The Newfarm Forums

[jain.shleymovich@gmail.co]

Hello everyone,

I am actually not a farmer, but a few of my friends and I decided we wanted to help farmers make their life easier. We are currently working on a recordkeeping site for farming activities. I am wondering if you guys had some advice, on what you need for your everyday use and reporting purposes. I am also wondering how I can help all of you identify best suppliers. I am also looking for a few farmer to serve as a client advocacy group. This group would have our services for free and we would be looking for feedback from you.

If you have any ideas, please let me know! Thanks! Jain
_________________
Thanks, Jain
Jain.Shleymovich@gmail.com
Greenhouse Wizards are here to serve you!
Email me any time.

[ewagoner]

Jain, you may want to take a look at my own farm recordkeeping site for ideas. I am a grower, and built the site originally to make my life easier and have since opened it up to others. You can find it at http://www.farmnotebook.com.

[jain.shleymovich@gmail.co]

The site looks very good! May be we can chat offline?

Thanks!

_________________
Thanks, Jain
Jain.Shleymovich@gmail.com
Greenhouse Wizards are here to serve you!
Email me any time.

[EdenView]

Hi Jain
I would be interested in being of assistance to you and your group. I am a new produce grower with the desire to figure some type of comrehensive record keeping. Topics I would like to see covered are: planting dates, harvest dates, amount harvested, produce sold...where? for how much?, crop rotation schedule, seed sources, soil ammendments...what, when and how much?, soil test results, and weather related topics such as first and last frost date and weekly rain totals. I'm sure as I work through this I can come up with more information! If you are interested in working with us please respond.

Thanks

Eric

[pixelphotographer]

plot and crop rotations
under plots what amendments were used if any and in what amounts
cover crops used
manure and compost temperatures, dates for age, times for temp taking, and times for turning over the compost/manure piles
Eden View has listed alot of the others that I use and have on my spreadsheets and print outs.

[Carriage House Farm]

I use pencil and paper and excel (well, and a Mac I guess...if I use software I need a platform).

I am not a big fan of web based tools. They always, without fail seem to be a bit clunky.

This year things are going to get a bit more complex since I am going to be tackling Trees, orchards, a vineyard, an expansion of the apiary, and a couple hundred grapes, but in all honestly, its simply more of the same.

I make a single hard copy, which I file next to my desk, save an original copy to my Mac's HD and then a second copy to my external firewire HD and then at the end of each month I do a DVD back up of photos and data and sales receipts and tax information.

All my contacts, links, notes, and spreadsheets...and some photos are backed up to my .Mac account.

Works like a charm...there some other good share/freeware out there both for the Mac and the PC that handle other things like inventory and while I suppose it could all be packed together along with weather programs, moon charts, almanacs, etc, I think finding what suits us best without overloading us with stuff other people might want is probably the best thing possible.
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Richard Stewart
Carriage House Farm
North Bend, OH

An Ohio Century Farm
http://www.carriagehousefarmllc.com

[pixelphotographer]

I agree with Carriage House Farms.... I cant stand web based apps.
One I dont trust them they have all my information on their servers which can be hacked or go down. I would preer them to be on my own system where I can print out and keep on a burned cd and harddrive for my own purposes. Web based apps are for control freaks who are scared someone will illegally copy their software. I understand why they do it but I dont like it and wont use them.

Its also painfully slow for people who live in the country and dont have highspeed internet and are still on dialup.

[ClemmonsHoo]

Just off the top of my head...One way to get around the data security problem is to store the client's data on their PC (Access database, XML file, etc.) and use an ActiveX control to manipulate it from the website. That way, no one else has access to the data, and the data will not get touched or lost if the site crashes or is hacked.

[Carriage House Farm]

I am working on a mac now. Well, correct that, I have been for years, but I am finally getting to the point where I can actually use it as a tech tool for the farm.

As we swap out our older computer for a newer one the old one is going down on the farm. With the .mac account (renamed MobileMe now) I can sync my computers with not only basic PDA type information (web links, email contacts, calendar and the like) but actually projects and larger data types like excel, iWork files, iWeb stuff, photos and so on.

We have a wireless system on the farm and at home i've upgraded to a N wireless router.

The goal then is to, this winter A) build a wireless repeater to extend the wirless net work on the farm into the adjacent acre and our test garden area and B) build a system up to receive orders and communicate with restaurants using an iPhone.

THis uses nothing but off the shelf technology. Unofrtunately it has to be iPhone because if its not then I have to duplicate a whole lot of stuff that is built into the whole "Mac Lifestyle" thing.

Why go through the effort when someone has done it for me.

I'll let people know what I am doing as I do it and how it working out.

The goal is to eventually be able to use this system in the gravel pit reclamation sustainable ag site.
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Richard Stewart
Carriage House Farm
North Bend, OH

An Ohio Century Farm
http://www.carriagehousefarmllc.com

[willing hands farm]

There are several farms that already have the kind of information some of you are looking for. A new book is out on the business and record keeping aspect from Richard Wisall (sp). Growing for Market gave it an excellent review. Here is a clip of him discussing what he has learned. A CD-Rom comes with the book with all sorts of record keeping files. I have not seen the book or looked at the cd but it does look good.

http://www.chelseagreen.com/tv/episode/2475124/

Also Brookfield Farm has for several years had a downloadable Excel pack of all their farm data, how they do it, and which you can copy. Cost is $25.00

http://www.brookfieldfarm.org/cps.html

Richard,

Your system is way tooooo good! Were you an accountant in a former life?? ha ha

Julie

[Eden's Farm]

ewagoner, that looks like a pretty cool program! When I'm more awake, and less worried about why my crops are not yielding, I'll remember to take a closer look. (we've had about 27 inches since 9-10, so I suspect that is the problem - taking that question to the other thread.)

Thanks for posting that link, I'll be sure to share it on my other forums!
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Marie Tedei
Eden's Gardener
Balch Springs, TX
Organic Today for a Better Tomorrow!
www.edensorganicfarm.com