Lessons in Collaboration from AGRITECHNICA

Piers Costley Vice President of Operations, Ag Solutions at Proagrica

Towards the end of last year, the Proagrica team had the privilege of attending AGRITECHNICA, the world’s leading fair for agricultural machinery. This event was particularly meaningful to us, as we were honoured with an invitation from John Deere to proudly represent Proagrica on their stand.

This experience proved invaluable, as it presented a unique opportunity to engage directly with our customers and other industry leaders. AGRITECHNICA usually serves as an industry melting pot for meaningful conversations and the fostering of new relationships, and this was the case yet again. I wanted to share my thoughts following another successful event.  

Our Time with John Deere

Our relationship with John Deere continues to grow from strength to strength, with the latest integration between the Proagrica Farmplan Gatekeeper software and the John Deere Operations CenterTM signifying even more progress. This tool has proven instrumental in alleviating the challenges farmers encounter when executing workplans, particularly concerning variable rate application maps.

Through this latest development, the team had the opportunity to join the John Deere stand at AGRITECHNICA and highlight this integration. The stand generated a huge amount of interest and footfall over the course of the event. It also served as the prime setting for practical demonstrations, catering to both existing and potential customers. These demonstrations illustrated the ease of the Gatekeeper tool and how it can deliver tangible value to farmers in the field, enabling them to optimise the use of their existing resources.

Beyond the Stand

Away from our activities on the stand, AGRITECHNICA was vast, with over 2,800 exhibitors and five stages. Many of our Proagrica partners were also present, including Ag Leader, Kubota, CNH, and AGCO. Engaging in discussions with these partners presented another valuable opportunity to underscore the importance of the Gatekeeper software in farm management, highlighting its capabilities and advantages. A central focus of these conversations was the integration prowess of the Gatekeeper software, given its ability to integrate with a wide range of industry-leading manufacturers and service providers. This feature empowers farmers to utilise devices and machinery that align precisely with their business needs.

Events such as AGRITECHNICA serve as platforms for exchanging ideas, showcasing innovations, and forging partnerships. Through these events, we can spotlight our work, and the value we can provide for farmers to thrive in this evolving agriculture ecosystem.

Looking back at the event, I would like to express how proud we are of our partnership with John Deere to date. It’s a collaboration that resonates deeply with Proagrica’s commitment to delivering genuine solutions that truly benefit our customers.

As we embark on our journey into 2024, we are eager to sustain our collaborative efforts with our valued partners such as John Deere. We are also committed to having a strong presence at industry events, including LAMMA 2024, which we have just attended.

We look forward to continuing to shape the future of agriculture through shared knowledge and collaborative partnerships.

To learn more about the value our partnership with John Deere can bring to you, contact us here.

Looking back at a year of innovation: An end of year message from Piers Costley

As we approach the close of another year, I find myself reflecting on the key challenges and successes for the agriculture industry, and the customers we serve.

Piers Costley, VP of Operations

The dynamic field we work in ensures that no two years are the same, and this is the case once again when I look back at 2023. We continue to see significant pressures on farmers and growers to achieve efficiencies in the UK, as well as globally. Regardless of the size of the operation, we know our customers need support to maximise their performance now more than ever.

I take pride in the fact we have provided this support across the year through numerous product milestones, including the continued rollout of Farmplan Business Cloud, our latest advancements for Gatekeeper, and our Hardware and IT offerings going from strength to strength.

As our industry becomes more digital and connected, so must our solutions. Whilst offering future-fit support, we know we need to ensure that we take our customers with us on this journey. Our focus is to collaborate and work hand in hand with those who use our products, ensuring a constant dialogue so that our users benefit from the solutions we create.

Looking back on how we have listened and collaborated with our customers in 2023, I have to call out our successful Farmplan Business Cloud (FBC) Roadshow events. Our team held 12 in-person events  to educate and share the benefits of FBC. Meeting our customers face to face is the lifeblood of how we continue to create our innovative solutions, and receiving questions and dialogue firsthand is crucial. I can’t wait for the next series of these events that we have planned for 2024. Understandably, not everyone can always be there in person, and for those customers we were proud to have held several webinars too. I am delighted that over 600 users are already onboarded with FBC on the back of these events, and we look forward to welcoming even more of our customers to the platform in the new year.

Reflecting on Gatekeeper, we pride ourselves on how the customer voice has helped us develop this product from day one. Thousands of growers, agronomists and industry partners have been consulted to date, and this product continues to adapt to our customers’ needs. This year we were proud to unveil the latest integration between our software with the John Deere Operations CenterTM, allowing farmers additional tools to manage the demands of compliance and traceability.  Looking ahead to 2024, we will continue to develop Gatekeeper in line with the latest needs of the industry, enabling growers to increase yields and find efficiencies.

Finally, I want to call out an incredibly busy year for our Hardware and IT offering. 2023 has seen a huge amount of vital work carried out to support our customers, with our anti-virus software upgrades and our network installations in particular having extremely strong uptake across the year.

I close the year feeling incredibly optimistic for 2024. At Progarica Farmplan, our success is directly linked to our customers’ success. We remain committed to equipping farmers and growers with innovative solutions that enable sustainable growth for their businesses, and we cannot wait to continue this journey next year in full collaboration with our customers.

From everyone here at Farmplan, I wish you and your families a fantastic Christmas break, and a happy New Year.

Latest developments in agronomic and business data solutions on show at LAMMA 2024

Farmplan is set to attend LAMMA 2024 on the 17th and 18th January, showcasing farm business management solutions that enable farmers, growers and agricultural business owners to make informed decisions that drive productivity and profitability.

Among the solutions on display on stand 520 in hall 10 will be Farmplan’s Gatekeeper crop management solution. Gatekeeper enables farmers and growers to manage records, analyse performance and improve workflow efficiency in crop management activities. Farmplan announced in early 2023 that was set for significant development to accelerate the release of enhanced cloud functionality, offering an easy to use online crop recording system designed for compliance, traceability and crop input record keeping.

Farmplan also makes data transferring for Gatekeeper more seamless with the integration of different machinery manufacturers. This enables farmers and growers to connect their agricultural machinery with agricultural software solutions, offering more efficiencies when in the field. This will be demonstrated in the Connectivity Corner of the stand at LAMMA with the latest integrations from leading machinery manufacturers such as John Deere’s Operation Center and Agrirouter.  

The team will also be showcasing Farmplan Business Cloud (FBC), the online accounting software package specifically designed for farming. FBC enables users to streamline financial management processes and provides additional business and enterprise performance visibility. This cloud-based software is better suited to the needs of the market and is future-proofed for the forthcoming MTD for ITSA (Making Tax Digital, Income Tax Self-Assessment) requirements from HMRC.

Ben Hatton, Sales and Key Account Manager

Cloud options are becoming ever-present throughout all businesses, and keeping systems connected, and integrated, helps customers to stay on top of the financial and administration side of running their business as well as the day-to-day decision-making demands of farming life.

“We are delighted to be returning to LAMMA for 2024, and are delighted to be able to continue to support this pivotal agricultural event,” says Ben Hatton, Sales and Key Account Manager for Farmplan. “Our mission for 2024 is to support our customers with their upgrade to cloud-based farm management software. So if you’re looking to move to our cloud solutions or are interested in finding out more about our plans for the future, visit our stand and we’ll talk you through your next steps. We want to support our customers in the switch to our cloud base solutions, making it as easy and stress-free as possible.”

FBC provides a comprehensive financial management solution for farmers and growers alike, enabling them to manage their finances, track their expenses, and generate reports. Recent customer feedback received suggests that FBC being specifically designed for farming businesses gives it great strength, and the insights it provides can support informed business decisions in a user-friendly and quick manner backed by a dedicated support team. If you would like to understand more about how our solutions can help maximise your farm’s performance and optimise growth, visit the Farmplan stand at LAMMA 2024.

Field Applications Powered by YAGRO

Andy Wolff, Gatekeeper Product Manager

Field Applications Powered by YAGRO

Customers of both Gatekeeper and YAGRO can now save time and effort when passing field operation data between the two systems. Farmplan and YAGRO have worked together to create a new report in Gatekeeper, which is designed specifically to let users handle and manage the exchange of data into the YAGRO platform.

‘Field applications powered by YAGRO’, found in Gatekeeper’s analysis module, enables users to extract their data in the right format for YAGRO. The resulting file can then be uploaded into the YAGRO platform without requiring any further management.

Head of Product, Edwin van Leeuwen from YAGRO commented, “Users have been able to extract their data from Gatekeeper in a variety of ways in the past, but now they have a dedicated report which provides all the necessary information for them to fully utilise YAGRO’s analysis tools.”

Andy Wolff, Gatekeeper Product Manager adds, “We are delighted to work with YAGRO to help provide a resolution to a pain point for their customers. In just a few clicks data can be prepared in the right format and template to enable smooth input and analysis in the YAGRO systems.”

There is no need to unlock or request the new report – all Gatekeeper users will receive this enhancement. To collect it, just make sure your system is synchronised and up-to-date.

Are you an existing Gatekeeper user and want to explore the new YAGRO reporting tool?

Visit: Dedicated Gatekeeper Data Export Function where you will also find details on how to upload your data to the YAGRO Platform.

Improving efficiency in the field with a smart data workflow

  • It is often challenging to execute workplans precisely and in an easy way, especially when it comes to variable rate application maps.
  • The integration between Proagrica’s Farmplan Gatekeeper software and John Deere Operations Center™ creates the ability for farmers to share and execute data much faster, maximise income streams, enable seamless recording, and allows access to insight for informed management decisions.

UK farmers benefit from the long-standing relationship between Proagrica and John Deere. Both partners have now improved the workflow through the integration of Proagrica’s Farmplan Gatekeeper software and the John Deere Operations Center™. This integration enables seamless data recording and gives farmers access to insights that can help them drive efficiency and make informed management decisions..

Smart data workflow is a key issue when it comes to the acceptance of precision Ag technology. Today it is often challenging to execute workplans precisely and in an easy way, especially when it comes to variable rate application maps. The integration enables a direct transfer of Farmplan Gatekeeper jobs into John Deere Operations Center™, from where they can be sent straight down wirelessly to the machine. This makes execution much faster, saves time and supports collecting precise data.

Both Proagrica and John Deere are continuously developing better functionality in their tools for easy data management and sharing. This is something that will naturally evolve with the development of Gatekeeper Cloud, alongside further integrations creating the ability for farmers to share data and maximise income streams.

“Our partnership works so well because we have complementary strengths which benefit our farmers,” say Joedy Ibbotson, Division Business Manager and Brian D’Arcy, Division Sales Manager at John Deere. “John Deere delivers the machines, the technology, and the connectivity, and Farmplan Gatekeeper delivers the compliance, analytical capabilities, and integrations with agronomists and advisors. The two combine seamlessly providing farmers with invaluable business insights and ensuring decision making can be made with confidence.”

For Proagrica, the relationship with John Deere in the UK may not be new, but it’s a shared vision for their joint customers that’s set to develop further. “The continuing improvements in food production efficiency and sustainability that will be needed in the years ahead rely upon accurate information to drive change,” says Piers Costley, VP Operations at Proagrica Ag Solutions.

Our long-standing relationship with John Deere provides the joint thinking required by two leading organisations to ensure this happens in a way that delivers value to our farmer customers

Piers Costley, VP Operations

Boosting crop nutrition in challenging times

Farmers across Europe are confronted with pressing challenges, requiring them to boost crop productivity, while simultaneously reducing their reliance on synthetic fertilisers and minimising nutrient losses. With a transition to more nature friendly production methods alongside ever more unpredictable weather, the challenges are immense.

With that in mind, Proagrica, the company behind the UK’s leading crop management solution, Farmplan Gatekeeper, was delighted to be invited to join the NUTRI-CHECK NET project to bring its data integration expertise to help address these challenges.

The three-year EU-funded project is focused on improving nutrient management on arable farms, and will help growers adopt the best farm and field specific nutrient management practices.

Led by ADAS, an independent provider of agricultural and environmental advice, the project’s goal will be the creation of NUTRI-CHECK NET, a platform where growers will be able to find best practice nutrition tools, products, services, and recent research to help them manage crop nutrition.

How will it work?

Each participating country is forming Crop Nutrition Clubs (CNC) of interested farmers, to identify and share their current crop nutrition challenges. A National Expert Group (NEG) comprised of researchers, policy advisors, industry partners, and CNC representatives will then compile the best nutrition tools, services, commercial products, and recent research findings on the NUTRI-CHECK NET platform. The platform will be a ‘toolbox’ from which every grower can select the solution that best helps them meet their crop nutrition challenges.

The platform will provide access to the latest developments on nutrient management and information on best practice, so growers can make more precise crop nutrition decisions, no matter what farm system they employ.

Charley Burnell, Sentinel Product Manager

“Every farmer needs a level of nutrient management control,” says Charley Burnell, Sentinel Product Manager for Proagrica. “Whatever system they are in, they have to have the data points against which to measure their performance whilst ensuring they conform to national guidelines and legislative requirements.”

Making life easier for growers

This is where software like Farmplan Gatekeeper comes in. When it comes to nutrient management, growers who use Proagrica’s Farmplan Gatekeeper software are already in a good position. Now, Proagrica wants to make life even easier for growers to make good crop nutrition decisions in the future through their involvement with the NUTRI-CHECK NET project.

“Nutrient management can be an intensive process for growers and their advisors with all of its information gathering and calculations,” says Charley. “If you are a Gatekeeper user, you probably already have 90% of what you need to create a nutrient management plan, in one place. Growers don’t have to log into multiple locations to enter their data. We bring the industry-standard nutrient management tool to them, and we have one of the highest levels of integration into our program.”

It’s these high levels of integration that make Proagrica perfectly placed to help deliver this project.

Proagrica has a history of integrating Gatekeeper with widely-used nutrient management solutions: users currently have the choice of utilising either the PLANET algorithms from ADAS, or more recently the AHDB’s RB209 API. There are also more integrations and developments coming that reflect the ever-changing requirements of the agricultural industry.

An investment in our growers

“Getting involved with the project is a great way of demonstrating how we have our growers and their best interests in mind, and that we are at the forefront of progress in research and development,” says Charley.

The NUTRI-CHECK NET project is currently at the information gathering stage, but for Proagrica, the creation of a platform that widens the accessibility of nutrient management systems to every farm and field is an exciting prospect.

“It’s really encouraging that Proagrica has been asked to participate and really forward thinking of the project group to have involved us,” says Charley. “It shows that they are thinking about the challenges facing agriculture from a whole system perspective. It’s not just about the research or the findings, they are looking at the whole picture from best practice to transferring that knowledge onto farms and enabling its best use for as many growers as possible.”

More information about the NUTRI-CHECK NET project is available at www.nutri-checknet.eu

Software is our business, Farming is our focus.

Having the right software is vital to growing your business. Without it, modern farming can be challenging. For over 50 years, Farmplan has provided trusted farm management software for growers, agronomists and accountants and is here to help you confidently move your business foward.

What products do we offer?

We aim to make farming more efficient, so you can be more productive. Stay fully connected in the field and minimise time spent in the office with real-time cloud-based software solutions.

Business Cloud

Simply smarter farm business accounts software tailor-made for agriculture.

  • Simple to use & time-saving
  • Streamline collaboration with team
  • Automate transactions & reduce errors

Learn more about Farmplan Business Cloud

Gatekeeper

Complete crop recording and field management solutions for growers, agronomists and consultants.

  • Crop compliance, traceability & reporting
  • Full compatibility & integration
  • Connect with your agronomist

Learn more about Gatekeeper

Hardware and IT services

The right equipment for your business will get you working in no time.

  • Anti-virus software
  • Range of computers and accessories
  • Hardware support

Learn more about our hardware offerings

How we help businesses like yours overcome challenges

Over 8,500 farms, professionals and agricultural businesses are already reaping the rewards of a well-managed business with Farmplan software.

Farmplan has saved me hours of work, from neatly reporting to quick updates on the go.

Damian Barson, Tessleymoor Farming

Are you ready to boost productivity?

Get started today, book a 1-2-1 demo with our friendly customer services team, and find out how Farmplan solutions can help you achieve more with less.

New Gatekeeper integration with agrirouter offers improved connectivity for customers

  • This partnership will help to provide farmers with additional options to manage their data at a single point of access, supporting critical business decision-making. 
  • This new integration will connect Farmplan Gatekeeper users with more manufacturers and software than ever before.
  • agrirouter will be made available to Farmplan Gatekeeper users from 11th July 2023.

Farmplan, part of Proagrica, have today announced a new integration with agrirouter, which will provide Gatekeeper users with an expanded range of connectivity options and new ways to access and manage their data.

Incompatibility between IT systems is a growing problem in agriculture, leading to commercial inefficiencies for farmers, as technology improves, and data expands. However, this new integration allows farmers to gain better control over their data through a user-friendly interface that centralizes data management.

agrirouter, developed by the non-profit organization DKE-DATA, will provide Gatekeeper users with a new level of compatibility for their machines, allowing for efficient data exchange between multiple software systems. Farmers can have peace of mind knowing that they will remain independent and in control of their data through this integration, as agrirouter does not use the data it delivers.

The integration will enable Gatekeeper users to connect with a wider range of agricultural technology and equipment manufacturers, expanding wireless connectivity for their machines and software. Unlike before, users can now connect to platforms which were previously not compatible, such as Trimble,  AGCO, SDF, McCormick, Grimme, Amazone and Krone. In addition to this, agrirouter will also allow farmers working on the fields to send their data back to their software via the cloud. This streamlined process not only saves users valuable time and eliminates unnecessary hassle but also mitigates the risks associated with data duplication, loss, or corruption when transitioning between different systems.

With Farmplan set to roll out the agrirouter integration to precision farming customers, Piers Costley, VP Operations at Proagrica explained the benefit, “This integration is a hugely exciting development for Gatekeeper users. Updates to connectivity and compatibility for customers, as well as new levels of data control and visibility, will ultimately improve the efficiency and user experience for farmers using Gatekeeper across the UK.”

Johannes Sonnen, Managing Director at agrirouter, said “The digitisation of agriculture can only work if all companies in the agricultural industry pull together and bundle their know-how. In this way, the entire industry can provide customers – farmers and contractors – with more and more interoperable smart farming tools that enable farms to continuously optimize their food production processes while meeting legal, ecological and economic requirements. At Smart Farming Days in June 2023 (https://smartfarmingdays.com/), visitors were able to learn about smart farming tools that are already available today and those that will be available in the future.,”

This new integration between Gatekeeper and agrirouter will be available from 11th July 2023.

To learn more about Gatekeeper and Farmplan, please visit here.

To learn more about agrirouter, please visit https://agrirouter.com/en/