Keeping farm records has been a longstanding tradition for farmers. For most beginning farming operations, keeping track of everything is overwhelming and impossible. However, as your farming operation matures, you will find that farm record keeping becomes more important than ever before.
What is a farm keeping record?
Farm record keeping is a vitally important farming management tool. When recordkeeping is employed effectively, the farming business can identify and correct any issues that may be arising in its operations before they become counterproductive or ruinous.
On what should I keep records?
There are two main types of farming records: daily and yearly. Daily farming records consist of a farming journal. This includes records from one day to the next and gives a picture of what happened on the farm on a particular day. Yearly farming records contain more general information, which can be broken down into categories such as plans for the coming year, farming tasks completed that year, farming bills paid, etc.
How do I keep farming records?
There are a few steps to keep farming records, whether it’s daily or yearly farming records. The first step in keeping farming records is choosing a system. There are many books and manuals have that been written about farming management, all with their own set of specific farming recordkeeping systems. It may be easiest to start using the one that the farmer is most familiar with.
After being introduced to farming records, farming plans can be made for the future farming goals of the farming business. This may include keeping track of what resources are needed, like seed and fertilizer, as well as keeping track of expenses throughout the year (e.g., how much money was spent on fuel).
The farming business should keep farming records throughout the farming year and then file them away for future reference when the farming season is done.
What are some farming recordkeeping apps?
Many farming recordkeeping apps help users keep track of their farming daily records and yearly farming records. There are even apps that can be used both on a desktop farming PC and on farming mobile devices, like tablets or smartphones.
Some farming recordkeeping apps that are available for use include:
- FarmLogs – an app that is highly customizable to fit the needs of farming businesses both large and small
- Farming Journal – another customizable app for keeping track of farming records throughout the year
- Startup Farm Planner – a planning app, which can be used to plan out farming tasks for the upcoming farming year
- Garden Manager Pro – an app specifically designed for keeping track of farming records for gardening farming businesses.
Homestead farming applications come with several advantages: Many homestead farming apps are free for basic use and do not require an internet connection to function. Such homestead farming apps, unlike farming record-keeping books or spreadsheets, can be accessed anywhere.
These homestead farming apps are perfect for farmers who want to access their farming records whilst farming in the fields. Homestead farming apps can be shared between farming members of a farming operation who use different devices.
More farming recordkeeping apps are being developed all the time! Do some research and find the best one that works with farming records.
Farm records come in a variety of forms, from simple to complicated and anywhere in between. The best choice for you will depend on your farming goals and how much effort you want to expend on keeping farming records. A combination of farming records, such as using a farming app and keeping notes in a farming journal, maybe easier than using just one type.
Keep track of your farming activities by Making copies of all farming receipts and invoices. Keeping farming journals to record farming lectures and other important information that you learn on the topic of farming. Keeping track of farming time and activities. Keep track of farming expenses. Organize farming equipment and farming tools.
It is important to use a method that suits your farming lifestyle and goals for farming records. At a minimum, you should keep a record of farming receipts, farming journals and farm records from your operation’s members. If needed, add information on any farming equipment you purchase, farming journal entries or farming records of farming lectures.
Use your farming app to organize farming receipts and farming invoices. Photocopying all your farming receipts and keeping a copy in a filing cabinet can be a useful backup but also takes up too much space for the average homesteading farmer. Using a farming app simplifies farming record-keeping and farming receipts. Nearly all farming apps allow you to add a farming receipt using an image of the farming receipt.
Organize your farming equipment by keeping track of the ownership, maintenance and repair history of farming equipment using a file system or farming app. This will help you when it comes time to purchase new farming supplies or when you need to take your farming equipment in for repairs.
Organizing farming tools can be a bit trickier than farming records of farming equipment. You may want to keep track of the ownership and maintenance history of the farming tools, or you may simply prefer to have a place where you store your farming tools so they are easy to find next time you need them. Most homesteaders choose a farming app to keep farming records of farming tools.
FAQ
How long must you keep farm records for?
The answer to this question is complex. Both short-term and long-term factors must be considered when keeping farming records. The short-term factors that affect farming record keeping include the type of farming you are doing, the seasonality of farming operations, and even applicable laws depending on what state you live in. Long term farming record keeping is a little more straightforward with most farming operations being required to keep records for seven years from the date of filing.
What are various records needed to maintain a farm?
The following are various records that need to be maintained throughout farming. These are categorized by who needs to say records, where the records are located, and what is being recorded.
What are the types of farm records?
There are several types of farming records, each with its purpose. Some record-keeping is legally required, other farming records should be kept for good farming practice and to help you plan.
Keeping farming records is part of farming, and the farming record keeping you do will help you manage your farm more effectively. There are many books and manuals have