It's a new day for a human occupation as old as humanity itself: that's right, farm management software and technology provides a new era for agricultural leaders in all industries from dairy to crop farming. Different software for managing a farm can provide specialized, targeted tactics for getting the most out of a farm's infrastructure.

Different kinds of farmers use technology in radically different ways to improve their management practices in the twenty first century. Online vendors help with specific farm and ranch management software packages for different farming scenarios, including:

1. Using farm financial farm management software for keeping the books in the black and managing resources for leverage and profit.

2. Using crop farm management computer programs to provide a road map for planting and future goals.

3. Using livestock or animal farm management software for keeping great records on the living inventory in an animal farm.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get financial agricultural management software solutions

One popular way agricultural management software contributes to farms is in basic and specialized accounting. Almost all industries lean on technology to provide details on finances, and farming is no exception. It's amazing to see how many farmers unfamiliar with technologies have now implemented trouble free farm management software in their farms.

I recommend: Get Center Point Ag software from Redwing to find out which parts of your farm are generating the most revenue for charting future growth. Get more on financial planning for farms from Halderman Consulting.

Look for GIS and agricultural management software for crop management

Here's a particular application of technology to the farming process for those who are plating crops: field GIS and software solutions provide spatial monitoring of crops to optimize yields and profits. Find out more about these innovative tools for getting the most out of your acreage.

I recommend: Get details on field GIS for crops and other farm software from the educational online Ohio Geospatial Program resource. Get more on crop software like FieldReconn from AgRenaissance, a site participating in bringing new solutions to the table for crop farmers.

Find solutions for livestock or stable use for animal farming with barn management software

Another special software and planning application for ag is in the realm of livestock or animal farming. From equine operations to cattle and sheep or goat farming, specific firms offer programs and solutions for the right use of barn management software.

I recommend: Keep your stable records in the clear with CLW Enterprises: "Computer Options for Horse People". For other barn management software, check out farm business software from Lion Edge technologies.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  In addition to looking at the specifics of how a farm will use a certain kind of agricultural management software, it's important to think about who will be managing these programs. Multi-generation farms do not always have an appointed CEO or even a real business plan-along with agricultural management software, work out the rest of your farm operation for real modernization and an efficient future.

Today's volatile agricultural market requires that farm managers employ the use of farm management software to increase yield and limit expenditures. Small farms, especially, need every advantage technology has to offer when competing in a market where family farms are quickly being obliterated by commercial operations.

The best farm management solution these days is for small producers to use the same farm management program used by the big boys. As you delve into researching software for farm management, keep in mind:

1. Your operation's size and scope

2. Your experience using farm software

3. Budget and potential return on investment due to increased yield or production efficiency

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Assess your needs: download free farm management software trials and demos

Software for managing a farm can cost a lot of money, so spend time now researching available farm management computer programs before you buy. Downloading demos and trials can be the best way to compare software options, explore features specific to your production needs and determine the best program to fit your technical skills.

I recommend: Register for a 30-day free trial download of Farm Keeper. Download a demonstration of Farm Trends Farming Software to see if it has all the features you'll need.

Get specific: seek out production-driven software for farm management and planning

You may decide to implement a farm management program that involves more than one software tool. Consider building a farm business plan to set goals and assess your specific business needs before you commit to farm business software. A good business plan could even land you a loan for purchasing high-end farm management software for mobile technology integration. Explore application-specific farm software depending on your primary crop or species.

I recommend: Get started with PlanMagic Farm Business Planning software, a must for anyone seeking farm credit. View a demo of Farm Files by farm management application, including chemicals, fertilizer, trucking, breeding, purchasing and selling livestock. CattleMax provides time-tested farm and ranch management software for high-yield cattle ranching and feedlot operations.

Go mobile: purchase a farm management solution integrating the latest technology

Tech-savvy farm managers want to be mobile. Contact agricultural management software dealers who can address commercial farming needs such as aerial or satellite imaging, productivity and nutrient need mapping, and on-demand GPS mobile data and desktop sync capabilities.

I recommend: View an online demonstration of Farm Works Software's farm management computer programs such as iPAQ, a bundle for mobile GPS-driven farm research and record-keeping that can even help you drive your tractor better. Find a dealer in your area selling SST Stratus and Summit, farm management programs that use the latest technological integration systems in customizable format with comprehensive installation, support and training.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Most farm and barn management software contains an accounting feature that will help you track expenses and equipment depreciation. Visit with your tax professional when trying out the different farm business software versions to determine which one best suits your operation's needs.

Using software for managing a farm sometimes requires extensive education and training, especially for larger ranches. Whether you can find your way on your own or not, you should consider hiring professional instructors to give you confidence using new farm management application.

Farm and ranch management software may comprise general software applications that have been customized to meet farming requirements and uses. There are many benefits to taking training courses online or on-site, attending seminars or tradeshows or otherwise receiving farming software training, such as:

1. Adapting popular, well-known applications to work for the agriculture industry and your farm in particular.

2. Retaining the option of outsourcing such operations as accounting full-time or for limited tasks such as year-end tax filing.

3. Gaining confidence using your current or new farm management program.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get trained on farm business software from the source

No one knows a software program better than the manufacturer, so there's a reason why many farms and ranches choose to be trained from their farm management solution provider.

I recommend: Farm Works Software publishes their annual training schedule online so you can find the specific classes and dates that work best for you and your staff. Vertical Solutions comes to your farm to setup the software for farm management, and also holds on-site and in-house training courses.

Find remote training for barn management software

If you use a purchased or free farm management software from a provider that isn't nearby, or if you prefer the flexibility of training remotely, you can get educated by long distance.

I recommend: Martens Farms customizes their remote training options to fit your particular Farm Works product and agricultural needs. Training can vary from beginning to advanced users via phone or Internet. They also provide pricing right on their site. ProducePak knows all about remote training. They train customers worldwide with such tools as VoIP so that you and your staff get comfortable using whatever software package you purchase from them.

Get farm management software education and training for finances

If your main purpose for agricultural management software is to provide financial planning, then find training that focuses on that topic using proven accounting software that's highly recommended by other professionals in the farming industry.

I recommend: Oklahoma State University offers affordable workshops to educate farmers how to adapt Quicken for use in farm and ranch bookkeeping. This training helps the agriculture industry members customize the software to meet their very specific operating requirements. Browse customer reviews to see if Red Wing Software classroom training is what you're looking for.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Attending agriculture tradeshows can easily put together many farm management computer programs and knowledgeable training services in one place for you to shop around, compare rates and possibly receive discounts.

Farm management software is an application, or culmination of integrated applications, focused on managing your farm business. As you know, there are many duties associated with running a farm, and many of them are equally significant. In order to run a smooth business, all these parts need to run like clockwork.

The right farm management software can help you manage and organize your farm. However, with so much competition for farm management software, it is imperative to learn the fundamentals that make one better than the other for your business needs. To do this, you need to understand farm management software key terms. When the time comes to invest in a management solution, you will be confident you have chosen the one for you.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Mapping

Describes the method of charting your fields for the best, most profitable crop and fertilizer scenarios. Mapping is predominantly determined by soil type.

I recommend: SST Software discusses the benefits of its mapping capabilities, which include yield and soil type mapping.

Record keeping

The act of keeping notes on farming jobs, including tilling, planting, fertilizing and other stages of farming. Many programs also allow you to record when these jobs were completed, how long they took, and other factors.

I recommend: FarmLogic is a farm management software that specializes in recording keeping tools. The company lays out an extensive list of all the record keeping methods it offers.

Data integration

Data integration refers to the way information is shared between colleagues, business partners and departments.

I recommend: ERSI explains the benefits of data integration and how its Arc applications could provide the necessary management tools for farmers.

Crops

These are the products farmers grow, whether that be vegetables or corn. Crops can be the only products a farmer harvests, or they can be among other goods produced, such as dairy products or meat.

I recommend: FarmFiles features Crops, a farm management application that focuses on crops, including field mapping, harvesting, chemicals and planting.

Portable livestock management

Portable livestock management describes a system of managing livestock using a portable mechanism. Livestock management includes tracking animals, vet appointments and detailed records on each animal.

I recommend: Martens Farms features a presentation on the numerous benefits of its handheld application, Farm Stock Mate, which can be integrated with farm Works.

Aerial field images

Many farm management software programs allow you to incorporate a bird's eye view of your farm into planning and mapping applications.

I recommend: John Deere's farm management software, Apex, allows you to overlay an aerial photo with a farm map for a better idea of what's on the ground. This is only for farmers whose land has been photographed from above.