CR-2133 Crop and Forage Recordkeeping Software
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service CR-2133 Current ReportRev. Oct. 2015 Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Fact Sheets are also available on our website at: osufacts.okstate.edu Crop and Forage Recordkeeping Software1 Damona Doye Brent Ladd Extension Economist, Regents Professor and Extension Assistant – Agricultural Finance Rainbolt Chair of Agricultural Finance Producers who have computers frequently ask about the commercially-available crop record keeping software pack- availability of software programs to manage crop and forage ages, the features are described under three headings: production records. Before purchasing a software program, • Common Features it is important to analyze the value of such a system with • Technological Information regards to making better management decisions. Producers • Advanced Features should evaluate their existing records to determine the types The program purchase costs range from $199 to $750 of information sought from a software program. Are inventory for basic versions of the software; advanced versions are records important? Are summary reports of primary interest? more expensive. Many software companies offer free program By considering specific record needs, the producer is better demonstration copies. Programs have various computer require- equipped to choose an appropriate software package. This ments such as minimum processor type and speed, minimum publication is a compilation of software programs to be used RAM, operating system, and hard disk space. Most programs as a reference for agricultural producers.2 provide comprehensive data entry fields, as well as production If no records on crop or field performance are currently summaries. being kept, a good starting point may be some basic produc- Before purchasing any software, determine the level and tion records. Managers will want to maintain records on variety, cost of software support that will be provided by the company. planting rates, fertilizer rates, pesticides, fuel consumption, grain, In addition, some programs have specific enterprise information hay, or forage matter produced, etc. for each field to determine that is required before the program will work. Sorting and filter- prolific or inefficient areas of the operation. Some records, ing capabilities and the type of reports generated may vary, but such as Restricted Use Pesticides (RUPs) application, must in many cases, producers have the opportunity to customize be maintained according to the 1990 FACT Act.3 reports to meet specific needs. Another important feature may The most difficult steps to building a valuable record- include the ability to query or search the data for specific field keeping system are (1) making time for recordkeeping, (2) information. Every operator must determine the amount of time determining which information is economically feasible to available to devote to practical recordkeeping and weigh this collect, and (3) summarizing the data for use in the decision- commitment against software costs, data entry features, and making process. Meaningful crop and forage records may be the need for information for management purposes. handwritten (for example, see agecon.okstate.edu/farmbook) Information provided about the following programs or kept on a computer, tablet or mobile application. The choice was confirmed by the software provider’s representative. The of programs, features, and cost of software are the “fine-tuning” summary does not cover all available programs or individual portion of recordkeeping. In the following summary of nine program features. Programs may have other capabilities that are not described in the summary. Producers should contact 1 Update from an earlier version co-authored by Randy True, the respective companies for current purchase information, former Extension Assistant. Current updates by Brent Ladd, details on features, and specific hardware requirements. Extension Assistant. The features summarized in the tables are not all-inclu- 2 An internet search was used to identify widely used sive. Some of the software packages go into intricate detail commercial software products with multiple applications. in products applied to the fields and have detailed scale Companies were contacted to complete a survey noting tickets for harvest sales. As the user experiments with demo their program’s parameters. Inclusion is this report is not versions of the software packages, the capabilities of each an endorsement of a product nor is exclusion of a program program become clearer. Several of the software companies a rebuke of the product. have additional software products and/or modules that work 3 For more information about the FACT Act, please refer to with the basic software package to enhance user control. Extension Fact Sheet EPP-322, Pesticide Recordkeeping The end user decides how much information to input, track, Requirements for Crop Production. calculate, and summarize. Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources • Oklahoma State University SST Sirrus/Summit Basic MapShots Ag Studio Farm SST Development Group, Inc. MapShots 824 N. Country Club Rd. 5995A Parkway North Blvd. Stillwater, OK 74075 Suite 9 Phone: 888-377-5334 / 405-377-5334 Cumming, GA 30040 Fax: 405-377-5746 Phone: 678-513-6093 Website: http://www.sstsoftware.com Fax: 678-513-7755 E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.mapshots.com Farm Works Mapping Software Farm Works P.O. Box 250 WinCrop, Farm View Record Keeper, LandView DSS Pro Hamilton, IN 46742 Landview Systems Phone: 800-225-2848 #600, 10665 – Jasper Avenue Fax: 260-488-3737 Edmonton, Alberta Website: [email protected] Canada T5J 3S9 Phone: 800-616-9401, 780-448-7476 Fax: 780-449-5385 Field Manager Pro E-mail: [email protected] Farm Credit Canada (FCC) Management Software Website: http://www.landview.com/products.html 1800 Hamilton Street P.O. Box 4320 FarmLogs Regina, SK 410 N. 4th Ave., 2nd Floor Canada S4S 4L3 Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Phone: 1-800-667-7893 Phone: (605) 318-5293 E-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Website: www.fccsoftware.ca Website: farmlogs.com Farm Files Crops Farm Files 4684 N. Briargate Ct. Park City, KS 67219 Phone: 913-515-5991 Fax: 785-899-5860 E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.farmfiles.com/crops.html CR-2133.2 Technological Information SST Summit Farm Works Ag2Networks FCC Farm Files MapShots, Inc. LandView SST Sirrus Basic Mapping Landtrend Field Manager PRO Crops Ag Studio Farm WinCrop Farmlogs Synchronize with Pocket PC, Mobile Pocket PC, Windows Hand-held Device* Pocket PC Windows CE, Palm No iOS, Android No iOS and or Laptop Android Internet required 3 3 Ye s Offline data access/entry 3 3 Yes (through (SELECT) Free via email Product Tour Product Tour Free Demo Free on Website/ Downloadable Downloadable Downloadable Downloadable on Website & Downloadable Free Call for free on Website on Website on Website on Website Demo CD on Website Demo Available Support $300/calendar 1 year free year for unlimited (Phone, software technical support updates, weekly Minimum free 3 months Free and upgrades. Free via bulletin included) 30 days phone support free, phone, Free Free e-mail, e-mail Online user community free w/certified tech. fax, or e-mail internet discussion YouTube channel with groups, and fax instructional videos alternatives CR-2133.3 Training Online on website 3 3 Yes (videos) Remote GoToMeeting Training Classroom 3 Ye s Data access Sharing opt in/out Review policy at www.mapshots.com Administrative rights assignment agX Platform General Customizable Microsoft© Microsoft© Microsoft© Microsoft© Windows 8, Microsoft© Microsoft© Microsoft© Web Based Operating System iOS Windows 7 Windows Windows 95 Windows 7 SP1, Windows 95 Windows XP Windows 98 iOS or higher 7, 8, XP or higher Vista SP2 or higher (2000 is or higher Android Vista, Windows 7, 8 acceptable), Vista, Windows 7 Processor iPad 1.5 GHz Pentium Pentium 1.4 GHz + Pentium Pentium III Pentium, 933 MHz + 66 MHz + Minimum RAM 4 GB 64 MB 128 MB 1 GB 16 MB 256 MB 16 MB Hard Disk Requirement 100+ GB 60 MB 5 MB 1 GBB 20 MB 20 MB Mobile operating system iOS Devices supported iPad only iPad,i Phone, (e.g. iPad only) Android for select apps. Printer Bluetooth printer user defined User registration required Cost** Free $750 $750 $280 $499 $200 $695 $349 Free * Additional charges for hand-held software apply. ** Prices are subject to change Common Features SST Summit Farm Works Ag2Networks FCC Farm Files MapShots, Inc. LandView SST Sirrus Basic Mapping Landtrend Field Manager PRO Crops Ag Studio Farm WinCrop Farmlogs Record quantity: Tillage practices 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Machinery usage 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Seeding 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Fertilizing 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Insecticide application 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Field level reports 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Harvest data 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Planting date 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Ability to import: machine logged data 3 3 3 yield data 3 3 3 3 “as applied” data 3 3 3 planted 3 3 3 sprayed 3 fertilizer 3 3 CR-2133.4 crop protection` 3 3 Variety 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Log soil test points/manage soil nutrient levels 3 3 3 3 3 3 DSS Pro Inventory/storage tracking Farm Works Accounting 3 3 3 DSS Pro 3 Irrigation expense calculation Farm Works Accounting 3 3 3 Crop insurance 3 3 3 3 3 Break-even analysis 3 3 3 3 3 Collect/import field boundaries 3 3 3 3 3 Mapper 3 Calculate acreage 3 3 3 3 3 3 Mapper 3 Equipment records: serial numbers 3 hours used 3 purchases 3 3 repairs 3 3 service interval 3 3 3 3 cost groups Track crop rotation 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Delineate patches