Your sheep and cattle software experience is about to be upgraded
Farmplan from Proagrica is pleased to announce a new partnership with Herdwatch. This collaboration will see current sheep and cattle software customers upgraded and transferred to the Herdwatch platform. The upgrade process for customers will start in June 2023.
Why are we upgrading this service?
For some time now, we have been assessing the livestock solutions on the market against our own range of cattle and sheep programs. Looking ahead, we know our customers need additional functionality and a tool that can help future-proof their business. We believe that Herdwatch is the platform that can best support this particular need. Herdwatch provides access to cutting edge technology and were deemed the best suited partner on the market.
Why did we choose Herdwatch?
Great care was taken to find the perfect partnership to provide this customer upgrade. Herdwatch is already used on more than 18,000 farms across the UK and Ireland and is a natural and logical partner for Farmplan. This partnership will equip users with access to valuable cloud integration to future-proof their operations.
What are the key benefits of Herdwatch software?
Herdwatch offers numerous benefits for sheep and cattle customers, including:
Specialist functionality to ease the burden of data entry for sheep, cattle and dairy farmers and put the recording of tasks to hand wherever and whenever.
Herdwatch is an easy-to-use, cloud-based solution that can be used by multiple users, to access multiple holdings, on multiple devices, making it the perfect solution for Farmplan sheep and cattle software customers.
Compliance compatibility with all current legislation requirements, with full integration for calf registrations and animal movements with BCMS, ScotEID & APHIS.
You can also simplify your record keeping for all Cross Compliance and Farm Assurance (i.e. Red Tractor) schemes in Herdwatch.
Device integration and compatibility with EID tags and readers.
What do you need to do next?
From today, you can begin to upgrade to the Herdwatch program. Herdwatch have agreed that all Farmplan customers can transfer to Herdwatch for free until the end of your current Farmplan support agreement.
We recommend that you start this move as soon as possible as by May 2024, Farmplan livestock support will end, this includes all updates, telephone support and access to BCMS/ScotEID.
As soon as you are ready to begin your upgrade to Herdwatch, please contact their dedicated team on 01594 480157 (9am-5pm Mon-Fri) or email farmplan@herdwatch.co.uk for help to get started. We are proud of our established and respected history of customer support, and this upgrade will be no different. As part of the agreement, both Farmplan and Herdwatch are committed to working together to upgrade existing customers both efficiently and as seamlessly as possible.
Here are some FAQ’s which might help with your immediate queries:
Why are you doing this?
For some time now we have been assessing the livestock solutions on the market against our own range of cattle and sheep programs. We know our customers want additional functionality and a tool that is designed to future proof your business. We believe that, rather than develop something that already exists in the UK, it would be more beneficial to you and us, to partner with an established software provider who already has an advanced product. Herdwatch is already used on more than 18,000 farms across the UK and Ireland. They provide access to cutting edge technology and were deemed the best suited partner on the market, that will equip you with access to valuable cloud integration to future-proof your operation.
What’s wrong with the product?
Our livestock suite of programs are coming to their natural end of life, Herdwatch offer a platform that will meet the needs of our customers and so nows the time to transfer your herd/flock records. Herdwatch provide access to cutting edge technology and were deemed the best suited partner on the market, that will equip you with access to valuable cloud integration to future-proof your operation.
When will my account be moved?
Effective immediately your invoices will be issued from Herdwatch. Should you have any queries regarding invoices please contact the Herdwatch team on 01594 480157 (9am-5pm Mon-Fri) or email: farmplan@herdwatch.co.uk in the first instance.
Pricing – how much will this cost me?
During the transfer period you will have access to both your existing cattle and sheep software from Farmplan and Herdwatch solutions for no additional charges, assuming your support subscription remains up to date.
Do I need to do anything?
Yes, as soon as you’re ready begin transferring your records over to Herdwatch. Please contact Herdwatch on 01594 480157 (9am-5pm Mon-Fri) or email: farmplan@herdwatch.co.uk to help get you started.
What’s the transfer timeline?
From 1st June 2023 you can begin to transfer all your herd and flock records to the Herdwatch program. We recommend that you complete this move by May 2024 as at that time Farmplan support will end, this includes all updates and access to BCMS/ScotEID.
If I call the Farmplan support line during this time who will answer my queries?
All calls will be diverted to Herdwatch for frontline support from July 2023. During the transfer period, support for Farmplan livestock programs will be provided by both the Farmplan and the Herdwatch team – with Herdwatch being our frontline support from now onwards. They will be your first point of contact for all support of all livestock products. Rest assured they are prepared to answer your immediate queries relating to your Farmplan software. As part of the partnership, both Farmplan and Herdwatch are committed to working together to transfer existing customers both efficiently and as seamlessly as possible.
When will support end?
You have until May 2024 to transfer your records to Herdwatch – from this date you will no longer be able to update BCMS/ScotEID to complete notifications/registrations, there will be no product support, data fixes or product updates from Farmplan after this time. However, product support will be available for both Farmplan and Herdwatch solutions during this period providing your support subscription is up to date.
I don’t want to move to Herdwatch – what happens now?
It’s entirely your choice not to move to Herdwatch, however we have done research into the solutions available on the market today and Herdwatch offers you the best all round functionality and future proofing for your herd/flock records. It is important to remember that from May 2024 your Farmplan livestock products will cease to offer live notifications/BCMS connectivity.
What happens with my other existing contracts i.e. Farmplan software and hardware support and anti virus?
Customers with financial, cropping or hardware products and services will continue to have access to unrivalled support alongside livestock support services, which will be provided through Herdwatch.
I don’t have active support but still use the program to submit my CTS movements?
You will need to consider moving your records to Herdwatch or an alternative provider before May 2024 to allow you to continue submitting your records to BCMS and ScotEID. We have done extensive market research and we believe Herdwatch is the most suitable product for our customers. They currently have 18,000 farmers using Herdwatch and have a similar support structure to our own. Their products already provide the features and functionalities that our customers have been looking for to successfully manage their herds and flocks effectively.
Yes from now onwards Herdwatch will be working closely together with the Farmplan support team to provide livestock software support, providing you have an up to date support contract. From the 1st May 2024, Farmplan support will end and you will then be dealing directly with the Herdwatch support team.
What information about my account have you passed to Herdwatch?
We have supplied very basic contract and contact information to our Herdwatch partners, they also operate within GDPR guidelines and will treat any information provided with care. Extensive work has been done to ensure we’re complying with GDPR rules and best practice.
If I’ve opted out of marketing emails from Farmplan will I start to receive things from Herdwatch and how do I opt out of that?
During the transfer process you will begin receiving communications from the Herdwatch team. We both take GDPR and data privacy guidance very seriously and so should you wish to opt out of marketing messaging you can do so at any time. Please note that for a period of 6 months after your contract end date, the Herdwatch team will continue to attempt to make contact with you to discuss transfering over to their product, you can opt out of these communications, please contact 01594 480157 (9am-5pm Mon-Fri) or email: farmplan@herdwatch.co.uk
Am I able to move any of my data to Herdwatch?
Farmplan are currently developing a tool to enable you to transfer some historical data/reports to Herdwatch. We will release more details on this in due course.
If you wish to begin the upgrade to Herdwatch now, you can do so. Begin by making a backup of your Farmplan data. Save or print the following reports for your records using a suitable start date to cover legal obligations:
General Reports/Herd register/Individual Animals/Movement Record register
General Reports/Holding Register Sheep/Holding Register 2010 and onwards
Vet and Med/Medicine Record Books
Contact Herdwatch to initialise your move by calling 01594 480157 (9am-5pm Mon-Fri) or email farmplan@herdwatch.co.uk. After setup the Herdwatch team will be able to assist with importing pdf files of the above reports into the program.
Please note these reports will not be editable at this time but will provide you with historical reference data for your herd/flock.
What will the Farmplan wizard for upgrading to Herdwatch transfer?
Farmplan are currently developing a tool to enable you to transfer some historical data/reports to Herdwatch. We expect this to be available soon, but in the meantime you can upgrade to Herdwatch as their team will be able to assist with importing pdf files of the important reports into the program.
When the wizard is available you will be able to transfer the following data to Herdwatch:
EID numbers and other details for animals being transferred (e.g. breed, sex etc.)
Next of kin (one generation either side of animals selected)
Weights – for all animals being transferred to Herdwatch (includes next of kins if selected)
Other traders
You will also be able to transfer the following as reports available for viewing historical reference data within Herdwatch:
Herd register
Flock register
Veterinary and medicine records
Contact Herdwatch to initialise your move by calling 01594 480157 (9am-5pm Mon-Fri) or email farmplan@herdwatch.co.uk.
What do I do if my support renewal is now?
First off – don’t panic! You have time. When your Farmplan support subscription (livestock, cattle or sheep) is up for renewal, you will receive a 12-month support invoice from Herdwatch for their cloud platform. As part of that subscription, you can transfer to Herdwatch at any time and will continue to have access to support for your existing cattle and sheep software from Farmplan, until this ceases in May 2024.
What happens to Livestock software after support finishes?
In May 2024 all Farmplan Livestock product support will end, this includes telephone support, product updates and connections to BCMS/ScotEID.
*If there are any changes in legislation between now and May 2024, these will not be included in the Farmplan Livestock products*
The software should continue to work however we cannot guarantee this. Considerations include replacing your computer or the Farmplan software not being compatible with future Windows updates.
At the point of all Farmplan livestock support ceasing in May 2024 we recommend that customers make regular backups of their data and save or print the following reports for their records using a suitable start date to cover legal obligations:
General Reports/Herd register/Individual Animals/Movement Record register
General Reports/Holding Register Sheep/Holding Register 2010 and onwards
Vet and Med/Medicine Record Books
Farmplan Software Support
01594 545022
farmplansupport@proagrica.com
Farmplan Migration Team in Herdwatch
01594 480157
farmplan@herdwatch.co.uk
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