By MICHELE F. MIHALJEVICH
Indiana Correspondent MURRAY, Ky. — For farmers who are still uncertain about using a computerized record-keeping system, the people at FarmLogic think they have a solution.
The FarmLogic system is a Web-based product that allows farmers to keep track of everything from chemical applications to harvest results. It also has a handheld computer that producers can access, and add to, while in the fields or away from their home computers.
“We’ve made this simple. It’s truly easy to use; you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to use it,“ said Tab Brockman, director of sales and marketing for FarmLogic, based in Murray, Ky.
The software uses icons rather than drop-down menus, making it easier for users to get to the right screens quickly, he said. And because it’s a Web-based program, producers don’t need to worry about losing their information.
The handheld device is built to military specifications, and includes a camera and global positioning system (GPS) software. The handheld will automatically sync to a home computer via a wireless connection and update overnight the information stored on the home computer. If the updated information is needed sooner, a manual sync may be done.
The website has double and triple redundancy on backup, and the site is secure, he said.
“Wives are often the record-keepers, and we’ll see them tell their husbands they need to get this,” he said. “It replaces the old notebook that everyone keeps. And the lion’s share still don’t keep good records. The majority of what they know is still between their ears.
“We’ve had 50-, 60-, 70-year-old farmers tell us they feel comfortable using it. They say they can use it and make sense of it.”
The program was developed by Hoyt Choate, a lifelong farmer from southeastern Missouri. It was introduced a little over a year ago. The company has customers in every corner of the country, and users include row and specialty crop farmers, Brockman said.
FarmLogic costs $4,400, which includes the handheld device, license, setup and the first year of an annual subscription, he said. It doesn’t charge for product upgrades, and sales and support are done from the company headquarters in Murray.
“There are so many conveniences to using a Web-based program,” Brockman said. “There are only a couple of companies doing Web-based. Our program is robust and dynamic, but simple to use. And the mobile component adds great flexibility.”
The company allows potential customers to sign up for a free trial. For more information, call 866-761-8001 or visit www.farmlogic.com |
