Green Pastures is a 400-acre farm on the outskirts of the Kentucky Bluegrass, specializing in the boarding of broodmares and their foals. A recent economic downturn in the thoroughbred industry has made the boarding business extremely competitive. To meet the competition, Green Pastures planned in 2020 to entertain clients, advertise more extensively, and absorb expenses formerly paid by clients such as veterinary and blacksmith fees.

The budget report for 2020 follows. As shown, the static income statement budget for the year is based on an expected 21,900 boarding days at $25 per mare. The variable expenses per mare per day were budgeted: feed $5, veterinary fees $3, blacksmith fees $0.25, and supplies $0.55. All other budgeted expenses were either semifixed or fixed.

During the year, management decided not to replace a worker who quit in March, but it did issue a new advertising brochure and did more entertaining of clients.¹

Green Pastures Static Budget Income Statement For the Year Ended December 31, 2020
	Actual	Master Budget	Difference
Number of mares	52	60	8	U
Number of boarding days	19,000	21,900	2,900	U
Sales	$380,000	$547,500	$167,500	U
Less: Variable expenses
Feed	104,390	109,500	5,110	F
Veterinary fees	58,838	65,700	6,862	F
Blacksmith fees	4,984	5,475	491	F
Supplies	10,178	12,045	1,867	F
Total variable expenses	178,390	192,720	14,330	F
Contribution margin	201,610	354,780	153,170	U
Less: Fixed expenses
Depreciation	40,000	40,000	-0-
Insurance	11,000	11,000	-0-
Utilities	12,000	14,000	2,000	F
Repairs and maintenance	10,000	11,000	1,000	F
Labor	88,000	95,000	7,000	F
Advertisement	12,000	8,000	4,000	U
Entertainment	7,000	5,000	2,000	U
Total fixed expenses	180,000	184,000	4,000	F
Net income	$ 21,610	$170,780	$149,170	U

Instructions

With the class divided into groups, answer the following.

(a)

Based on the static budget report:

(i)

What was the primary cause(s) of the decline in net income?

(ii)

Did management do a good, average, or poor job of controlling expenses?

(iii)

Were management's decisions to stay competitive sound?

(b)

Prepare a flexible budget report for the year.

(c)

Based on the flexible budget report, answer the three questions in part (a) above.

(d)

What course of action do you recommend for the management of Green Pastures?