Tools and Technology
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Calculators
Farming Calculators
Free online tools offer farmers the opportunity to make quick and efficient calculations.
- On the Johnny’s Selected Seeds website, you’ll find interactive tools for calculating how much seed you need for a given crop, as well as spring, fall, and succession planting dates, crop harvest dates, and the costs of caterpillar tunnels. Find them at http://www.johnnyseeds.com/t-InteractiveTools.aspx?source=GrowGuide.
- Nick Andrews and Dan Sullivan of Oregon State University developed the OSU Organic Fertilizer and Cover Crop calculator to help farms estimate nitrogen mineralization from organic fertilizers and cover crops. The calculator is available at http://smallfarms.oregonstate.edu/calculator and an eOrganic webinar about it can be found at http://www.extension.org/pages/26919/estimating-plant-available-nitrogen-contribution-from-cover-crops-webinar.
- The Shades of Green Dairy Farm Calculator, developed by The Organic Center, projects the environmental, animal health, production, and economic consequences of dairy farm management system options. The calculator can be found at http://www.organic-center.org/sog.html, and Chuck Benbrook’s webinar explaining the background of the calculator and how it works can be found at http://www.extension.org/pages/31790/shades-of-green-dairy-farm-calculator-webinar.
Software
AgSquared: Software System for Small Farmers
The system was created by two Cornell graduates, Jeff Froikin Gordon and Giulia Stellari. “Record keeping has been an age old problem,” says Gordon. “With sustainable practices, there’s a lot more to think about. For a long time, if you had a problem, you could just spray better chemicals. Now you have to think about what you can do to make the soil stronger, or introduce beneficial insects.” Beyond basic accounting of seeds in and fruits out, the computer system integrates U.S. soil data and weather mapping, and even makes analyses and recommendations based on best practices and eventually the collective wisdom of the community. http://agsquared.com/.
Cell Phone Apps for Farmers – Use Your Phone to Help Organize Your Farm
Technology never stops developing – especially mobile technology – and thanks to that, there is a dizzying array of applications available for our mobile devices. Here are a few apps we think might benefit the tech-savvy farmer.
- SoilWeb by Dylan Beaudette gives users GPS-based, real-time access to USDA-NRCS soil survey data. This app retrieves graphical summaries of soil types associated with the user’s current geographic location. Images are linked to detailed information on the named soils. (Price: Free; Available for iPhone & Android)
- Farmer’s Partner by Bruce Gordon aims to be your “friend in the field”. The app allows users to input dozens of variables to create an overview of farm operations. (Price: $4.99; Available for Android)
- DriveSafe.ly by iSpeech will read texts and emails aloud to you so that you can keep your mind – and hands – on the wheel when on the road or in the field. Can be used with Bluetooth headsets and has customizable features to al-low auto-responding via voice. (Price: Free version is available as well as a Pro version for $3.99/month; Availa-ble for iPhone& Blackberry, with an Android version on the horizon)
- Pro Dairy Event by Smart Farm Apps, Ltd allows users to view and track current and historical data by herd or by individual cow. Set reminders for vet calls, milking times and more! One nice feature is that connectivity is not re-quired to enter data – you can enter right from the field even without service! (Price: $12.85; Available for Android & iPhone )
- Smart Farm Apps, Ltd also has two newly released applications for farmers – Pro Grass Rotation and Pro Cattle Breeding. Each will work similarly to the Dairy Event app by allowing farmers to track data related to paddock and grazing management and cattle herd management, respectively.
With a cell phone or tablet becoming a daily tool for more and more farmers, take some time to see what’s out there that could help you work more efficiently! For more information, please contact Jenny Brown at the Center for Sustainable Ag.
The Square App
Innovative technology for direct market farmers – The Square Accessing every possible sale is a common goal for direct market farmers. How many times have you watched potential customers slip away when they find out you only accept cash? Do you want to capture more sales at market or your roadside stand? Do you want a portable credit card machine that is free, easy to use, and gets you paid faster? The Square is a free device and application for iOS and Android devices. The tiny white, plastic square plugs into the audio jack of your device and allows you to quickly and easily slide Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American express credit or credit/debit cards. The free application turns your device into a mobile cash register, receipts are sent immediately to the customer via email, transactions deposited into your bank account in 1 day. You pay a flat fee of 2.75% per swipe. Easy to learn, and very secure (no personal customer information is stored on your device), and a great way to maximize use of your smart phone or tablet computer. www.squareup.com.
Cell Phone Apps for Farmers – Use Your Phone to Help Organize Your Farm
Technology never stops developing – especially mobile technology – and thanks to that, there is a dizzying array of applications available for our mobile devices. Here are a few apps we think might benefit the tech-savvy farmer.
- SoilWeb by Dylan Beaudette gives users GPS-based, real-time access to USDA-NRCS soil survey data. This app retrieves graphical summaries of soil types associated with the user’s current geographic location. Images are linked to detailed information on the named soils. (Price: Free; Available for iPhone & Android)
- Farmer’s Partner by Bruce Gordon aims to be your “friend in the field”. The app allows users to input dozens of variables to create an overview of farm operations. (Price: $4.99; Available for Android)
- DriveSafe.ly by iSpeech will read texts and emails aloud to you so that you can keep your mind – and hands – on the wheel when on the road or in the field. Can be used with Bluetooth headsets and has customizable features to al-low auto-responding via voice. (Price: Free version is available as well as a Pro version for $3.99/month; Availa-ble for iPhone& Blackberry, with an Android version on the horizon)
- Pro Dairy Event by Smart Farm Apps, Ltd allows users to view and track current and historical data by herd or by individual cow. Set reminders for vet calls, milking times and more! One nice feature is that connectivity is not re-quired to enter data – you can enter right from the field even without service! (Price: $12.85; Available for Android & iPhone )
- Smart Farm Apps, Ltd also has two newly released applications for farmers – Pro Grass Rotation and Pro Cattle Breeding. Each will work similarly to the Dairy Event app by allowing farmers to track data related to paddock and grazing management and cattle herd management, respectively.
With a cell phone or tablet becoming a daily tool for more and more farmers, take some time to see what’s out there that could help you work more efficiently! For more information, please contact Jenny Brown at the Center for Sustainable Ag.
Seed to Harvest: a new iPhone Application
Seed to Harvest is a new application for iPhone and iPod touch that simplifies and streamlines record-keeping for natural and organic farmers. Seed to Harvest allows you to record detailed planting information including cultivar, location, amount, date, and an unlimited number of transplanting records, as well as allowing you to track inputs, harvest records, and sales by cultivar and location. You can download the “lite” version for free by searching for “Seed to Harvest” on the Apple App Store. More details are also available at www.alexsoftwaredevelopment.com/SeedToHarvest.aspx.
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