Agriculture Software Key Terms

Understand the terms used in farm-business planning software

Farm-business planning can be made simple using agriculture software programs that consolidate many of the short-term and long-term planning tasks required in farming and ranching. While many agriculture software programs are designed to be user friendly and easily learned on any computer, farm-business planning software also contains a number of functions that deal with highly specialized business concepts. Knowing some key terms for agriculture software functions will help your farming business get the best use of these programs.

 

Agriculture accounting software

Agriculture accounting software is designed to perform a range of basic accounting functions for farming and ranching enterprises. Agriculture accounting software helps farmers track livestock, feed and seed costs, crop insurance and risk management, billing, payments and other financial functions.
Try: Farm Books Accounting Software gives a short explanation of each of the features common to agriculture accounting software programs.

Production efficiency

Production efficiency is a feature of agriculture software programs that keeps records of the inputs and outputs of a farm or ranch to analyze and manage the efficiency of the farming process. Production efficiency produces reports to help farmers make decisions about profitable produce and effective practices.
Try: Poultry Hub provides a definition of production efficiency within a poultry farming context.

Traceability

Traceability is the ability to keep track of food products through every step of the farming and manufacture of food items. Most agriculture software programs include a traceability function that helps farmers keep records of the source of their livestock and seed so that they can report to regulatory bodies concerned about bioterrorism and public health.
Try: For more information, visit the Produce Marketing Association.

Mobile mapping

Mobile mapping is a feature used by many agriculture software programs to assist farmers in mapping their fields or crop parcels and managing a given land area. Most mobile mapping services in agriculture software use GPS technology and require the use of a portable computer, phone or other device with an Internet or satellite-positioning connection.
Try: Trimble provides an overview of what mobile mapping entails in agriculture software.

Feed tracking

Feed tracking is a feature offered by agriculture software that allows farmers to track the amount of feed purchased and used while managing feed use based on type of feed, type of livestock, location, source and cost.
Try: Blue Claw Database Design offers more information on how feed tracking works in agriculture software.

Farm-business planning

Farm-business planning, one of the key uses for agriculture software, uses a number of factors to help farmers create short-term and long-term management strategies for their farming enterprise and set business goals.
Try: Read more about farm-business planning software, coursework and other tools from the New England Small Farm Institute.

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