Any good farm management software out there?

[Marianne Prince]

Hey Everyone,

I am about to start my freelance farming career in full this new year, and I have been looking for software for managing my farm business. Something like quikbooks, but tailored to the farm. Does anyone have any recommendations?

My husband is a software writer, and we are wondering if this kind of software would be a profitable project for him to take on.

Thanks for all of your advice!

[Shane]

I am interested in responses, I researched this topic two years ago and was unable to find anything that fit the farm that didnt cost several hunderd dollars.

[Nick]

Not to sound negative but even if he does come up with something for you, once properly marketed will be in the same price range.

We use Excel, Apex and Quickbooks combined and that pretty much covers the spectrum.

[Brian Grossman]

yeah same for us, excel and quickbooks pretty much covers it all but i have tried to find other software that would be easier but I have yet to find anything good. if somebody did write a program that would be able to cover everything from a-z would be really good and I would be interested.

[Marianne Prince]

So, what I am imagining would be an online website that would keep records of weather patterns (basically link to online weather site), allow users to record dates of planting, sprouting, harvesting etc, keep track of business associates (chefs, suppliers, other costumers..) and also include a tab for managing the books. It could also allow the user to record bartered exchanges. It would be a multi-faceted program designed specifically for small farmers, gardeners, and even crafters. I think I would want to create a structure similar to Basecamp, which charges a reasonable monthly subscription, and includes networking as well as business management. I have been working on some templates and would really appreciate feedback from people who would be interested in trying this out if we ever get something to a trial state. It could be that we would offer a basic subscription for free, and charge for additional features (such as recordkeeping features).

I look forward to your feedback. Thanks!

[Shane]

I personally am looking for software where I can keep records of planting varieties by field, planting date, seed cost, fertlizer cost broken down by field. I could enter soil sample results, harvest yields, along with grain prices obtained by field if I had that information. My end goal would be to see which farms are more profitable than other farms that I plant crops. Maybe I could make better decisons about seed variety and fertlizer application rates compared to each farm and its history. We finish cattle for retail meat market so I would also want to be able to track certain groups of steers on input costs compared to slaughter and meat sales income. I am sure I could make a spreadsheet to do all of this but I dont have the time or the knowledge to do all of it. I also dont want to spend several hundered dollars on software. Just my two cents.

[Steve Clodfelter]

Try Summit SST, its costly but call them they will sometimes negotiate on prices. I know its pricey but it allows you to record chemical application, soil fertility do your own mapping, prices, yields, the info can be downloaded to most VRT rigs. Truely great program

[Jamie Guffy-Guffy Family Farms]

For the last couple of years i have been using farmworks software and have had very good luck with it. It is a field management software and accounting all in one. It is very easy to use. They offer online classes as well as school classes to enroll in which are very informative. Good luck!

[Chad Berger]

Jamie Guffy said:

For the last couple of years i have been using farmworks software and have had very good luck with it. It is a field management software and accounting all in one. It is very easy to use. They offer online classes as well as school classes to enroll in which are very informative. Good luck!

I have used Farmworks, for several years now. It can be overwhelming until you start to learn it. As Jamie said it is your field management & accounting all in one.

[Glen Groth]

I am just beginning to use PC MARS as i have enrolled in MN's farm business management program. I have been quite happy so far. It is strictly financial, but totally geard towards Ag. PC MARS was developed by Iowa's farm business program. I believe it costs around $250, which is on the low end for farm aqccounting software. These businesses that sell these programs a simply do not sell enough copies in a year to keep the costs any lower.
Sorry, but i would never consider using a website to track my farm's performance. Internet service is not 100% reliable, i would hate to be in the middle of entering something just to lose it, not to mention hacking and a monthly subscriber fee. My primary business is dairy and DHIA uses Dairy Comp 305 to keep track of my dairy herd performance. It is simply the industry benchmark for herd managment software, but costs well over $1000 to get your own copy.

[David Ernst]

Glenn, I am in the IL farm business management program and and finished my first year with the record book. I know they offered PC mars and have thought about it. Is it similar to the record book and if there are differences what are they?

[Doug Lantz]

I have been using Farmworks (www.farmworks.com) for their Trac and Site programs. We farm 17,000+ acres, so using Excel to keep everything straight is not even an option. We needed something that could sort data in multiple ways, as well as filter from year to year, crop to crop, supply to supply, etc. Farmworks has come through in a huge way, and I am really satisfied with what they have to offer. They update their software usually every month or two, and if you sign up for the support package, those updates come automatically, as well as free tech support year-round. I attended the classes when I was first starting out, and that really helps you get a head start on using the features. They offer advanced classes as well so youy can go in-depth on some of the more complicated features.

We also use Centerpoint for our accounting software.

[billy Rose]

For grain marketing and tracking profitability we use Growers Edge. "http://www.growers-edge.com" www.growers-edge.com
Finds best cash or forward contract net of freight and or storage, tracks average price of crops sold, compares to profit plan and tells us what we need to sell the rest of the crop for to meet profit goal.

Its free!