Farm Profitability

Technology is virtually everywhere – in grocery store checkout lines, cell phones, and yes, in agriculture.  In fact, according to the N.A.S.S. (the National Agricultural Statistics Service), computer access by agricultural operatons have more than doubled in the past decade, and you can bet that those numbers will exponentially increase over time.

There’s an increased need to control production costs, so computerize record management is a huge asset in any agricultural business endeavor.   So among the many products available that can do everything from basic record keeping to creating profit and loss projections, how do you choose the right farm profitability software that’s going to streamline your business most effectively?

Think Grids.  G.R.I.D.S., that is, which stands for Goals, Resources, Information, Demo Packages, and Support:

Goals: What is your overall intent for the software?  Will you use it for payroll accounts and / or invoicing?  Will it be keeping tracking of inventory?  Production costs?  All of the above?  Whatever its primary function(s), write ‘em down on a list that will be helpful in referring to later.

Resources: You want to make sure that the farm profitability software matches the computer resources that you have available.  It does no good to invest in software that won’t function on ten-year old computers – and in this case, it might be necessary to update your computer hardware.  The inverse is true, of course – there’s no point in purchasing outdated software.

Information: Gather as much information as possible in terms of what software other local producers are using, and if they’re happy with it.  Research software packages and each of their specifications.  Find out if there are added costs if you plan on installing the same software on multiple computer workstations.   Are upgrades available, how often, and are there costs for  them, or a yearly renewal expense ?

Demo Packages:  Most qualify software developers have demo or trial versions available for their products.  This is a great way to get familiar with the software’s interface and evaluate its basic basic functions.

Support:   One very important aspect of software is the level of support that a software developer offers.  Find out what’s available – is it phone support, email support, and / or training guides and how-to manuals?  How are materials made available?  Look into any hidden costs that may be involved with support issues.

Making the right decision in farm profitability software can be simple if you apply the above concepts before purchasing.    And remember – to truly maximize the technology of most software, you have to use it regularly.  Make sure that your chosen software is easy to use, along with fitting the needs of your business.