60/Input_data/ folder. Requires that you have previously installed MSBG version 6.0.
2009 Forage Budget files 01/07/09
  • Contains 2009 forage input data files within a folder.
  • Use the "Save" option when prompted. After Saving, extract the contents of the zip file into your MSBG60/Input_data/ folder. Requires that you have previously installed MSBG version 6.0.
2009 Row Crop Budget files 12/16/08
  • Contains 2009 row crop budget files within individual folders.
  • Use the "Save" option when prompted. After Saving, extract the contents of the zip file into your MSBG60/Bud_data/ folder. Requires that you have previously installed MSBG version 6.0.
2009 Row Crop Input Data files 11/21/08
  • Contains 2009 row crop input data files within a folder.
  • Use the "Save" option when prompted. After Saving, extract the contents of the zip file into your MSBG60/Input_data/ folder. Requires that you have previously installed MSBG version 6.0.
2008 Ornamental Input data files (Zone 8 and 9) 09/09/08
  • Contains the 2008 ornamental input data file in an individual folder.
  • Use the "Save" option when prompted. After saving, extract the contents of the zip file into your MSBG60/Input_data folder.
  • This input data file was developed through a multidisciplinary effort of scientists located at Louisiana State University, Auburn University, the University of Arkansas, the University of Georgia, Mississippi State University, and the University of Tennessee. Funding was provided by the Southern Region Risk Management Education Center.
2008 Ornamental Budget files (Zone 8 and 9) 09/09/08
  • Contains the 2008 ornamental input data file in an individual folder.
  • Use the "Save" option when prompted. After saving, extract the contents of the zip file into your MSBG60/Input_data folder.
  • This input data file was developed through a multidisciplinary effort of scientists located at Louisiana State University, Auburn University, the University of Arkansas, the University of Georgia, Mississippi State University, and the University of Tennessee. Funding was provided by the Southern Region Risk Management Education Center.
2008 Vegetable Input Data files 02/07/08
  • Contains 2008 vegetable input data files within individual folders.
  • Use the "Save" option when prompted. After saving, extract the contents of the zip file into your MSBG60/Input_data folder. Requires that you have previously installed MSBG version 6.0
  • This input data file was developed by Mississippi State University. Funding was provided by the Southern Region Risk Management Education Center.
2008 Vegetable Budget files 04/30/08
  • Contains 2008 vegetable input data files within individual folders.
  • Use the "Save" option when prompted. After saving, extract the contents of the zip file into your MSBG60/Input_data folder. Requires that you have previously installed MSBG version 6.0
  • This input data file was developed by Mississippi State University. Funding was provided by the Southern Region Risk Management Education Center.
2008 Row Crop Budget files 01/16/08
  • Contains 2008 row crop budget files within individual folders.
  • Use the "Save" options when prompted. After saving, extract the contents of the zip file into your MSBG60/Bud_data folder. Requires that you have previously installed MSBG version 6.0
2008 Row Crop Input Data files 02/07/08
  • Contains 2008 row crop budget files within individual folders.
  • Use the "Save" options when prompted. After saving, extract the contents of the zip file into your MSBG60/Bud_data folder. Requires that you have previously installed MSBG version 6.0

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Problems With Help Screens

If the Help screens in MSBG are not working on your computer, you may try to correct this by following these instructions:

  • From the desktop, click Start, click Run, and type cmd and click OK.
  • At C:\> type cd \msbg60 and press the Enter key.
  • At C:\MSBG60> type foxhhelp9 /regserver and press the Enter key.
  • Then type exit and press the Enter key.

The next time you run MSBG, the Help screens should work. If they do not, then contact David Laughlin (662-325-7987) or Stan Spurlock (662-325-7995) at Mississippi State University.