When you’re sorting through your farm expenses, it helps to know exactly which bucket they belong in. Think of categories like different grain bins — each one holds a specific type of expense, and keeping them separate makes tax time (and recordkeeping) a whole lot easier.
Below you’ll find a glossary of all the categories you’ll see in your transaction window.
Crop & Soil Expenses 🌱
Fertilizer – Nutrients you add to your soil to boost yields.
Seeds & Plants – Seeds, seedlings, or young plants you sow in your fields.
Chemicals (Pesticides, Herbicides, etc.) – Products to protect crops from weeds, insects, and disease.
Livestock Care 🐄
Feed – Hay, grain, or other purchased feed.
Vet, Breeding, & Animal Medicine – Vet visits, vaccinations, breeding services, and animal health costs.
Animal Rental – Renting animals for breeding or short-term farm use.
Buildings, Equipment & Vehicles 🚜
Farm Building Maintenance – Routine upkeep like cleaning, painting, or small repairs.
Repairs & Maintenance (Buildings) – Bigger building fixes (roofs, doors, etc.).
Equipment Purchase – Tractors, implements, or other farm machinery.
Repairs & Maintenance (Equipment) – Parts and services to keep equipment running.
Farm Car/Truck Expenses – Fuel, maintenance, or insurance for farm vehicles.
Gas/Fuel/Oil – Gasoline, diesel, and lubricants.
Parking & Tolls – Road use fees related to farm work.
Vehicle Rental – Renting machinery or vehicles for short-term needs.
Land & Property 🌾
Land Purchase – Buying farmland or property.
Land Rental – Leasing acreage from others.
Conservation Expenses – Costs tied to conservation or soil health programs.
Labor & Hired Services 👩🌾
Hired Labor – Seasonal or contract workers.
Custom Machine Work – Paying others for custom planting, harvesting, or other field work.
Pension & Profit Sharing Plans – Retirement or profit-sharing benefits for employees.
Employee Benefit Programs – Health insurance or other worker perks.
Employee Accident Insurance – Accident coverage for employees.
Business & Operating Costs 💼
Utilities – Water, electricity, propane, or gas for the farm.
Freight & Trucking – Costs to transport crops, animals, or supplies.
Business Insurance – Policies covering farm operations, assets, or liability.
Marketing – Advertising, branding, and promotional costs.
Business Startup Costs – Fees or expenses for starting up farm operations.
Office Supplies – Pens, paper, postage, and other admin materials.
Subscriptions – Recurring software or information services.
Accounting – Bookkeeping or financial services.
Tax Prep – Paying professionals to prepare taxes.
Storage & Warehousing – Renting silos, cold storage, or warehouses.
Loans & Interest 💰
Loan Payments – Paying down borrowed money for land, equipment, or other needs.
Mortgage Interest Paid – Interest on farmland or building mortgages.
Other Interest Paid – Interest on non-mortgage loans or credit lines.
Other 🌟
Other Business Expenses – Any farm-related expenses that don’t fit elsewhere.
Other / Bank Fees – Bank service charges and fees.
Other / Personal – Non-business or personal expenses that need to be separated from farm records.
🚜 Why Categorizing Matters
By sorting expenses into the right categories, you’re setting yourself up for:
Easier tax filing (lines up with IRS Schedule F categories)
Better farm management decisions (knowing where money goes)
Accurate financial records (for lenders, grants, and your own planning)
Think of it as keeping your farmyard tidy — everything in its place so you can find it when you need it.