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Bev McLachlan saw a need and an opportunity at the right time. She designed accounting software, specifically for farmers, called Farm Ease Accounting.

Bev McLachlan of Outlook, Sask. mans the booth for Farm Ease Accounting, a software package she developed based on her 30 years of experience working for a chartered accountant and understanding of the needs of farmers. -- Alexis Kienlen photo

"Farmers don't just farm anymore; they have to be businesspeople too," she said.

McLachlan, who lives near Outlook, Sask., has worked for a chartered accountant for more than 30 years, and has specialized in accounting for farmers. Her knowledge comes from her day job.

McLachlan developed the program herself about five years ago.

"People say they've been looking all over for a program like this," she said.

She knew her clients were looking for something easy to use that wouldn't involve learning complicated software.

"This program is set up very much like a manual farm book. The farmers enter the data on the computer, which adds up all the totals and gives an up-to-date income and expense statement," she said.

It's an Excel-based spreadsheet, which is easy to use and follow, and simple for those who may not have geek-level computer skills but want to make the switch from manual to computerized accounting.

The program can be used by individuals and corporations. It can also complete GST returns, complete with personal adjustments.

Farm Ease is specifically designed for western Canadian Prairie farmers, McLachlan said.

She also offers an inventory tracking program for AgriStability to track grain, livestock and forage from the beginning of the year until the end of the year, providing the necessary information needed for the federal/provincial income stabilization program.

McLachlan’s AgriStability program is available in both a federal version and an Alberta version.

-- Alexis Kienlen is a reporter for Alberta Farmer Express in Edmonton.