Why use specialist software to help with crop record keeping and management?
Farmers have the unenviable task of needing to keep records to meet legislative requirements. Using software to store records and provide traceability can reduce the stress of inspections but with the right software those records can be turned into valuable information.
Statutory management requirements, environmental stewardship schemes, controls on the storage and use of fertilisers and manures, and LERAP's all mean you could undergo an inspection at any time. Farmers that receive funding whether it's from the single farm payment scheme, rural development grants or environmental stewardship schemes risk losing a percentage of their funding if they can't demonstrate compliance.
"To derive a compliant nutrient management and pesticide plan a farmer may commonly use PLANET, soil sampling results, agronomists and historical output as well as the farmers own essential knowledge and experience" commented Farmplan's Ian Jenkins. "Balancing pesticide and nutrient compliance with optimum yield and quality is a return on investment priority."
GateKeeper uses the PLANET software so you can easily see what nutrients can legally be applied. The software can also calculate the maximum nutrient that should be added to a field and help ensure planned applications are within RB209 and Nmax limits.
"Farmers and agronomists that work closely together will want to be able to exchange information relating to nutrient and pesticide planning" says Ian who's from a farming background. "You can share relevant details directly through the GateKeeper crop management software removing the need to type the agronomist's recommendations into the system" (your agronomist must have a compatible software package, ask for details). With the optional Sentinel Active module you can also verify that your planned pesticide applications meet the legal requirements prior to application.
"If you currently enter the same sort of data in more than one place, for example, on paper records and/or multiple software packages, you can avoid duplicate recording by using GateKeeper. By entering a fertiliser plan into GateKeeper, for example, it will check to see if the plan falls within the RB209 limits. When the job is finished it will record how much nutrient has been applied and make RB209, NVZ and Nmax entries which means you avoid the need to record these seperately."
It's easy to see historical positive and negative outcomes of past product applications when using GateKeeper. This is because when pesticides and nutrients are recorded for legal purposes such as the date of application, temperature, rainfall, impact on the crop following application and the harvest yield, all the information is in one place which can be extremely useful for future planning.
"Good cropping software will make information easily accessibly during inspections" says Ian. Information you've recorded such as soil test results; the type of nutrient or pesticide you've added to a field; how you've added the product to the field; relevant weather conditions; harvest details; and any traceability records such as suppliers, products used, expiry dates, transportation and customers can be found in just a few clicks. The software can also generate a wide variety of reports on demand which can be shown to inspectors and be used to aid general business management.
Although paper and spreadsheets are an option there is a greater risk of mistakes, it can take longer to find information and be harder to consolidate the information for business management.
Through its record keeping, searchability and reporting functionality, GateKeeper cropping software can make it easier to demonstrate compliance and simpler to plan for the future.
For more information about GateKeeper cropping software contact us on 01594 545000 or email sales@farmplan.co.uk.