According to soy checkoff research, farmers actively use technology in soybean production. Ninety-six percent of farmers use data collected as direct input for management decisions, and 91 percent use some type of digital tool or service.
Although many farmers embrace components of data management, there’s still a large number who have yet to fully integrate all facets of such a program. Perhaps the biggest reason for the lack of full integration is simply not knowing where to begin.
United Soybean Board farmer-leader William Layton implemented Granular to help manage their farm’s data nearly two years ago. He spent six months researching a variety of software products before making a move.
“I did a lot of research online and narrowed my list down to four, based on the goals I had in mind,” says Layton. He then wrote a list of questions, covering everything from price to functions and took his list to the Farm Progress Show where he interviewed representatives to help him make his final decision.
Illinois soybean farmer Kirk Liefer had a bit of an easier path. His farm was already using Farm Works mapping software and SMS management software in addition to relying on their own fertilizer records and local co-ops for area-specific data.
“Having all our data in three or four different systems wasn’t efficient,” says Liefer.
So, being a Pioneer dealer, he opted to implement Encirca from DuPont which combines mapping, yield data and recordkeeping.
“It has been kind of exciting because we are finally able to put all our data in one location that fits our needs,” says Liefer. “The final piece of the puzzle was implementing Granular [which adds satellite mapping] this past winter. It has made things even easier to compare data from prior years.”
Ohio soybean farmer Greg McGlinch took another approach to find software for his farm’s data management.
“For a smaller farm, it takes time to implement some of the more complex systems and the cost is tough,” McGlinch says. “It’s not economical for smaller farms.”
Approximately two years ago, McGlinch received a walk-through of Farmlogs, a free data management platform. “It was simple to use, and it does what I need it to,” he says. “You can add upgrades, but for me, the free version has been a good fit.”
Regardless of your farm size and budget, Daniel Barker, Ph.D. in the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Department of Agronomy, suggests treating the selection process just as you would if you were choosing a new service provider or even a piece of farm equipment you’d need daily. “Find a system you genuinely like to use,” he advises. “Tools on the farm you like are used all the time and are worth the cost and effort.”
If you’re ready to explore data management software for your farm, Barker, Liefer, Layton and McGlinch have this advice to offer:
- Know what you want to accomplish. Is recordkeeping for regulatory issues most important to you, or are you looking to improve crop management? “The key is knowing what you want the software to do for you,” says Liefer. “Do you want the whole package to analyze every in and out of your operation, or do you just want information to fertilize better? It’s important to know exactly what you need from the start.” Make a list of the top two to three goals you want data management to help you achieve.
- Do your homework. Go online to explore capabilities and build lists of questions to use when talking with representatives about various software offerings. Barker says, “Find a software platform that meets your needs. Consider cost, ease of use, data tools offered, data privacy, desktop vs. cloud, mobility across devices and available telematics [how data is downloaded, transferred and moved]. Also, consider a platform that could share data with trusted advisors or local agronomist.”
- Talk it out. “Don’t just rush out and buy a software product without talking to others on your farm,” Liefer says. “Make sure you have a willingness from your whole team to use it. It won’t work if only a half the people working on your farm are inputting good data or using the data to make decisions. It would be a waste without everyone being on board.”
- Ensure you’ll have product support. “It’s important to have good support with the software you chose,” says Liefer. “Some operations aren’t as tech savvy as others, and some will need more hand-holding. Find the company that provides the level of support you’ll need.”
- Try it out. Before you invest your hard-earned money, ask the developer of the program you’re most interested in for a trial. Or McGlinch suggests trying a free online platform first, then moving on to more advanced programs or upgrading from the free version. “Try it online with just one field or just 50 or 100 acres,” he says. “If you jump in with everything you have, you’ll hate it. It’s a lot to input and get used to.”
Click here to see more...