Unlocking Financial Support: How to Get Your Bank to Fund FarmRaise Tracks
Overview
FarmRaise Tracks is farm accounting software designed to help producers organize their finances, streamline tax preparation, and generate lender-ready reports. This blog walks farmers and ranchers through how to approach their bank about funding a FarmRaise Tracks subscription, making the case that organized financial records benefit both the producer and the loan officer. Through a partnership between FarmRaise and BTC Bank, community lenders are already recognizing the value of supporting tools that reduce paperwork and improve credit visibility. The guide covers five practical steps, from gathering documentation to keeping the conversation going over time. With agriculture becoming increasingly data-driven, producers who invest in farm financial management software position themselves for stronger lending relationships and long-term business growth.
Running a farm or ranch takes more than sweat and soil. It also takes money management. For many producers, keeping track of receipts, preparing for tax season, and showing lenders where the farm stands financially can be a real headache. That’s where FarmRaise Tracks comes in.
But here’s the good news: you don’t have to shoulder the cost alone. With the right approach, you can get your bank to help fund your farm accounting software. Thanks to new partnerships like the one between FarmRaise and BTC Bank, banks are beginning to see the value in supporting tools that make life easier for both farmers and loan officers.
This blog is your step-by-step guide to starting that conversation with your lender, showing them how FarmRaise Tracks can strengthen your farm business and theirs.
Why Banks Care About Good Records
Banks want to lend money to farms and ranches that can show they are financially organized. When you walk in the door with clean balance sheets, accurate income statements, and your expenses neatly filed into Schedule F categories, you are already ahead of the game.
With FarmRaise Tracks, you can link your bank account and get real-time updates on spending and income. The software also generates farm-ready reports that make loan paperwork faster and less stressful. This helps loan officers do their jobs more efficiently while giving you confidence in your numbers.
In short, when your records are tidy, the bank feels more comfortable funding your farm projects and helping you expand.
The Case for FarmRaise Tracks
Here are a few points you can bring up with your banker when asking them to support your use of FarmRaise Tracks:
- Saves Time for Both Sides
- No more digging through shoeboxes of receipts. The mobile app allows you to log expenses before you even leave the parking lot. That means your banker can gets neat, organized records right when they request them.
- Trusted by Agriculture Leaders
- FarmRaise is a USDA partner and has been recognized as one of the best accounting software tools for farmers. Banks like BTC already see its value.
- Farmer-Friendly Design
- Built by farmers and ag professionals, FarmRaise Tracks is made with real operations in mind. This farmer-first design adds a human touch that helps bankers feel confident they’re supporting something that truly works.
- Flexible for Different Operations
- Whether you’re a small farm, a growing ranch, or managing multiple entities, Tracks adapts. It makes life easier for agribusiness entrepreneurs at every stage.
Step-by-Step Guide to Asking Your Bank for Support
Here’s a simple way to approach your banker about funding FarmRaise Tracks:
Step 1: Gather Your Information
Bring along a recent business plan, copies of your balance sheets, and a sample report from FarmRaise Tracks. If you already use the software, export a CSV file to show how clean the records are.
Step 2: Show the Benefits
Explain how the software saves you time with expense tracking and helps your banker by giving them professional-quality reports. Remind them that the partnership between FarmRaise and BTC Bank was built to build trust and streamline the loan process.
Step 3: Make the Ask
Say something like:
"I’d like to keep using FarmRaise Tracks for my farm finance. Since it helps us both during loan applications and tax season, would the bank be willing to help cover or share the cost of the subscription?"
Step 4: Offer to Learn Together
Banks like tools, they understand. Show your banker a tutorial or invite them to listen to a podcast episode on farm finance. The more comfortable they are with the software, the more likely they are to support it.
Step 5: Keep the Conversation Ongoing
Even if they don’t say yes right away, keep sharing updates. Each time you bring in organized income statements or quick reports through the app, you’re proving the value of the system.
Real Examples from the Field
Farmers who use FarmRaise Tracks often say it has saved them hours of paperwork. One producer explained that they used to spend long evenings logging receipts, but now they can reconcile transactions as soon as they show up on the mobile app.
Stories like these matter to banks. They show that this isn’t just software. It’s a way for producers to free up more time for their families while also strengthening their farm finance records.
Why This Matters for the Future of Farming
The reality is that agriculture is becoming more data-driven every year. Banks, investors, and government programs want clean financial records before they release funds. By leaning on farmer-friendly technology like FarmRaise Tracks, you’re setting yourself up for success not just today but for future generations.
With features like SSO (single sign-on) for security, optional payroll add-ons, and tools for handling multiple entities, Tracks grows with your operation. It also ensures your farm business is prepared to expand, apply for grants, or survive tough seasons.
Bringing the Human Touch
At the end of the day, farming is about people. Whether you’re working the fields, raising livestock, or building connections at the local bank, relationships matter. When you walk into your lender’s office with organized financials, you show professionalism. When you also bring stories about how the software has helped your daily work, you add the human touch that bankers respect.
This approach not only helps you build trust but also strengthens the relationship between your farm and your financial partners.
Wrapping It Up
Asking your bank to help fund FarmRaise Tracks might feel like a big step, but it’s really about showing how the software benefits both you and them. With clean expense tracking, polished reports, and easy access to data, everyone wins.
So don’t be shy. Put together your business plan, pull your balance sheets, and walk into the bank with confidence. With the right conversation, your lender may be ready to back your subscription and invest in your farm’s future.
FarmRaise and BTC Bank have already shown what’s possible when technology and community banking come together. Now it’s your turn to take that partnership forward and unlock new financial support for your farm.
Ready to get started? Sign up for FarmRaise today and start building a better future for your farm. Use code IT3H12B at checkout for 20% off or use this link to checkout now.
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Ready to try FarmRaise for free?
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Ready to try FarmRaise for free?
Start your free 7-day trial of FarmRaise Premium today.
See how how easy FarmRaise makes Taxes & Schedule F!
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FAQs
What is FarmRaise Tracks and how does it help farmers manage their finances?
FarmRaise Tracks is farm accounting software built specifically for agricultural producers. It allows farmers and ranchers to link their bank accounts, track income and expenses in real time, and categorize transactions using Schedule F categories familiar to anyone preparing a farm tax return. The mobile app makes it easy to log receipts and expenses on the go, even before leaving a field or supply store. The software generates professional-grade financial reports, including balance sheets and income statements, that are ready to share with lenders or accountants. FarmRaise was developed with input from farmers and ag professionals, so the interface reflects how real operations actually work rather than forcing producers to adapt to generic small business tools. As a USDA partner and recognized leader in farm accounting software, FarmRaise Tracks has earned credibility with both producers and agricultural lenders.
Why would a bank care whether I use farm accounting software like FarmRaise Tracks?
Banks and agricultural lenders make lending decisions based on the financial health and organizational quality of a farm operation. When a producer walks in with clean balance sheets, organized expense records, and a clear income statement, loan officers can process applications more quickly and with greater confidence. Disorganized records, on the other hand, slow down the loan process and can create doubt about a farm's financial stability. FarmRaise Tracks generates reports that are formatted specifically for agricultural lending workflows, which reduces the back-and-forth between farmers and loan officers. The partnership between FarmRaise and BTC Bank was built on exactly this idea, that when producers use better financial tools, the lending relationship improves for both sides. Banks that encourage or even help fund tools like FarmRaise Tracks are investing in borrowers who are more prepared, more transparent, and ultimately lower risk.
How do I start the conversation with my lender about funding my FarmRaise Tracks subscription?
The key is preparation. Before your meeting, gather your most recent business plan, current balance sheets, and if you already use FarmRaise Tracks, export a sample CSV report to show your lender what organized records look like in practice. When you meet with your loan officer, walk them through how the software saves time on both ends, your time in tracking expenses and their time in reviewing your financials. You can make a direct ask along these lines: since FarmRaise Tracks helps both of us during loan applications and tax season, would the bank be willing to help cover or share the cost of the subscription? Framing it as a mutual benefit rather than a personal favor tends to land better with lenders. Even if they do not say yes immediately, consistently bringing in polished, software-generated reports over time builds the case on its own.
What makes FarmRaise Tracks different from general small business accounting software?
Most general accounting platforms were not built with agricultural operations in mind. FarmRaise Tracks is specifically designed around the way farms and ranches operate, including Schedule F expense categories, multi-entity management for producers running more than one operation, and a mobile-first design that fits the reality of working outside and on the go. The software also integrates with farm lending workflows, producing reports that match what agricultural lenders actually need to see during loan reviews. General tools like QuickBooks can work for some farm businesses, but they often require significant customization and do not natively speak the language of farm finance. FarmRaise Tracks was built by people with agriculture backgrounds, which means the features reflect real operational needs rather than assumptions from the outside. For producers who want a tool that fits their work rather than the other way around, that difference is significant.
What features in FarmRaise Tracks support both farm financial management and loan readiness?
FarmRaise Tracks includes several features that directly support both day-to-day financial management and lender-facing documentation. Bank account linking provides real-time visibility into income and expenses, so producers always have an up-to-date picture of where the farm stands financially. Schedule F categorization makes tax preparation faster and helps ensure that deductions are captured correctly. Report generation produces balance sheets, income statements, and exportable CSV files that meet lender standards without requiring a producer to manually format anything. The platform also supports multiple entities, which is useful for farms that operate under different legal structures or manage separate enterprises. Optional payroll add-ons and single sign-on (SSO) security features make the platform scalable as an operation grows. Together, these features reduce administrative burden while keeping the financial documentation that banks and government programs require always within reach.
Is the FarmRaise and BTC Bank partnership something other banks can replicate?
Yes, and that is a large part of why the partnership is worth knowing about. FarmRaise and BTC Bank created their relationship specifically to demonstrate how community banks and ag lenders can support their farm borrowers by backing tools that improve financial readiness. The model is straightforward: a bank recognizes that organized producer records lead to smoother loan processing, reduced risk, and stronger long-term relationships, and chooses to support a tool that delivers those outcomes. Other agricultural lenders can adopt a similar approach, either by encouraging their farm customers to use FarmRaise Tracks or by exploring formal partnership arrangements. For producers, the BTC Bank example provides a concrete reference point when approaching their own lender. Pointing to an existing bank-software partnership helps legitimize the ask and shows that this is not an unusual request but part of a growing trend in agricultural lending.