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​ What's the difference between an alpaca and a llama Llama vs Alpaca; are they the same? Both llamas and alpacas are cute, and fluffy. and look similar. What makes these animals different? This article will give some insight into their differences, the similarities and this might give you some insight into why they are so popular. Size is a big difference The first difference you might notice between these animals is that alpacas are smaller than llamas. Alpacas are about 2.5-3 ft tall and about 110-190 lbs as an adult. Llamas are much larger coming in at about 5.5-6 ft tall and 290-440 lbs as an adult. Personality and disposition All animals have their own personality but the general disposition of these two breeds is another aspect that separates them. Depending on the way animals are raised they can be more tame or not. Both are herd animals and want to be with other animals. Alpacas may generally be somewhat more tame or friendly but might not like being rushed at or handled roughly. (Does anyone like that?) They like quiet, gentle interactions. Llamas are much more independent generally and stand-offish. For this reason and their size, they are often great companion animals. They can also be used as guardian animals to guard other animals like alpacas. But there are always exceptions to this rule so llamas may also be gentle and friendly. As the breeder or handler about their disposition. What's in a Face While llamas and alpacas are both adorable, you can see a difference between these two species in their faces. Alpacas have smaller, short faces. Llamas on the other hand have a long snout. Those Ears Alpaca ears are short, pointed, and stick out slightly to the side. Especially if they are listening to the sounds around them. Llamas's ears are long, more rounded on the top, and cylindrical. Their ears might be similar to a donkey. Llamas "point" their ears in the direction they're listening, forward or backward. Colors Since alpacas have been bred for their fiber mainly, they are usually all one color. There are about 22 shades of alpacas ranging through the spectrum. Since they have been bred for thousands of years for their fleece it tends to be more uniform or all one color within this large spectrum. Llamas range in color from white, and grey to reddish brown all the way to black. They may have spots or can be found with more than one coloring in their fleece which sometimes makes it hard to process into a unified skein of yarn. Alpaca vs Llama Wool If you stop into any yarn shop lately you may find a whole wall of yarn made of alpaca wool but much less with llama wool. Alpaca wool, otherwise called alpaca fiber or fleece, has been revered for thousands of years, even being called "The fiber of the Gods" by the Incan civilization. Alpacas have very soft, fluffy, warm, and lightweight fleece that can be worn right next to the skin. It grows back every year and they need to be shorn or given a haircut before it starts to get hot outside. Two breeds of alpacas grow wool for their and their wool is a little different from each other . Huacaya pronounced “wah-ki-ya”. They are the more commonly recognized alpaca. They are generally referred to as being fluffy, with some fleece characteristics that could be compared to sheep wool or cashmere. Suri, pronounced “Sir-ee”, is the second type of alpaca. Suri alpacas have a silky type of fleece that hangs from their body in a "lock". For Llamas, their hair grows more slowly and might only need sheering every year or two. They have two types of hair in their coats; coarse guard hair and a soft undercoat. The guard hairs are much more coarse or rough and if not removed make llama fiber rough. Usually, fiber that hasn't processed out these hairs is made into rugs and outer clothing, or things that aren't worn next to the skin because it can be itchy and irritating to the skin. Alpaca and Llama breeding and purpose Both alpacas and llamas are referred to as New World camelids. Which is a bit confusing since they have been bred for about 6,000 years. Alpacas have been bred mainly for their fiber which has been prized for its softness and luster. Llamas were bred for meat and as a pack animal because of their larger size. Their fiber is used but not as often as it is harder to process. While both animals may have originated in Peru and Bolivia and are part of the Camelid family, Alpacas are thought to have been bred from the wild Vicuna. The llama may have been bred from the wild Guanaco. Wild Vicuna Wild Guanaco Both animals have many differences that make them unique but they may have more things in common. Here are some things that probably led to you think they were similar in the first place and some of the other reasons they are so popular. 11 Things Alpacas and Llamas Have in Common They both have soft padded feet which is easy on pasture. They have only bottom teeth in the front which makes them gentle grazers. (They won't rip out grass from the roots, just trim it.) They have adapted to live in high mountains so they don't require a lot of water They do not require a lot of food-only about 4 lbs a day. They are tidy animals and tend to leave a manure pile in one area of a pasture. They don't usually eat trees. They will come if you call them by name Both have an average pregnancy of 11.5 months Both alpaca and llama fiber are low in lanolin. That means it doesn't have the "grease" that sheep wool offers. This makes it easier to process. Both alpacas and llamas have hollow, lightweight fibers which makes them very warm and lightweight. They are both herd animals and have evolved to be together in a herd with other animals. Additional information about Alpacas and Llamas Alpaca Resources If you are interested in alpaca farming, raising alpaca for sale, or learning more about alpacas this is a good place to start. This site references books, associations, national conferences, fiber info, and some of the basics of owning alpacas and the alpaca farm business. Here is another resource with other information about getting started with Alpacas. The Alpaca Owners Association has a learning center that you can choose to look into and see if this breed of animal is for you. Llama Resources If you're interested in learning more about llama farming, or raising llamas for sale here are some additional resources if you are interested in getting llamas and the llama farm business Conclusion Overall, llamas and alpacas are more similar than they are different and that might be why folks often get them confused. But once you know the differences you can always tell the difference. We hope you enjoyed our list and will think about bringing one to your farm too. Here is a link to some insight into Camelid history Here is some more information on the difference between the two species. Take a look at our Farm and Livestock Management Software to help keep track of your Alpaca or Llama herd. Written by our knowledgeable staff writers /farmers at Farmbrite.

Sheep are one of the most common livestock animals in the world. They can be used for meat, wool, and milk, among other things. If you plan on raising sheep for meat or wool, it's important that you know about the different breeds of sheep so you can choose the top sheep breeds, the most popular sheep breeds, and choose the best one for you. There are a lot of sheep breeds out there, some excelling in meat production, while others are bred specifically to produce high-quality wool. Luckily, we’ve done the work for you and found the top ten sheep breeds for meat and wool production. Read on to learn about each of these amazing dual-purpose sheep breeds! 1. Merino Sheep The Merino sheep breed is the cream of the crop when it comes to wool production. It is estimated that this fine-wooled breed makes up more than 50 percent of the world’s sheep population! The Merino breed originated in Spain during the Middle Ages. In fact, they were a staple of Spain’s wealth during this time — it was even a capital offense to export one of these treasured animals. When Napoleon invaded Spain, the world gained access to the Merino and its high-quality fleece. The first Merinos were imported to the United States in 1802. The breed was further developed in Australia. The Merino is a medium-sized sheep. Ewes weigh between 125 and 180 pounds, while rams weigh between 175 and 235 pounds. You’ll also notice that rams have long, spiral horns that wrap around the sides of their faces. This breed is known for their longevity and hardiness, as well as their strong flocking instinct. They will also breed out-of-season. When it comes to their wool, there is no comparison. Merino wool is the finest, softest wool in the world. This means it is less likely to itch when used in clothing, making it highly desired in the fashion industry. They are probably best known for their wool and might be the best sheep for wool. While they are most known for their wool, the Merino is being increasingly used for meat. There is currently a movement among breeders to make them a dual-purpose breed. 2. Suffolk The Suffolk sheep breed is an English breed known to be a big, hardy animal. Developed in England during the early 19th century, this meat and wool breed has become quite popular with farmers who need a large-bodied animal that can thrive on poor-quality pasture. So, if you're looking for sheep who can add to your soil quality and the sustainability that sheep farming brings to pastures, look no further. They were created by crossing Norfolk Horn ewes with Southdown rams. This fairly new sheep was imported into the United States in the late 19th century, but they really gained popularity following the Second World War. Today, they can be found in all of the world’s top wool-producing countries. In the United States, they are the most popular pure breed of sheep that is raised for wool and meat. The Suffolk is typically white with a black head and legs that are open, or free of wool. They are a large, meaty breed that is ideal for meat production. Suffolk lambs are fast-growing and yield high-quality, heavy carcasses. Which makes them one of the top meat-producing sheep. In general, Suffolk's size and weight range from 120 to 150 pounds for rams and 100 to 130 pounds for ewes; however, some individuals may weigh as much as 200 pounds. 3. Hampshire The Hampshire is a medium-sized breed of sheep that originated in the south of England in the 19th century. It was developed by crossing Southdown sheep, Wiltshire Horns, and Berkshire Knots, among other breeds. It is a dual-purpose sheep, meaning it can be used for meat and wool production. The Hampshire has been crossbred with other breeds to develop new strains, such as the Suffolk. Hampshire sheep are popular in their native United Kingdom but have also been introduced to many other countries including Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Ewes generally weigh between 175 and 220 pounds, and rams weigh between 220 and 310 pounds. They are a large breed that is white with black faces and legs. Their faces and legs are closed, which means they have wool covering them. This sheep breed is an exceptional dual-purpose sheep breed because of their fast rate of growth and superior carcass quality. They are often used to sire crossbred market lambs. When it comes to their wool, they are beloved for their downy and their medium-wool fleeces. 4. Columbia The Columbia sheep is an American classic. In fact, it is the first breed to have originated in the United States. It was developed specifically for meat and wool production in 1912 by crossing Rambouillet and Lincoln sheep. The goal of its original breeders was to create a sheep that would produce more wool and meat and replace the need for crossbreeding on ranches. The Columbia was originally bred for the harsh environment of the Western United States, but today it is raised all across North America. It is also increasingly being used as a sire for crossbred market lambs. The Columbia has a large-sized body, with rams weighing between 225 and 300 pounds and ewes weighing between 150 and 225 pounds. The wool on this breed is not as fine or soft as some other breeds, but it is able to be harvested and used as a heavy, medium-wool fleece with a good staple length. They produce hardy, fast-growing lambs that do well in range-like conditions. 5. Dorset Horn Dorset Horns are a small, black-headed breed of sheep. They're named for Dorset County in southwest England, where they've been bred since the 17th century. Dorsets are a dual-purpose breed used for both wool and meat; they're a good fit for beginners and small farms. The Dorset Horn has many positive traits: it's docile, easy to handle, and provides plenty of milk, making it an ideal choice for first-time farmers who want to keep their animals close by. The main reason for their popularity is their ability to breed out of season, much like the Merino. In fact, it is believed that the Dorset originated from crossing Merinos with the Horned Sheep of Wales several centuries ago. The Dorset breed was originally imported to the United States in the late 19th century. In 1948, the Polled Dorset was bred into existence. Today, there are both horned and polled varieties available. One downside is that this breed isn't great at growing fat—which means your final product will be leaner than other breeds (though still tasty). The Dorset Horn is also a good choice for small farms. Like the Soay, this breed is small and can be raised on limited acreage. In fact, they're often kept indoors during inclement weather because they don't have heavy coats like other breeds. Dorset ewes tend to be prolific and will produce a lot of milk. Their lambs grow moderately fast and will finish with a heavily-muscled carcass that is ideal for meat production. Their medium-wool fleece rounds them out as a fantastic all-purpose sheep that is great for small farms and big ones alike. 6. Cheviot The Cheviot is a breed of sheep native to the Cheviot Hills in Northumberland, England. This hardy breed was developed as early as the 14th century. They were bred to thrive in bleak, windy conditions. Some characteristics that help with this include easy lambing, strong mothering instincts, and quick maturity. They were introduced to Australia in 1938, and they proved their ability to withstand the chilly, wet winters and hot, dry summers. A century earlier, they had been introduced to the United States and gained popularity there. Their original purpose was to produce high-quality meat and wool, while also remaining suitable for hill grazing. It is a hardy breed, resistant to foot rot and other diseases. The Cheviot is a medium-sized white-faced sheep with a distinctive appearance. They have clean, or wool-free, legs and head, with a black muzzle and feet. They are characterized by their stylish, alert carriage and hornless heads. Ewes generally weigh between 120 and 160 pounds, while rams weigh slightly more at 160 to 200 pounds. Cheviot sheep wool is long, strong, and dense. It is fine in texture with a helical crimp that gives the wool added strength. In fact, it is often blended into other yarns to add durability to the finished product. The Cheviot sheep breed has been known for its ability to thrive on poor-quality pasture and is still used today as an "improved" breed for cross-breeding purposes. This breed is truly a hardy breed and requires less care than other breeds to thrive. 7. Polypay The Polypay sheep is a medium-sized synthetic breed that was developed in the United States in the 1970s. They were originally created with foraging, hardiness, and longevity in mind. They were developed at the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station in Dubois, Idaho, and on a farm in Sonoma, California. Targhee x Dorset crosses were bred with Rambouillet x Finnsheep crosses. The resulting Polypay was able to produce two lamb crops and one wool crop per year. Their prolific tendencies, good mothering instincts, and extended breeding season helped to launch them into popularity across North America. Polypay lambs tend to have moderately fast growth and good carcass quality. Their medium-wool fleece makes them a solid dual-purpose breed of sheep. This breed produces meat that is well-marbled with fat, while also providing large amounts of high-quality wool used in textiles. These sheep have a high resistance to disease due to their ability to spread out over larger areas than other breeds do. 8. Finnsheep Finnsheep, also known as Finnish Landrace, is a medium-sized breed of sheep. They have a thick, dense fleece that is good for spinning. This hardy and adaptable breed is thought to be several hundred years old. They are believed to have descended from the wild Mouflon that lives in Sardinia and Corsica. They also share ancestors with other Scandinavian short-tailed sheep breeds. They were first imported to the United States in the 1960s for the purpose of producing crossbred ewes. The reason Finnsheep ewes were chosen for crossbreeding efforts was because of their hardiness and ability to succeed in an accelerated lambing program. They are also known to have strong maternal instincts and are very prolific. Furthermore, Finnsheep lambs are known for their hardiness and high survival rate. Today, this breed can be found around the world. This is partially due to their soft, medium-wool fleeces. This high-quality wool, along with their ability to produce milk and meat, make them a solid dual-purpose breed. They also excel in the show ring. 9. Rideau Arcott Rideau Arcott sheep are a small, dual-purpose breed that excels at producing both high-quality wool and meat. "Arcott" is actually an old word for "to eat.” The Rideau is one of three Canadian sheep breeds that exist. It was developed at Agriculture Canada’s Animal Research Centre in Ottawa in 1968. Suffolk, Shropshire, Dorset, Finnsheep, and East Friesian sheep were all crossed to make the Rideau. During the breed development process, emphasis was put on fertility, year-round lambing, and retail cut yield. Since its release to the public in 1989, the Rideau has quickly grown in popularity. They are ideal for use in commercial flocks to improve maternal traits. More often than not, ewes will carry triplets or twins. The Rideau Arcott's smaller size makes them easy to handle. They are also quite hardy, making them a good choice for novices. Rideau Arcott sheep are also slower to mature than other meat breeds, and as such tend to be more expensive to keep. However, for those who want a small flock of sheep that can provide both wool and meat, the Rideau Arcott is an excellent choice. 10. Rambouillet The Rambouillet is the U.S. version of the Merino sheep. Although Merinos are still raised in the United States, it is much more common to see flocks of Rambouillets, especially in the Western states. The Rambouillet was developed from the original Spanish Merino, and as such, they have very similar wool. They also have their differences, though — the Rambouillet is larger than the Merino, and is more of a dual-purpose sheep. The Rambouillet was created when Louis XVI of France imported 386 Spanish Merinos to his estate in Rambouillet in the late 18th century. Although the breed originated in France, it owes a lot of its development to the United States and Germany. Today, the Rambouillet is considered the most important commercial breed of sheep in the U.S. It has been used to develop several popular crosses, including the Columbia and the Polypay. It is able to thrive in many different production environments. Occasionally, it is crossed with the Merino to improve wool quality. The Rambouillet is a dual-purpose breed of sheep. It produces a high-quality carcass and fine wool. This breed is large in size, hardy, and has strong flocking instincts. Ewes have strong maternal instincts that have made them popular in crossbreeding programs designed to improve lamb production. Final thoughts There are many different breeds of sheep that you can choose for raising for meat, raising sheep for wool, or both. Each breed has its own unique qualities and traits. It is important to know which breed will work best for your needs before making a decision on what kind of sheep you want on your farm. Use the list above as a starting point and do your own research to find the best breed for you. If you're looking into sheep farming for beginners or if you're a seasoned sheep farmer it's always good to keep your eyes open and learn about different options and sheep farming tips. It's also very important to keep track of your sheep production once you have purchased your herd. Take a look at Farmbrite for your sheep record-keeping software. Try for free today . Courtney Garrett is a freelance writer and editor traveling the world as a digital nomad. She earned her Bachelor of Animal Science with a specialization in Livestock Science and Management in 2019, and has worked with dairy cattle, sheep, goats, dogs, chickens, and more over the past 10 years. When not writing, she enjoys horseback riding, swimming, and taking walks with her Havanese puppy, Ella. a.

Running a successful farm operation requires efficient management of the many parts of your farm, including tracking farmworker hours, handling payroll, and tracking tasks to name just a few. However, traditional methods of manual record-keeping and payroll management can be time-consuming, error-prone, and easily lost or misplaced. This article will dive into the crucial topic of efficiently tracking farmworker hours and simplifying farm payroll management. We discuss some challenges farmers often face and some innovative solutions to help them streamline their ag operations, reduce administrative burdens, and ensure accurate and timely payments to their hardworking employees. Farm Payroll Management and Tracking Farmworker Hours Finding a system that easily tracks farm work and payroll is a big part of organizing employees and reducing your administrative work as a farmer. By leveraging modern technology and digital tools, farmers can automate the process of tracking worker hours, eliminate paperwork, ensure compliance with labor regulations, ensure fair and accurate compensation, and generally make life easier. Efficient payroll management systems can simplify calculating weekly wages, generating pay stubs, and handling tax withholdings, gathering weekly timesheets, making life easier for farmers and farmworkers. There are many benefits to streamlining farm operations with technology. The Challenges and Solutions of Tracking Projects, Farmworker Hours and Information, and Managing Payroll Running a farm operation is a complex endeavor that requires your attention in all of the many projects you have going on, managing people, and all the complexities of running a business. Here are some challenges and solutions to hopefully help you keep your farm more organized and avoid these common issues. Keeping Accurate and Up-to-Date Records One of the more frustrating challenges that farmers face is keeping accurate time tracking and task management data. Tracking farmworker hours and efficiently managing payroll and project management can be a tall task on farms. Traditional methods of manual record-keeping and payroll processing can fall short by being time-consuming, error-prone, and burdensome for farmers who are already juggling multiple responsibilities. One way to alleviate this is to offer farmworkers an online timesheetsoftware and task-tracking app. Many times these can be accessed conveniently on their mobile device. The farm workers can then log their times worked, on what projects from anywhere. This will not work for farmworkers who don't have a mobile device that connects to the internet but luckily mobile devices are relatively easy to get access. Remote Locations Farmworkers often work in remote locations, making it difficult to monitor their hours, attendance, and projects. Relying on paper timesheets or handwritten records can lead to discrepancies, lost documentation, and potential disputes over compensation. Finding a time-tracking app that can work offline will be important in this case. Then farm workers can add their attendance, times worked and any other details needed to the app. It will sync their data to the software when they get back to a WIFI signal. This will keep more up-to-date information, and reduce lost information and errors. Labor Laws and Seasonal Workers The seasonal nature of agricultural work brings added complexity, with fluctuating labor demands and varying pay rates, which can further complicate the payroll process and can lead to increased administrative tasks and risks of non-compliance with labor regulations. Some labor laws and compliance requirements to pay attention to are; minimum wage, overtime pay, unemployment insurance, and tax withholding. Failure to adhere to these regulations can result in costly fines, legal issues, and reputational damage to the farm. Staying on top of those requirements like I-9s can save you in the long run because fees or fines can be financially devastating to a small farm. Farmworker Skillset and Training The complexity of farming comes with both the need for knowledge, skill and the will and capacity to learn specific areas of farming. It's an integral part of hiring farmworkers to ensure that they have the necessary skills needed for tasks like; planting, cultivating, weeding, harvesting, taking care of animals, and equipment operation and maintenance not to mention more complicated tasks. Whether you hire someone who already has that skillset or you train them on the job, it's good to keep track of this information so you can hire them again for that same job and know what training they bring or have been given. Maintaining organized records of past seasons' employees, what training they've received helps ensure that you remember what work they did, what training they received, and how to reach them again. Being able to easily reactivate and update their information season over season makes for much smoother transitions and less overhead when workers arrive for the season. Keeping this in a searchable database is key so that you can easily find the information Manually tracking this data is not time efficient and can cause a lot of headaches in lost or incorrect data. The goal is to always find easy and smart ways to track things on the farm so you can maintain a thriving and sustainable farm operation. The Benefits of Efficient Farmworker Hour Tracking and Payroll Management Implementing efficient systems for tracking farmworker hours and managing payroll can unlock a multitude of benefits for farm operations, both in the short and long term. These advantages can have a profound impact on the overall efficiency, profitability, and sustainability of your farm. Accuracy One of the primary benefits of efficient farmworker hour tracking is the enhanced accuracy of payroll data. By transitioning from manual record-keeping to digital solutions, farmers can eliminate the risk of human errors, such as miscalculations, not entering hours, or lost timesheets. This ensures that farmworkers are paid accurately and on time, fostering trust and job satisfaction among your workforce. Compliance Streamlined payroll management also offers the advantage of improved compliance with labor regulations. Digital systems can automate the calculation of overtime pay, withholding of taxes, and adherence to minimum wage requirements, reducing the administrative burden on farmers and reducing the risk of non-compliance penalties. This protects the farm's financial well-being as well as giving you the security of being an ethical and responsible employer. Cost Savings Efficient farmworker hour tracking and payroll management can lead to significant cost savings for the farm. By automating these processes, farmers can reduce the time and resources required for manual data entry, record-keeping, and payroll processing. This, in turn, frees up funds that can be reinvested into other areas of the business, such as equipment upgrades, infrastructure improvements, or workforce development initiatives. Labor Visibility Improved data visibility and reporting capabilities are additional benefits of streamlining farm operations. Digital solutions can provide farmers with real-time insights into worker productivity, labor costs, and payroll trends, enabling more informed decision-making and strategic planning. This data-driven approach can help farmers identify areas for optimization, improve resource allocation, and make more informed business decisions. Tools and Technologies for Tracking Farmworker Hours Just like when you choose a tool to till the ground you want to choose the best tool for the job. This will be different for each farm operation. Digital technologies have revolutionized the way farmers can track hours, offering a range of innovative solutions that can streamline this critical aspect of farm operations. From mobile apps to cloud-based platforms, these tools provide farmers with efficient and reliable methods for monitoring worker attendance, timekeeping, and payroll processing. One of the most popular solutions for farmworker hour tracking is the use of mobile timekeeping apps. These applications allow farmworkers to clock in and out using their smartphones or tablets, providing real-time data on their work hours. Many of these apps also offer features such as GPS location tracking, task management, and automated payroll calculations, simplifying the entire process for both workers and farm managers. Another technology-driven approach to farmworker hour tracking is the implementation of biometric time clocks. These specialized devices use fingerprint or facial recognition to accurately record worker attendance, eliminating the need for manual sign-in and sign-out procedures. Biometric time clocks can be integrated with payroll software, ensuring seamless data transfer and reducing the risk of errors or discrepancies. In addition to these digital tools, some farms have also explored the use of radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology for farmworker hour tracking. RFID tags or badges can be assigned to individual workers, automatically registering their arrival and departure times as they move around the farm. This hands-off approach can provide a high level of accuracy and efficiency in tracking worker hours. You might decide to try a few and see if they work for you or pick one. Whichever option you choose for your farm make sure that you have everyone on board for how to use this new tool. Read on for more information. Timesheet Apps Finding the right app that works for your business is just as important as getting your employees to use it. Digital tools such as payroll software, mobile timekeeping apps, and biometric time clocks can significantly improve the accuracy and efficiency of the payroll process. These solutions can automate calculations, handle tax withholdings, and generate detailed pay stubs, reducing the administrative burden on farmers and minimizing the risk of errors. Here are several time tracking and employee-management apps to take a look at in your search for one that works best for you. Microsoft and Google Sheets: If you just need a quick and free timesheet template, take a look at these timesheet templates  or you might use Google Sheets timesheets Free Timesheet Apps: Jibble.io is a free app with paid add-ons. You can use it to track timesheets mobile app, attendance, and project management, and integrate with other apps. Clockify is also a free timesheet app where you can enter hours in an online timesheet app, track attendance, add time off, utilize timers, and calculate work hours and projects. Timely helps you keep track of automatic time tracking, timesheets, tasks, and projects. FieldClock FieldClock saves you time and money by relieving your administrative burden, not adding to it. If you have a mobile device, you now have the power to manage your farm in real-time and access that data from anywhere. Farm Management Software: Another popular solution for farmworker time tracking is a Farm Management Software that offers time tracking as well like Farmbrite . Farmworkers can clock hours and update the times they worked through the app. This also shows what they worked on the farm through task management. You can also keep a record of training and farmworker information through the Farmbrite CRM and integrate it with other apps through an API. Employee Management Software: You can also utilize more sophisticated employee management software like Gusto  or ADP  that will help you keep track of timesheets, run payroll, withhold and pay taxes for you, and help you stay compliant. Choosing the Right Software for Farm Payroll Management With a wide range of options available, it is essential for farmers to carefully evaluate the features, functionality, and compatibility of these solutions to ensure they meet the unique needs of their farm operations. Here are some key features to look for that might be a benefit to your farm. Agricultural Software One of the primary considerations when choosing payroll software for a farm is its ability to handle the complexities of agricultural work, such as variable pay rates, piece-rate compensation, and seasonal labor fluctuations. Finding software for the needs of your farm operation is important. You can choose software that is very complex or more simple. Whichever software you choose, it should be designed to accommodate the unique aspects of the agricultural industry, automating calculations and simplifying the payroll process. Integrations Ease of use and integration with other farm management systems are also crucial factors. Farmers should look for payroll software that offers a user-friendly interface, intuitive workflows, and seamless integration with existing tools and technologies used on the farm, such as timekeeping apps or inventory management systems. This level of integration can help eliminate manual data entry, reduce the risk of errors, and streamline the overall farm operations. Compliance Depending on the complexity of your farm operation, another important consideration of the software's compliance features is to ensure the payroll system adheres to relevant labor laws and tax regulations. More complex payroll software should automatically handle tasks such as tax withholding, overtime calculations, and the generation of pay stubs and W-2 forms, reducing the administrative burden on farmers and minimizing the risk of non-compliance penalties. Customer Support The level of customer support and the availability of training resources to your team is vital. Reliable and responsive customer service along with comprehensive training materials can help farmers and their staff quickly adapt to the new system, maximize its benefits, and get your team up and running. Implementing a Streamlined Process for Tracking and Managing Farmworker Hours Implementing a streamlined process for tracking and managing farmworker hours is a crucial step in optimizing your farm operations. Here are some helpful steps to get you started implementing one of these apps into your organization. Step 1: Assess Your Existing Practices The first step in this process is to carefully assess the farm's existing practices for tracking worker hours. This may involve evaluating the current methods, such as paper timesheets or manual sign-in/sign-out procedures, and identifying areas for improvement. You should consider the specific needs and challenges of your farm, such as the size of the workforce, the diversity of job roles, and the geographical distribution of work sites, etc. You might find that with just a few changes you don't need to implement a whole new system or you might find that there is more that isn't working and could be streamlined. Step 2: Explore All the Options Once you've figured out what problem(s) you're trying to solve, you can begin selecting a solution. This might be for time tracking, employee management, task tracking, or all of them together. This step may involve researching and evaluating various mobile apps, biometric time clocks, or cloud-based workforce management platforms, as discussed in the previous section. The chosen solution should be tailored to the farm's requirements, offering features that streamline the hour-tracking process and integrate seamlessly with the farm's existing systems. Once you have all the information, sit down with your team and make sure that the solution you're choosing fits your needs. No software will have everything for every business. Businesses are complex and each one will have unique needs and challenges. So choose one that meets most of your needs and listens to their customers to develop for their needs. Step 3: Implementation and Training During the implementation phase, it is crucial to involve farmworkers in the process and provide comprehensive training on the new system. This not only ensures that the workers understand how to use the technology effectively but also fosters a sense of ownership and buy-in, which can contribute to the long-term success of the streamlined hour-tracking process. Providing comprehensive training and education for farmworkers is not only a necessity but also a strategic investment in the farm's long-term success. Step 4: Policies and Procedures Farmers should also establish clear policies and procedures for how farmworkers track and maintain hourly tracking, including guidelines for reporting discrepancies, handling time-off requests, and addressing any issues that may arise. By setting these expectations upfront, you can promote transparency, maintain compliance with labor regulations, and create a positive work environment for your employees. E stablish clear communication channels and provide ongoing support for your farmworkers as they transition to the new hour-tracking process. This may involve designating a dedicated point of contact or a team of "super-users" who can assist their team members with any questions or issues that may arise. Make sure they have a way to get support from whichever app you choose so workers don't feel frustrated. Regular check-ins and feedback sessions can also help identify areas for improvement and ensure that the system remains user-friendly and effective. The Future of Streamlined Farm Operations Streamlining your farm operations is just one way to make your daily work easier by working smarter, not harder. As the agricultural industry continues to evolve, the importance of streamlining farm operations, particularly in the areas of farmworker hour tracking and payroll management, will only become more pronounced. By embracing innovative technologies and implementing best practices, you can unlock a wealth of benefits that can contribute to the long-term success and sustainability of your farm business. The emphasis on data-driven decision-making and real-time visibility will become even more crucial in the years to come. Farmers who can leverage the insights and analytics derived from their streamlined farm operations will be better equipped to make informed decisions, respond to market changes, and adapt to the shifting demands of the agricultural industry. You can empower your farmworkers with user-friendly technologies and provide them with the necessary training and support to create a work environment that promotes trust, job satisfaction, and long-term loyalty – all of which are essential for the continued success of the farm operation. By embracing the power of technology, implementing best practices, and prioritizing the needs of your workforce, you can position your businesses for long-term growth, resilience, and sustainability in the ever-evolving agricultural landscape. Happy Farming!

If you are thinking about starting a cattle herd, you're in the right place. Selecting the right breed of cattle is critical to your operation. And since you'll be investing both time and money into these animals you'll want to make sure you invest in the right breeds of cattle. In this post we'll help take some of the guesswork out of choosing the right cattle breed for your operation. But before choosing from the varied different breeds of cows for your farm, remember to develop goals for your farm and have a plan. The more you do your homework and research, check out breed association sites, and talk to neighbors about the breeds of cattle they raise, the better informed you'll be, and by taking the extra steps to gather all the information you can, the better, more informed decision you'll make. How To choose the right cattle breeds? There are a lot of details and cattle breeds to consider in this process. What we're going to cover here is mostly about breed information, but here are some of the other key factors to know (and research) when choosing between cattle breeds. Are you raising cattle for beef or dairy? Goals for production and yield Budget for purchases and operating costs Revenue & profit goals Breeds for your climate Land & grazing area requirements Feed & other operation costs Ease of management & breeding Access to breeding stock (via auction or other means) There are many other operational and financial details to consider and weigh during this process. We suggest taking your time and investing wisely. In this article we'll cover the different types of cows, breeds of cows, specific beef cattle breeds and more. To start you off let's take a look at some of the top cow breeds you may want to consider. Angus Cattle Angus are among the top beef cow breeds, this breed was once thought to be a freak without horns (poll breed) but is now a very popular breed. The basics: Mature bulls weigh about 1,800 lbs and a cow weighs about 1,200 lbs. They are solid black or red in color, sometimes with a small amount of white behind the navel scar. They are a good solid choice among beef cattle breeds for beef production. Pros: Ease Angus are moderately sized, muscular animals, well known for meat production. They are widely crossbred to improve beef and milk quality. Their meat is prized in the beef market because of its marbling. They have white fat and bright-red lean meat. Cons: The Angus cattle breed has varied temperaments. They do not like heat and will need some shade) but they have longevity, are adaptable, fertile, are readily available and often get a high value at the sale barn. Read more from the Angus Association Holstein Friesian Holstein Friesian or just Friesian is a type of cattle breed originally bred in Europe and is a very popular breed for dairies. The basics: A mature bull weighs about 2,500 lbs and a mature cow about 1,300 lbs. They are easily recognized by their distinctive coloring of black and white or red and white. Pros : They are known for their amazing output of milk, butter, and large yields of beef. They are an affordable cow that you might easily find stock for in your area. They mature early and are easy to milk. Typical calves weigh about 90 pounds at birth. Holsteins typically have about a 6-year productive life span. On average Holsteins produce about 17,000 lbs of milk, 600 lbs pounds of butterfat, and 550 lbs of protein per year. Cons: This cow can be high maintenance. So we advise doing more research on this breed. It's been known to take more feed to meet their nutritional needs due to their high output of milk. Read more from the Holstein Association Hereford The Hereford cow is a friendly and easygoing breed among other breeds of cattle. They are known for their beef. The basics: Hereford cows have white faces and an easy-going disposition which makes them easy to care for and almost like pets. A mature bull can weigh about 1,800 lbs and a mature cow weighs about 1,200 lbs. Pros: Herefords do well in a wide range of pastures, conditions, and feed. This breed of cattle is typically easy to breed, grows fast, with high fertility rates, and is relatively docile. Herefords can produce top-quality beef with high yields, good marbling, and fat. They are very hardy and have good heat and cold tolerance. Cons: This breed can need a little sun protection at times because of their coloring. They are sometimes hard to come by and not cheap but a great option if you can find them. Read more from the Hereford Association Brown Swiss The Brown Swiss is known more for their milk production than beef. They make excellent butter, and are very hardy and docile. They are big and live a long time. The basics: A mature bull weighs about 2,000 lbs and a mature cow weighs about 1,300-1,400 lbs. Brown Swiss are sought after by milk producers for their high-quality milk with high protein and butter fat. Their milk is prized by cheesemakers because of their volume of milk and protein. Brown Swiss have some of the best fat-to-protein ratios of any of the dairy breeds for most cheese production. Pros: Brown Swiss are strong, solid breeders, robust, adaptable and live a long time. They are a good choice for both meat and dairy farms and provide good yields of both. Cons: They do take longer to mature. Make sure that you are getting them from a good source and they are not a freemartin. Read more from the Brown Swiss Association Charolais The Charolais is a french breed that is a great beef producer. They are adaptable to most climates and have rapid growth, lean tender meat but they do sometimes have calving issues, aand re a bit more high maintenance. The basics: They are typically white with a pink muzzle. They are medium to large-framed beef cattle with a broad body. Mature bulls weigh 2,000-2,500 lbs and a mature cow weighs 1,250-1,600 lbs. Pros: Charolais are good milkers. They are typically quick to mature and an efficient feedlot breed with a high feed conversion rate. Charolais are easy to calve and are adaptable to various feed types. Cons: They can be aggressive or unpredictable so seek a reputable breeder. Read more from the Charolais Association Galloway The Galloway or belted galloway is primarily a beef cow but has also been known to be milked and used for their hides. The basics: Galloway cattle are commonly black, but can be found with red coloring. They are a medium to large cattle breed that is best known for meat production as they are poor milkers. The bulls have an average weight of about 770 lbs and cows weigh in at about 450 lbs. Pros: They are a little smaller than some other breeds so better if you have less space. They are adaptable to all types of climates and are naturally hornless. They are weed eaters, have an easy time calving, can calve until age 15 or 20, produce lean/low-fat meat, and have rich butter. Cons: This breed of cattle has been known to have a unique hatred of dogs, heat stress can become a problem in some climates, and are slow to grow. Read more from the Galloway Association Simmental The Simmental is an easygoing beef or dairy cow. It has a large frame and can almost be pet-like if raised that way. The basics: Simmental cattle are bred all over the world for their high beef production. Cows can weigh around 1,700 lbs and bulls about 2,800 lbs. Pros: They are quick to mature, easy to handle, and have very good feed conversion rates. Very adaptable and not easily stressed, they are a great breed for beef production. They are heavy, well-muscled animals and produce solid red meat with a minimum of waste fat. They can live relatively long, have a high fertility rate, are easy to calve, and allow for short periods between calving and the cows make excellent mothers. Cons: It can be expensive to buy your stock, they sometimes have trouble calving due to their size and are prone to mastitis. So, it's recommended to purchase from reputable breeders. Read more from the Simmental Association Milking Shorthorn ​Milking or Dairy Shorthorns are known for their body structure and ease of calving. They have been bred in Great Britain since Roman times. It is an excellent choice for beef crossbreeding and cheesemaking. The basics: They mature early, are capable of living long productive lives, and are efficient feed to milk converters. A mature bull weighs 1,800-1,400 lbs and a mature cow about 1,200-1,400 lbs. Their coats can be white, red, or a blend of red and white. They have easy calving and produce large quantities of milk. Pros: They are a versatile breed and have a calm disposition. Unlike other dairy cattle breeds, Shorthorns started as a dual-purpose breed for both milk and meat. Milk production averages 3.8% fat and 3.5% protein. Cons: They can have some genetic issues so buy from a reputable breeder. Read more from the Milking Shorthorn Association Scottish Highland Small, hairy, and horned. This breed has been raised in North America mostly for novelty although it has a lot to offer. Their ability to produce top-quality meat without the need for extra inputs and feed makes them a great cattle breed choice for those looking to produce high-quality beef with only natural inputs. The basics: Besides being adorable, Highland cattle can be used for milk on a small scale, they produce about 2 gallons per day per cow. They are primarily a beef cattle breed that produces lean meat that is well-marbled and normally rated as premium beef. Mature Highland bulls can weigh around 1,800 lbs and cows about 1,100 lbs. Pros: Highland cattle are typically very docile, low-stress, and easy to keep and manage. It has lean meat and functions as a low-input animal. It has good dairy quality as well for both cheese and butter and is well suited for cold climates. They can thrive in extreme climates and pasture conditions where other breeds may fail. They are an exceptionally hardy cattle breed that can convert poor grazing areas, efficiently because they are natural foragers. They calve easily and produce calves between 50-75 lbs. Cons: They tend to have a strong dislike of confinement, horns poor heat tolerance, and other issues that come with long-haired animals. Read more from the Scottish Highland Association Ayrshire This breed is the current record holder for milk production. Their milk is the Goldilocks of rightness; not too rich and not too light. This is one of the larger breeds of cow. If you've got the space for it. They are strong, rugged, and good at calving. The basics: Ayrshires are red and white in color. They have horns that can grow to more than a foot long, but most Ayrshires are dehorned as calves. Ayrshires are medium-sized cattle that can weigh over 1,200 lbs when mature. They are strong and adaptable cattle that work well for various dairy setups and milking parlors. Pros: Ayrshire are excellent foragers and can thrive in harsh feeding or climatic conditions. They are a great dairy cattle breed for varied climates and conditions and make for outstanding commercial dairy cattle. Ayrshire calves are strong and easy to raise. and are excellent milk producers. Cons: They can have strong personalities and produce a moderate butterfat in their milk. Read more from the Ayrshire Association Gelbvieh The Gelbviegh is a medium to large-size breed that was bred for a dual-purpose cattle breed. The basics: They were originally bred for both milk and beef production and have exceptional udders and milking ability. They are a medium to large size cattle breed with above-average muscling typically with reddish gold or black coloring. Pros: This is a very adaptable breed that can be well suited for arid climates with good heat tolerance. They are medium to large in size, docile, fertile, and have a generally quiet demeanor. They produce high-quality meat cuts and are reputed to have had the largest ribeye-muscle area of all breeds. They also produce high-weaning weights Cons: Gelbvieh takes a bit longer to mature. Some research has shown that animals with a lower ADG tend to be more aggressive at the head gate. Read more from the Gelbvieh Association As you can see there are many things to take into consideration before purchasing your herd. Which type you choose comes down to your priorities, budget, space, and management availability. It is highly recommended to speak with different breeders and take a look at the different associations for the cattle you're interested in before you purchase. We wish you the best in your endeavor! Below are more resources for you to take a look at during your research. And as always, Happy Farming! Resources As you can see there are many other breeds of cattle that are suited for beef or dairy operations, so be sure to do your research to find the best breed that will work for your goals. Check out these links to learn more. Other beef cattle breeds Additional dairy breed information List of cattle breed associations Tips on selecting the right breed Cattle Record-Keeping Software Beginner's Guide to Buying Cattle Extensive list of cattle breeds from OSU Cattle Auction Tips The Beginner’s Guide to Keeping Livestock Records

There's a lot that goes into farming and there's a lot to think about before buying land for your farm. Finding the best farmland for your new farm involves several key steps to ensure you choose a location that meets your needs and goals. In this article, we're going to cover some ways to find farmland, questions to ask when at a potential farm location, and other tips and tricks. Here Are Some Effective Ways to Find Suitable Farmland: 1. Determine Your Needs and Goals Determining your needs and goals for your farmland is a crucial first step in ensuring its success and sustainability. Begin by assessing the purpose of your land—whether it's for crop production, livestock grazing, forestry, or a combination of activities. Consider your short-term and long-term objectives, such as increasing your current land or finding and setting up a new farm , etc. Make sure to keys to successful farm management and factor in your financial goals and the market demand for your chosen products. Setting clear, measurable goals helps you develop a strategic plan, prioritize investments, and make informed decisions to maximize your land's potential while preserving its ecological balance. Takeaways: Identify the type of farming you want to pursue (crop, livestock, mixed). Consider the size of the land you need based on your farming plans. Determine your budget and financial resources. 2. Research and Evaluate Locations Evaluate the available land in your area and the natural resources available on the property, including soil type, water sources, and climate conditions, to make sure they align with your farming plans. Takeaways: Investigate different regions and their suitability for your farming needs (climate, soil type, water availability). Look into the local agricultural community, markets, accessibility, and infrastructure. 3. Utilize Online Resources If you're not ready to get a Realtor yet, you can check out potential areas online on these sites. This will give you an idea of prices, listings, and what you get for your money. Takeaways: Use real estate websites and agricultural land listings such as www.LandAndFarm.com , www.Zillow.com , and www.Realtor.com . Check out specialized agricultural real estate websites like www.farmandranch.com and www.AcreValue.com . Explore government and non-profit websites that list available farmland. 4. Work with a Real Estate Agent It's important to have a real estate agent who you trust and can negotiate a fair deal for you, knows what they're looking at in the local area, and knows agriculture. It's also important to understand how much you want to spend. Just because you can spend, doesn't mean you should. Takeaways: Find a real estate agent who specializes in agricultural properties. They can help you navigate the market, understand property values, and identify potential issues. Use a farm loan calculator to estimate what farmland you can afford. You might also take a look at this article on how to finance your farm 5. Attend Farm Auctions and Trade Shows There are many tradeshows that you can attend where you can meet other farmers who might know of someone who is beginning to think of selling their land and it isn't up for sale yet. Alternatively, you might go to a land auction where you can find property. You'll need to know the area very well though so you know what you're purchasing. Takeaways: Participate in farm auctions where farmland is often sold. Visit agricultural trade shows and expos to network with other farmers and landowners. 6. Explore Government Programs and Grants There are many programs and grants available to help new farmers. Take a look at the USDA site or talk to your local extension office to find ones that might be available for you. Takeaways: Look into programs offered by the USDA or other governmental bodies that support new farmers and may provide access to land. Check for grants or low-interest loans that can help with land acquisition. 7. Consider Lease-to-Own Options Some owners will offer lease-to-own or owner-carry options. This means you might not have to buy the property right away. You can lease it first and then purchase it later. This might be an option to explore if you can find one. Takeaways: Explore lease-to-own arrangements that allow you to lease land with an option to purchase it later. This makes finding farmland easier for young or first-time farmers . 8. Network with Local Farmers and the Agricultural Community You can often find land opportunities by word of mouth. Farming is often a family business but what happens when you don't come from a farming family? Well, if you go back into pretty much anyone's family tree you will find a farmer. And to get back into farming you have to become a part of the farming community. So, networking with local farmers will help you do this. Here are a few ideas to look into in the area you want to move. Takeaways: Join local farming associations or cooperatives. Networking can lead to opportunities for land that might not be publicly listed. Local feed stores or small farming groups through your extension office might help you find other farmers near you. You might also check out your local Farm Credit to see if they have any advice or leads for you. Contact local agricultural extension offices for advice and information. Speak with local farmers and agricultural organizations to get insights into the area's farming conditions and community. 9. Visit Potential Properties You will need to assess some things about the property to see if it's suitable and how much infrastructure you will need to add. It's a good idea to personally visit and inspect potential farm properties to assess their suitability for your farming needs. Things you will want to check on are soil quality, water sources, access to buildings, shelters, and other infrastructure, and any potential environmental issues like nearby waste, mines, or other hazardous sites to name a few. Here are some other items to check for when you are at a potential farm location. Farm Land Checklist What are the tillable acres? Is it zoned agricultural? How close is the property to local markets, customers, cell service, power, agricultural support, etc? Can you have a soil map made or is there a soil map available with soil types and ratings? Could you do an Environmental Soil Test to test for contaminants? What is the soil fertility? Was the land previously used for agricultural purposes? Is there historical yield information? How will you access the property? What does the property border? Will you need a buffer zone for your growing operation? Is it fenced? Can it be? Is there enough sun or shade for your planned agricultural operation? Are the water and mineral rights included or available? Can you drill a well? Are there easements to adjoining property such as driveways, railroads, or buried natural gas lines, etc.? Are there field drainage maps? Does this property have a historical landmark designation or wetland? (If so, there are rules about what you can change on the property.) Overall, by combining these approaches you can increase your chances of finding the ideal farmland that aligns with your farming goals and financial capacity. This isn't a time to make a hasty decision. Take your time, ask a lot of questions, and make sure that you are making the best decision for your business venture. You want to make an educated decision and not an emotional one. We wish you the best of luck and as always let us know if we can be of assistance helping you with your farm management software . Farmbrite has helped thousands of farmers streamline, organize, and track their farms, livestock, and whole farm operations. How to Evaluate Farmland Farmland Assessment Checklist Beginning Farmers Funding Options Finding Farmland

The first step to better soil health should always begin with a soil test. Every property is different. A good soil health regime should be tailored to your farm’s specific conditions and needs. That is why you test your soil. Soil tests are not expensive, ranging anywhere from $30 to $80 a test depending on what you test for, but it gives you a baseline showing where you started and charts your soil improvements over time. A soil test can reveal critical issues with your soil that you would otherwise take a best guess at. What Does a Soil Test, Test? The basic “macro” soil test will tell you the fundamental composition of your soil and give you a good idea of the available nutrients for plants. It will include basics like your soil PH — how acidic or alkaline your soil is. It will tell you what your available nutrient levels are, testing nitrogen, potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, calcium, and sulfur. Most soil tests will include your percentage of organic matter, the organic content readily available in your soil that provides nutrients to plants as it breaks down. Depending on what crops you are growing or if the basic soil test indicates any imbalances, you might want to test your micronutrients. That’s called a “micro” soil test and usually checks for boron, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc levels. Most labs will offer recommended amendments for specific crops based on your soil test and have somebody on staff to answer questions and help you interpret your soil test. Otherwise, there are many resources online to help analyze your soil tests, including this great one from PennState Extension . Test Your Soil Consistently Once you get your first soil test done, stay consistent. Use the same lab. Different labs will present things differently, even use slightly different metrics for measurement, which can make comparing your soil tests from year after year confusing. Also, test your soil at the same time every year. Many nutrients (especially nitrogen) will test differently depending on how warm the ground is. If you test your soil in the early spring one year (when nitrogen is bound up by cold weather) but then the following year you test in mid-summer (when nitrogen is more plant-available because the ground is warmer), it could lead you to false assumptions about your total nitrogen availability and how your soil health regime has been influencing it. How Often Should You Test Your Soil? How often you test your soil will depend on what crops you are growing and, potentially, how closely you want to stay on top of changes in your soil. If you are starting with a new soil improvement strategy, you might want to test every year for the first few years to chart the results of your efforts. Otherwise, it depends on what you are farming. Generally speaking, agronomists recommend conducting soil tests: Every two to three years for pastures. Every two years for hay fields. Annually (or even twice yearly) for high-value cash crops like specialty vegetables or annual fruits. Every two to three years for no-till crops. Every three to five years for perennial crops like orchards or berries. Any time a nutrient problem is suspected and at the beginning of a different cropping rotation or land use. Some farms -- especially if they are growing plants that utilize nutrients heavily, like annual vegetables -- will test twice a year. Once in spring to make sure they have enough nutrients to support their planned crop rotations and then in the fall, to see how much available nutrients were left after a season of growing and applying fertilizers. It is expensive and harmful for the environment to overapply nutrients, even when fertilizers are organic. Two tests a year in heavy production systems can help growers know if they applied enough — or overapplied — for their crops and help them adjust future fertilizing regimes. How to Soil Test How you take your soil test is critical. The first step is asking the lab you plan to use what they want you to put the soil test in. Many labs will send you specific bags to package your soil test in. Also, a soil test can easily be corrupted by dirty equipment or by not taking a good sample. If you’re working closely with an agronomist, they will typically take your sample for you, making the job easy! But most small farms will need to take their own and ship it to the lab. Tips for taking a quality soil test sample: Use the right tool and make sure it’s clean when you start. Ideally, you use a soil probe (or auger), but you can use a sharp spade, long knife, or trowel. Hint: Oftentimes, your local extension office will have soil probes they lend out to county residents for taking soil tests. Call them and ask! Take a deep sample, at least 6 to 8 inches. If you’re not using a soil probe (which pulls the same amount of soil every time), make sure you dig up equal amounts at each location. In large areas (like a field), you’ll want to take 10 to 15 core samples. In smaller areas (like a greenhouse), you’ll need four to six core samples. Remove surface debris (leaves, thatch, rocks, etc.) before you take the probe. Dry the samples at room temperature, break up any large clumps of dirt, and mix all of them in a bucket to get a homogenous sample that you then pull the final sample you send to the lab. For more details on how to test your soil, Purdue Extension has a helpful resource linked HERE . Healthy Soil Takes Time and Care For a farmer, a healthy, productive soil microbiome is worth its weight in gold. But healthy soil doesn’t happen overnight. The first step to getting there is knowing where you are starting from. So, what are you waiting for? Get a soil test! P.S. Wondering WHERE to send your soil for a test? The best place to ask in your local community is your extension office. Almost every single county in the U.S. has an extension office. Call your county offices and ask for your local extension services. Georgie Smith, known in her community as “Farmer Georgie,” is a fourth-generation farmer and journalist living on her family’s historic farm on a Pacific Northwest island. She ran her own small farm for more than 20 years. These days, when she’s not herding chickens, fixing the antique tractor (again), or growing heirloom dry beans, Georgie writes about farming. Georgie is passionate about supporting healthy, equitable, and sustainable food production and thriving family farms. www.farmergeorgiewrites.com If you're looking to track your soil samples or nutrients, give Farmbrite's ag software for farm management tracking a try!

It has been said repeatedly that agriculture is the backbone of the economy. It is for this reason that many countries are investing in agriculture. Over the years, technology has been used to improve the yield on a farm. More farmers are embracing technology and incorporating it into the running of their activities. Here are some of the advancements that have made significant strides in the improving farming: Drones in Agriculture Drones have been used in many areas, and they are finally being used in agriculture as well. Drones come attached with sensors that help monitor crops to see if they need irrigation or pesticide spraying. They are also used in livestock farming to check on livestock in the field and their water points. Doing this ensures that the farmers and farmhands do not have to go into the field to see what is happening physically. They can do this in the comfort of their homes and figure out what needs to be done on the farm. It saves precious time and makes managing a farm easier. Soil Moisture Sensors Some crops need a specific amount of moisture to thrive. Overwatering them might drown the plants and cause a loss in the yield. Not giving them enough water, on the other hand, can also lead to the plants wilting. For this reason, it is vital to have software that senses the moisture content on the soil. Farmers will know when to water the garden and just how much water to use. It helps keep the crops healthy and helpful when you want to conserve water usage on the farm. Harvest & Processing Technology If there is one thing that takes a while to do on the farm, it has to be harvesting. When manual laborers are used, it might take days to clear a single farm. It is for this reason that tractors were made to aid with the process. These tractors are specially designed to help harvest specific crops on the farm at a faster rate. For farmers who cannot afford to buy their own, they can hire them at a fee. The amount of money spent on hiring the tractor is way lower than the money spent paying manual laborers. It also ensures that crops do not go bad in the field and lower the expected yield from the farms. Livestock GPS Trackers Livestock tend to wander off in the fields. Sometimes they even go as far as jumping over fences to the neighboring fields. In such situations, marking your livestock is beneficial. People would brandish their cattle in the past, but this practice was discouraged because it is animal torture. Present-day technology has introduced GPS tracking chips for livestock. Once installed, the owner can view the real-time location of their cattle. Whenever one wanders away from the herd, getting them back is easier and faster. Farming Cameras Big farms are often at risk of theft. Farmers are currently investing in technology that will ensure their farms stay secure at all times. Electric fences might not work due to the safety of the livestock, but security cameras have been created to handle such scenarios. Installing several of these will ensure that you can monitor your cattle without any issues. You can also add a couple of floodlights to ensure your entire farm is lit at night so that trespassers stay away. Autonomous Farming Technology While agricultural advancements like tractors reduce the number of people working on a farm, unmanned tech takes this even further. A computer can control some farm machinery, and this goes for drones too. The equipment will carry out its duties as per the programming instructions. It ensures that the farmhands can concentrate on other things and let the tech run the show on the farm. Farming is being revolutionized with the addition of technology to it. One way to ensure this keeps on happening is by incorporating such tech in the farms. It ensures that product yield increases while lowering the cost of production. Every farm is different, and the owners should do their research on what works for them. It will make the investment made on the property worth it. Paige Williams is a Public Relations Specialist representing AKRS.com . With a degree in Integrated Marketing Communication, she shares her knowledge with the readers. Can be reached at cwilliams@highervisibility.com Need help tracking of your farm equipment , farm drones or other agricultural technology, give Farmbrite a try.

Harvest is the reward for months of hard work. But all that hard work can be wasted if a farmer doesn't have a customized harvest plan to maximize the quality and marketability of their produce. Direct-market farmers need to develop a "best practices" harvest plan for each crop and then use that information to develop a plan for the entire farm on harvest day. When working on your harvest plans, keep in mind these six harvest tips. Harvest Market Crops at the Right Size to Sell Some crops, such as radishes or English shelling peas, become over-mature and inedible if they are allowed to get too big and go past their harvest peak. On the other hand, some crops only reach peak flavor when they are mature – such as sugar snap peas. Other crops can capture more market value (and sell much faster) if they are picked when they are small versus big. Think zucchini! Uniformity of size is also essential if you are selling wholesale to chefs or grocery stores. For example, a chef doesn't want a bunch of salad turnips with one giant turnip and four tiny turnips. Instead, they need the turnips sized uniformly. Pick Vegetables and Fruits at the Right Time of Day In the height of the summer, the best time of the day for harvest for crops (and humans) is early, before it's too hot. But, for a busy market farmer with many diverse crops to harvest, knowing which absolutely must be picked while it's cooler outside versus those that can tolerate warmer harvest times is essential for organizing an efficient harvest day. Anything "green" (salad greens or braising greens like kale) should be picked during the coolest part of the day and immediately removed from the field. Root vegetables, like potatoes and carrots, tolerate a hot picking day as long as they aren't left in the field too long. Some 'fruiting vegetables' like tomatoes or cucumbers (and melons and cantaloupes) are best picked when it is still early and relatively cool, but after the morning dew has burned off. Heading brassicas, like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage, can be picked in the evening when temperatures go down, as long as you immediately remove the day's field heat (more about that below). Taking the Field Heat Out of Harvested Crops The next step to maximize your harvested crops' quality and storability is removing the "field heat" from the crop. Removing field heat is a critical step for vegetables that are already prone to wilting in hot weather (like salad greens or braising greens) and can also extend root crops' storage life such as carrots. Produce should be cooled before being sent to the cooler. Otherwise, it takes too long for the cool air to bring the temperature of the crop down, plus it makes the cooling unit work that much harder! Many farmers remove the field heat as part of the washing process, dumping a bin of freshly cut salad mix into a tank of cool wash water. Or, they spray off bunched crops to keep them humid, and cool and get them clean at the same time. On scorching days, consider ice in the dunk tank or pouring ice on top of a bin of harvest, such as broccoli or head lettuce, put into a cooler (some farms invest in an ice machine for this purpose specifically!) Handle Your Crop Gently and as Little as Possible "Soft hands" are essential for your harvest team to develop. Overzealous rough handling can bruise tender crops, damaging leaves and making them go bad in storage. Set up picking procedures for each crop. The harvest crew should always follow the same methods, employing the least amount of handling possible, whether that's how they stack the zucchini in the field bin or using a mesh bag to dunk salad greens into a washtub. Setting up methods to handle your crops as little as possible has an added benefit – it saves labor time. Select the Right Package or Storage Container for Your Crop It is essential to think about what to store your crops in after they are harvested. Some items may be packaged directly into market retail units — such as individual bags of salad greens. But, if stored in bulk, salad greens should be kept in plastic bags to keep humidity up. Likewise, root crops, especially if harvested in bulk for later sales, are best kept in open slatted bins, typically unwashed, to prevent mold and mildew. Also, consider space. Good storage bins that can stack, properly fill, and maximize cooler space. Store Your Harvest at the Right Temperature and Humidity A big challenge for storing vegetables and fruits for market farmers with many crops is that the perfect temperature (and humidity) can vary markedly from one crop to another. A 36-degree cooler might be perfect for broccoli but too chilly for head lettuce. Some crops do best at room temperatures, like cured onions and garlic, winter squash and tomatoes. Most small farmers with a diverse crop mix should plan to have at least a cold storage room and warm (room temperature) storage. Consider more than one cooler. They can be set at slightly different temperatures and humidity levels and filled with appropriate crops. You've Perfected Your Market Crop Harvest — But You're Not Done Yet! A well-thought-out harvest plan is a big part of a successful farm. But you're not entirely done yet! Make sure to be aware of food safety hazards and follow all food safety rules. Consider how you will transport your crop to market (or for deliveries). Do you have a refrigerated vehicle (or something you can adapt into a refrigerated vehicle)? And then, of course, there is your marketing plan for selling all those beautiful vegetables and fruits! There's a lot to think about for a successful farm business. But, hopefully, with these tips, you'll be well on your way to a profitable harvest! For more details on harvest procedures, including a crop-type breakdown, check out this great "Harvesting Crops for Market" guide produced by Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education. Georgie Smith, known in her community as “Farmer Georgie,” is a fourth-generation farmer and journalist living on her family’s historic farm on a Pacific Northwest island. She ran her own small farm for more than 20 years. These days, when she’s not herding chickens, fixing the antique tractor (again), or growing heirloom dry beans, Georgie writes about farming. Georgie is passionate about supporting healthy, equitable, and sustainable food production and thriving family farms. Farmbrite's ag software helps you keep track of your vegetable harvest and keep it fresh. Give it a try today.

Are you considering buying a new farm, acquiring additional land, investing in new machinery, or changing operational practices? Many times growing your business requires investment in resources or people. Those investments can often feel overwhelming. Can I replay this loan? Can I afford the monthly payments? What kind of collateral do I need? Read on to find out how to answer some of these questions. Taking out a new loan or line of credit for your business can be a big decision and figuring out the payment amounts can often feel complicated and overwhelming. Buying a farm or home is often the largest purchase most people make in their lifetime, so you should always think carefully and plan how to finance it and if you can afford it. Farm Loan Calculator: Farm loan calculators are tools designed to help farmers and agricultural businesses estimate various financial aspects related to loans. These calculators can assist you in understanding the costs, repayment schedules, and other financial implications of taking out a loan for your farming operation. If you are thinking about getting a farm loan and wondering what your payments might look like, we've got you covered. This farm loan calculator will help estimate your monthly principal and interest payments. Just enter your loan details below to find out about what your interest and total payments might look like. What's Next in Getting A Farm Loan? Payment amounts and interest will vary from the estimates above, but hopefully, this tool helps give you an idea to get you started. Once you've figured out how much you can afford, you'll want to find a lender to help finance your next purchase. Check out some other creative ideas to find a farm loan and other creative financing ideas for your ag business. It's also important to note that different lenders may have varying terms and conditions for agricultural loans, so farmers should consult with financial experts and lending institutions for precise and personalized information. If you are looking for ways to streamline your farm management and make your farm more efficient check out how Farmbrite can help.

When starting a livestock breeding program, the essential step is setting clear goals that you’re breeding for — and then sticking to them! Many farmers develop and maintain an on-farm herd (or flock) of animals specifically adapted to thrive on their farm with the qualities they value. That may be a herd of beef cattle that finish well on just grass, with no grain needed. Hardy sheep that don’t need to be wormed. Or a flock of turkeys that thrive on pasture production. Other farmers may be breeding specifically to produce pedigreed animals meeting breed standards, show stock, or even healthy, superior-quality breeding animals that sell for a premium. Either way, setting clear goals for your breeding program and following standard livestock breeding best practices will take you a long way to your perfect herd (or flock)! 1) Start with the Best Animals You Can Afford Always start your herd with the best-quality animals you can afford to buy. Many new livestock farmers make the mistake of starting with cheap (or even free) animals, thinking it is a quick way to start their breeding program. Those animals set you up for failure more often than not —poor vigor, critical conformation faults, or high susceptibility to pest and disease. If nothing else, you’ll spend many years trying to breed “away” from the problems you started with. Look for high-quality, vigorous animals and make sure to vet carefully anybody you’re buy breeding stock from. Ask to see parents (or the whole herd). If you are purchasing a pedigreed animal, make sure you see (and can take) the pedigree with you, there are many scams amongst so-called “purebred” animals. One option for starting a herd on a tight budget is purchasing older male animals. This is a common practice in beef cattle. Ranchers will typically switch out their herd bulls after several years to keep their genetics from getting in-bred. This gives you an older — but proven — animal to add to your herd at an affordable price with several years left to contribute to your gene pool. If you can only afford one really good quality animal to start with, make sure it is a male. Your male will have the most significant impact (to start) on your breeding program. 2) Livestock Breeding Selection — Keep the Best, Eat the Rest Another tried and true “best practices” standard for breeding is to “cull, cull and cull again.” This can be one of the most challenging, even emotional, concepts to enforce in a breeding program. It can be hard to choose if you have an animal you bred and like for some reasons but not others. Or, when you have better young stock than your older stock, it’s time to let the older animals go. Another way to think about it is your herd is only as good as the worst animal in it. Rigorously culling out the animals with unwanted traits is the fastest way to reach your breeding goals. If your ultimate plan is to develop a program to sell your extra livestock as breeding quality, make sure to only sell as breeding stock animals that you would have kept yourself (but don’t have room for). Selling your ‘culls’ as breeding quality is a quick way to garner a poor reputation amongst livestock breeders. 3) Classic Livestock Breeding Tools – Outcrossing, Inbreeding and Line Breeding Outcrossing is breeding together two unrelated animals. Outcrossing results in a wide variability of genetics but may not include the traits you are looking to develop. Linebreeding and inbreeding are techniques breeders use to “lock in” desirable traits within a herd. The difference between the two is the degree of separation between the animals. Inbreeding means mating father to daughter, mother to son, or brother to sister. It can risk developing genetic diseases, but most livestock can be successfully inbred for several generations without risk. Linebreeding is highly strategized inbreeding, breeding close relatives (like half-brother to half-sister) also to lock in desirable traits. Especially if you had good genetic diversity, to begin with, most livestock can be line bred for many generations before any specific ‘inbreeding’ genetic issues pop up. One thing to remember with inbreeding and linebreeding is again to cull heavily. You can expect to see more distinct undesirable along with desirable traits. Most livestock breeders follow a specific plan of inbreeding and line-breeding followed by strategic outcrosses for genetic diversity. 4) Utilize High-Tech Breeding Tools (If You Can Afford Them) Over the last few decades, high-tech breeding tools have been developed to quickly help breeders reproduce superior genetic animals. Or can identify key genetic traits even before breeding. In-vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer (ET) are two techniques used primarily in cattle and sometimes in other livestock. IVF involves harvesting unfertilized eggs directly from the animals, fertilizing and incubating them then implanting them in donor females. ET uses hormones to stimulate the selected female to produce many more eggs than normal in their cycle. The animal is bred, and then those embryos are “flushed” from the donor’s uterus and transferred to a new donor (or frozen for use later). Another more recent tool is genomics. Scientists are rapidly “mapping” the DNA of different species ( sheep was one of the most recent), and with that comes the ability to identify genetic markers for specific traits. This can be especially useful for early prediction amongst young stock for desirable (and undesirable) traits like, for instance, longevity or reproductive ability. Genetic testing has been chiefly used in cattle production. A final ‘high-tech’ tool that breeders are starting to use is cloning. However, the jury is still out on how “exact” cloning can be when replicating a superior animal. But, there is no doubt that cloning does preserve that animal’s genetics which means they can be passed on more rapidly or in more significant numbers. All the high-tech breeding tools can be expensive and are typically only used by breeders with an investment into reproducing genetically superior stock for sale. Farmers looking to create a healthy and reliable “farmstock” herd usually stick to the first three tried and true breeding best practices. Georgie Smith, known in her community as “Farmer Georgie,” is a fourth-generation farmer and journalist living on her family’s historic farm on a Pacific Northwest island. She ran her own small farm for more than 20 years. These days, when she’s not herding chickens, fixing the antique tractor (again), or growing heirloom dry beans, Georgie writes about farming. Georgie is passionate about supporting healthy, equitable, and sustainable food production and thriving family farms. Here at Farmbrite, we hope you found this information helpful for your livestock program. And happy breeding! Do you have any particular breeding successes you’re proud of and would like to share? Send us an email!

Cattle auctions are thrilling. Sawdust, donuts, and a cup of tepid coffee. Multiple sales rings, fast-talking auctioneers, and restless, bawling cows. Bids coming fast and furious. It's auction day and it's easy to get caught up in the auction adrenaline! Before you know it, you're coming home with two adorable Jersey bull calves you didn't even mean to bid on. Thank goodness they're small and will fit in the back seat because you didn't bring the trailer! Cattle auctions can be a great place to make purchases for your growing farm and ranch. But, they can also encourage an "oops" moment or impulse buy you'll end up regretting. Before you leave for your first cattle auction, it's prudent to understand how auctions work and keep a few "golden rules" in mind. Different Types of Cattle Auctions Typically, auction houses hold "regular sales" and "special sales" auctions. Regular sales are usually held each week (or month) at a specific date and time. They attract all different types of animals. You may see dairy bull calves or dairy cull cows, finished beef, dairy replacement heifers, or even starter herds. You'll also typically see other animals, like sheep, goats, poultry, and even rabbits. Regular sales tend to be a crapshoot for what's there, which isn't helpful if you're looking for something specific, but prices can be reasonable. Special sales are set at times by the auction house and advertised. Sellers usually know they are coming up, so they will save animals specifically for that sale. If you are looking for higher-quality beef cattle for a starter herd, attend a beef cattle special sales auction. The other type of cattle auction worth paying attention to is breed-specific auctions. These are held by breed organizations and are an excellent place to purchase superior genetic animals. These auctions are typically held in regional areas on a rotating basis. Some of the rarer breeds might have only one auction a year. To learn about these auction opportunities, follow the breed organizations you are interested in. Know What You are Looking for Before You Go to a Cattle Auction Having a plan and doing your research before you go to the auction can't be said enough! That auction "adrenaline" has sucked in many a buyer "just going to look" into coming home with a flock of chickens and an Angora rabbit of dubious quality. Think carefully about what livestock your farm needs, and what your budget is, and give yourself permission to walk away with NO purchases made. If you're buying cattle, make sure you understand what your goals are. If you're looking to purchase a starter herd, be picky! What breed or type of cow do you want? What traits are you looking for? Are the animals you would be purchasing worthy of breeding stock? How do they fit your breeding goals? Check out our post " Livestock Best Breeding Practices " for more information. Always keep your ultimate goal in mind and weigh that against your auction options (and budget!). To get an idea of cattle prices, check the USDA's auction reports from across the country. Although this list doesn't usually include breed club auctions, it is searchable by state. Breed clubs will typically report their sales prices after their auction on their website. Don't Purchase Any Animal You Aren't Already Set up to Care For Remember, you'll be bringing these critters home with you directly after the auction, so think about what you will need to care for them. Some auctions will keep your cows overnight for pick-up the next day, but most require you to take them immediately after purchase. If you're planning to buy multiple animals over the day, that means loading up your trailer several times as you make your purchases. Either way, it is essential to get your new cows home and settled as soon as possible to reduce stress. Do you have adequate shelter and fencing set up? Fencing for a few starter calves is a whole different scenario than bringing home a mature bull. You'll also need to keep your new stock separated from your other animals for 10 to 14 days to watch for any signs of disease. Purchase Healthy Cows! This one is a no-brainer, but it can be more challenging than it looks to suss out unhealthy animals in the high-stress auction environment if you are a new cattle buyer. Look for any signs of significant distress, snotty noses, weepy eyes, strange bumps or rashes. Make sure they aren't limping and are moving freely. If you are purchasing a pregnant (or supposedly bred animal), check for any vulva discharge. Calves should be alert and NOT have yellow diarrhea (scours!). For those new to cattle buying, this is a great time to enlist the help of a friend with cattle-buying experience. They will teach you plenty in just one auction experience. Know the Auction Dynamics Once you've gone through an auction or two, you'll be a pro. But that first time can be daunting! When you get to the auction, you'll need to stop at the office and sign up for a buyer's number. This is the number you will bid with and present when it is time to settle your bill. Know each auction house's billing policy before you go. Some auctions will take checks, but many will only accept credit cards or cash. Take some time listening and learning to understand the auctioneer! Most auctions will have more than one ring going on at the same time. It's a lot of noise and it takes time for your ear to adjust. Watch bidders around you (although some are very subtle!) and see how they bid to get a feel for the process. Remember to keep your hand motions limited because, yes, people do accidentally purchase a lot they never meant to. Go dressed in work clothes and bring hay, water buckets, and even a pitchfork to clean up messes while waiting for more stock to load. And of course, don't forget the trailer! Last but Not Least, Have Fun at the Auction! Cattle auctions can be a lot of fun. They can be a place to connect with other farmers and ranchers in your region and a good learning opportunity. Many people are avid auction attendees. You'll find the same sort there every time you go. It can be a "social gathering" to see what's available livestock-wise and check in with the farming neighbors. Don't be afraid to go to a few auctions just to connect, with zero plans to purchase anything. Last but not least, here is a great website that maintains a weekly calendar of upcoming cattle auctions all around the U.S. Georgie Smith, known in her community as “Farmer Georgie,” is a fourth-generation farmer and journalist living on her family’s historic farm on a Pacific Northwest island. She ran her own small farm for more than 20 years. These days, when she’s not herding chickens, fixing the antique tractor (again), or growing heirloom dry beans, Georgie writes about farming. Georgie is passionate about supporting healthy, equitable, and sustainable food production and thriving family farms. www.farmergeorgiewrites.com Need help organizing your growing herd ? Check out Farmbrite !

Farming is a physically demanding lifestyle (as you probably know). Every day, they get up before the sun and plug away at a checklist of never-ending chores from milking to feeding, weeding and everything in between. And since most farms are family-owned, there’s a good chance that the rest of the household chips in to share the work. Farm families spend so much time ensuring the health of their livestock that it’s easy to neglect their own needs. But maintaining this lifestyle just isn’t realistic if you’re in a constant state of physical exhaustion and mental strain. So, here are some of our top tips to keep your family healthy! Tip 1: Pack Nutrition into Every Meal As a farmer, you’re constantly monitoring the nutrient intake of your livestock and crops. Do the same for you and your family! Getting enough nutrients from your meals will help you maintain the physical energy and mental stamina you need to make it through those long days on the farm. The calcium found in dairy products, for example, carries out many essential roles throughout the body, supporting bone strength, blood pressure regulation, and muscle movement. While meat and dairy products contain a wealth of beneficial nutrients, plants play an equally important role in supplying our bodies with other essential vitamins and minerals including folate, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin K, and vitamin C. Tip 2: Stay Hydrated All Day Like eating healthy, drinking enough water is crucial for your whole-body health, especially when you work a physically demanding job. New Heights Physical Therapy explains that staying hydrated will give you energy, protect your joints, keep your organs running smoothly, and help you avoid infections. But drinking water isn’t the only way to hydrate. According to Taste of Home, beverages like milk, coconut water, tea, fruit juice, and sports drinks can also be hydrating. Just be mindful of the sugar content! Tip 3: Understand Agricultural Ergonomics How you treat your body at work is just as important as the foods and beverages you use to fuel it. Although farm labor is a great source of exercise, it can also be hard on your back and joints. It’s not uncommon for farm workers to experience back pain, muscle strains, and pain in the hands and shoulders. Following good workplace ergonomics will reduce strain on your body and help you work more efficiently. Learn proper lifting techniques , avoid excessive bending, and invest in ergonomic tools that protect the health of your hands, shoulders, and arms. It’s also a good idea to add some stretches to your daily routine. Tip 4: Take Care of Official Business Although a lot of work certainly goes into running a dairy farm, there’s also a lot of work that takes place behind the scenes. For example, if you’re just starting your own business, make sure you register your business with the state (as an LLC, for example), and remember to draft an operating agreement, which essentially lays out the rules for managing your business (in this case, of course, a dairy farm). This agreement will also explain the roles and responsibilities of those involved with your LLC. If you’re registering as an LLC, you can use a formation service to help you and possibly save money on lawyer fees. Tip 5: Take Breaks A farmer's work is never done, so it’s up to you to take breaks when you need them. It can be hard to step away from work when your to-do list is always growing, but taking regular breaks will keep your body and brain charged up so you can work more efficiently and give your farm the attention it needs. As with the mood-elevating effects that being around animals elicits, breaks will boost your productivity, restore your motivation, and help you stay sharp so you can make the best decisions for your farm. Most importantly taking breaks is important for maintaining relationships with your loved ones. You sacrifice a lot to provide for your family, so make sure you reap the rewards of your labor. Your work isn’t going anywhere! Making healthy choices in your daily life isn’t the only way to combat stress and physical exhaustion on the job. Adopting advancements in dairy farming technology can help you save a lot of time and get more done with less work or use farm management software like Farmbrite to keep you organized. You can't get things done if you're not at 100%. By doing small things to restore and keep up your energy and mental health, you will stay focused on the job you need to do which helps you go faster overall. This article was written by, Gloria Martinez who loves sharing her business expertise and hopes to inspire other women to start their own businesses and seek promotions in the workplace. She created WomenLed.org to spotlight and celebrate women’s achievements.

Organic certifi cation is currently the “gold standard” in food production when it comes to assuring consumers that the farm products they are purchasing are grown and processed using methods healthy for humans and the environment. The organic foods market in the U.S. was worth $55.1 billion in 2019, a healthy 5% over 2018 sales and the Covid pandemic accelerated organic food sales even higher. Consumers are looking for healthy foods and while there are many other “food labels” in the retail marketplace, “organic” is by far the most familiar one. Not surprisingly, many farm owners wonder what it will take to certify their farm as organic. Farms with more than $5,000 in gross sales annually cannot use the term “organic” when marketing their products without certification under the USDA National Organic Program rules . Whether your farm is growing fruits, vegetables, grains, flowers or any other crop, if you are thinking about certifying your farm as organic, here are six steps to move you through the process seamlessly: 1) Connect with Local Organic Certified Farms Reach out to your local farming community to talk with local organic farmers to learn about their certification processes before you commit. Your fellow organic farmers can be your best resource for the reality of organic certification process. They can help you decide if organic certification is enough of a benefit to your operation to pursue it. Other things to consider: Is there a demand in your local market for organic produce? Are most local farms organic certified or is nobody organic certified, meaning organic certification could be a feather in your cap (or not required) to help capture market share? What buying avenues will open up to you that might not be available without organic certification? Understand your investment - What does the process look like? How long did it take? How much did it cost? Which certifying agents should you use (or avoid)? A quick conversation asking your fellow farmers why their farms are (or aren’t) organic certified can give you better tools to make your decision and set you up for certifying success. 2) Find a Farm Organic Certifying Agent. Once you understand what organic certification will mean to you from your fellow farmers, your next step to organic certification is finding an organic certifying agent who will conduct your inspections. Organic certifying agents are also a great resource to help you prepare for certification. They can tell you if your land qualifies for organic certification immediately or if you need to go through some steps to get there (and what those steps look like). What is an Organic Certifier? Organic certifying agents are organizations or entities (and sometimes states) that the USDA has accredited to inspect and approve organic certification applications. There are nearly 80 certifying agents , so there are many to choose from. Make sure to compare rates (they can vary) and also ask if that particular agent has experience certifying the type of farming business your operation is. 3) Find Grants for Organic Certification Becoming an organic-certified farm can be costly. There are fees for certification itself and you may have to change or implement new farming practices or to meet organic standards. There are, however, grants for organic certifications and fee-offset programs to help farmers make the transition to organic certification. Many farmers have taken advantage of financial resources to help them cover certification fees and offset new management practices. Keep in mind, if you are hoping to certify ground that has previously had non-organic products used on it, certification requires a documented three-year transition period before that land can be certified organic. To kick off your research into potential avenues to help offset organic transition costs check out this post by the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Center and this post by the USDA on cost-share programs to help farmers cover certification fees. 4) Create an Organic System Plan An organic system plan details how the producer (or processor) will comply with the organic regulations. Organic system plans will differ significantly depending on the type of operations. Still, they should address all practices that could jeopardize organic certification, including tilling, grazing, harvesting, fertility management, storing, packaging, handling, and transport. An organic system plan should list the inputs used on the farm and make sure they are accepted under the Organic Materials Review Institute . A certifying agent can typically help a farm put together an organic management plan and review your plan to ensure you didn’t miss any critical elements. 5) Follow Your Organic Plan Once you have your organic plan in place, start following it! This might involve changes to how you were farming, or perhaps you were practicing “organic standards” before you wrote your plan down. Either way, you need to follow your plan and, crucially, document everything you do. Save all your records as far as receipts (for purchases and sales) and document your farming practices as you perform them. This will help streamline your reporting processes and simplify any reviews or farm audits. 6) Get Organic Certified with an Inspect The final step in certification is scheduling an inspection with your certifying agent. A certifying agent will come when your farm is actively producing to inspect your operations while working (versus during the winter). They will require a paper trail and conduct an audit to ensure you have followed your organic certification plan. Once the initial certification has been received, an inspection is conducted yearly to keep your certification current. For more information on becoming organic certified, check out this site including an “Organic 101” series produced by the USDA. Georgie Smith, known in her community as “Farmer Georgie,” is a fourth-generation farmer and journalist living on her family’s historic farm on a Pacific Northwest island. She ran her own small farm for more than 20 years. These days, when she’s not herding chickens, fixing the antique tractor (again) or growing heirloom dry beans, Georgie writes about farming. Georgie is passionate about supporting healthy, equitable, and sustainable food production and thriving family farms. www.farmergeorgiewrites.com Need help tracking your organic certification? Let Farmbrite help!

What You Need to Know About Planting Hemp on Your Farm When hemp was legalized in the 2018 Farm Bill, farmers across the U.S. rejoiced. Finally, hemp, one of the world’s most useful plants, could be grown after 80 long years of prohibition. However, a planting “gold rush” mentality in the 2019 season and an immature marketplace left many eager and uninformed new hemp farmers with nothing but debt and an unsellable hemp crop. Farmers considering planting hemp for the first time need to be well aware of the challenges facing hemp farmers. Hemp Can be Grown for Many Potential Uses Hemp is an extremely versatile plant used in many applications — “fiber, food, and pharma” is the typical mantra. Hemp flowers and leaves (which is called biomass) can be harvested to produce federally legal, non-intoxicating cannabinoids, like CBD, CBG, and CBN. Cannabinoids interact with the human endocannabinoid system — part of the human nervous system that works to keep bodies in ‘homeostasis,’ or operating at peak function. Cannabinoids are thought to offer many health benefits, from reducing pain and inflammation to relieving stress and anxiety to helping combat insomnia. High cannabinoid-producing hemp biomass can be processed for full-spectrum cannabinoid oil. This utilizes all of hemp’s naturally-occurring cannabinoids plus other human health-positive plant compounds like terpenes and flavonoids without having an intoxicating effect, like marijuana does. Or, the natural compounds in hemp can be lab-isolated to create pure CBD (or one of the other non-intoxicating cannabinoids). Hemp grain, the seed from the hemp flowerhead containing negligible amounts of cannabinoids, is considered a “superfood” and one of the most nutritionally complete food sources globally. Hemp fiber (hemp produces a long and short fiber) is widely useful in many industries, from producing textiles to paper to batteries. However, all those great uses come with unique roadblocks when adding hemp into your farming operations. Is growing Hemp legal? What Farmers Need to Know About Growing Hemp Hemp growers can easily find themselves in legal hot water (and their crop seized) if they aren’t well aware of all the ins and outs of growing hemp. Hemp and marijuana are the same species ( Cannabis sativa ). The difference (from a legal standpoint) is that hemp produces less than .3% THC, the ‘intoxicating’ cannabinoid in the cannabis plant. Marijuana typically has 20% THC or more. Farmers need to know that growing hemp, like most crops, has both a good and bad side. With less than .3% THC, hemp plants produce no noticeable intoxicating effects upon consumption. However, it is possible for a hemp crop to “go hot” at harvest time and over the legal definition of hemp. Even a crop that tests at .4% for THC is legally considered “marijuana.” It cannot be sold and must be destroyed or a farmer faces charges of growing an illegal marijuana crop. Additionally, there are also states that have banned smokable hemp flower because it looks like marijuana flower. Yet, some consumers prefer to smoke hemp for the taste, aroma, and experience, as well as the benefits of hemp’s non-intoxicating cannabinoids, like CBD. However, law enforcement personnel cannot tell the difference between legal hemp flower and illegal marijuana bud, prompting some states to ban hemp flower altogether. Using Hemp for Fiber Hemp produces two types of fiber. Hemp ' bast ’ fiber is long, strong, and useful for textiles. Hemp “ hurds " are short fibers used for animal bedding, to make hempcrete , hemp paper, and many other things. Fiber hemp varieties are not the same types planted for CBD. They are incredibly productive, yielding two to three tons per acre. However, preparing hemp bast fiber (which fetches the highest price) for textiles requires multi-million-dollar investments in processing facilities. Because hemp production was prohibited for 80 years, there were no operating hemp processing facilities in the U.S. when hemp was legalized. Is Hemp Easy to Grow? Hemp is not exactly simple to grow — start small and learn. One of the biggest mistakes new hemp growers make is planting too much, too soon. Hemp, despite rumors to the contrary, does not “grow like a weed.” Along with choosing the right hemp seeds for your eventual market (Hemp biomass for CBD? Smokable hemp flower? Hemp fiber? Hemp grain?), farmers need to consider the legal requirements of growing hemp and learn how to grow the crop itself. Hemp is susceptible to pests and diseases. Growers need to develop the right techniques for harvesting their crop and hemp farmers may need to invest in specialized equipment and new infrastructure to grow and process a marketable hemp crop. The Growing Industry Of Hemp Despite the steep learning curve and the additional risks that (can) come with growing hemp, there is still a lot to celebrate when it comes to growing hemp. Each year hemp farmers learn more about growing the crop, prices are stabilizing, and new markets emerge. In 2021 according to the USDA, 41.4 Million dollars of hemp fiber was grown. There are now over 20 hemp fiber processing facilities in the U.S. The first started processing hemp fiber in 2021 in Texas, creating demand for farmers in Texas and surrounding states. The use of CBD and other hemp-derived cannabinoids continues to increase as the public becomes more familiar with the positive health benefits of hemp. Hemp proponents hope the U.S. will eventually fully legalize adding CBD to food and beverage products, creating greater demand. Textile, paper, construction, livestock bedding, bioplastics, and many other industries (including the graphene sector that produces lithium batteries) remain keenly interested in using hemp fibers. The animal feed industry is moving to legalize using spent hemp grain to feed animals, creating a secondary byproduct industry that could make growing hemp for its grain alone more profitable. All told, hemp is still an intriguing crop for farmers to consider getting familiar with. It can be a good rotation with other crops and, if you can find the right market for your hemp harvest, add profitability to your farm operations. It's important to do your own research. Start first with your state agricultural department and its hemp division. Seek out other hemp growers in your area, carefully vet hemp seed suppliers and potential buyers. And understand the best way to grow this crop within the legal limits. Check with university agricultural departments for the latest research on best practice standards and growing guides for hemp farmers. Here are some additional resources about growing hemp: National Hemp Association American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp USDA Hemp Regulations Rodale Institute Hemp Growing Trial You can use Farmbrite to help your hemp business. Take a look at our farm management software today.

Lamb, Mutton, Sheep, or All of the Above? There's a lot to think about when starting a new farming endeavor. Let's get basic, a lamb is simply a baby sheep. But the terminology surrounding farmers — or, more accurately, shepherds — that raise and sell lamb versus shepherds that raise sheep can be confusing. Sheep and Lamb Farming Most sheep operations -- whether they are raising wool sheep, dairy sheep or ‘hair’ sheep (sheep breeds that don’t grow a wool coat) only for meat -- market their yearly lamb production as an essential part of their annual sales. Lamb meat is the most high-value and in-demand meat product in a sheep operation. Lamb Versus Mutton Lamb and mutton are simply two ways of characterizing sheep carcasses depending on the animal’s age at the time of slaughter. Lamb is the meat of a young sheep less than 12 months of age. Mutton is the meat of a sheep older than one year. Yearling mutton is meat from sheep between one and two years old. The older the sheep is at the time of slaughter, the strong, more intense flavor the meat has. Most consumers don’t care for the taste of mutton, finding it too gamey and the meat tough. It is dark red, with a fat layer. Mutton, when consumed, is usually used in stews and is more prevalent in Middle Eastern and European cuisine. On the other hand, Lamb is favored for its sweet, mild flavor and fine-grained tender texture and many lamb cuts — leg of lamb, lamb shoulder — are used in famous high cuisine dishes. In addition, lamb doesn’t have much fat. Lamb is the preferred way to consume sheep meat in the United States. In a live sheep, age can be determined by checking its front teeth. A lamb less than a year old has eight milk teeth on its lower jaw. A yearling sheep, often called a “hogget” in traditional sheep-raising countries like the U.K. and New Zealand, will have cut its first pair of permanent teeth. A 2-year-old sheep will have produced its second pair of permanent teeth and is typically called a “two-tooth” sheep. Other important definitions of sheep-rearing include: Ewe — A female sheep. A young female lamb is called a ewe lamb. Ram — A male sheep. A young male sheep is called a ram lamb. Wether — A castrated male sheep. They are more docile than rams when mature and are used for wool production. Lambskin — The hide from a slaughtered lamb with the fur intact. Lambskin is very soft and is used to make gloves, belts, purses, and many more accessory items. When cured into leather, lambskin becomes lamb leather and is preferred for its soft text and smooth quality. Sheepskin — The same as the hide from a lamb simply from an animal a year or older. Like the meat, sheepskin tends to be of rougher texture than lambskin and is typically used for making shoes or book covers. Sheep leather is cured from sheepskin. Marketing Lamb (or Sheep) Meat In past years there has been very little demand for mutton in the U.S., and lamb sales in large markets have been declining for many years. The current per capita consumption of lamb meat is less than one-half pound per person per year and many Americans have never even tasted lamb. However, there has been an increase in interest in lamb meat. Depending on your sheep-raising goals, lamb sales can be a successful way to augment your sheep production. Selling to specialty markets with a high demand for lamb or selling directly to consumers or to chefs in your community are all ways to make a profit with your sheep. If the primary purpose of the sheep flock is for wool or dairy, then obviously, the lamb is a secondary income stream that can help make the primary purpose of the flock more profitable. In addition, many small farmers have found that a flock of sheep can be very useful in regenerating grazing pasture-land and often use them in a diversified pasture management scheme. If pasture and soil restoration is the primary goal, those farmers typically tend to raise hair sheep — breeds like Katahdin or St. Croix — that don’t require annual shearing. When it comes time to sell the lamb, there are several options. There is a strong demand for lamb in ethnic populations centered around cultural holidays like Greek or Eastern Easter, Passover, Christmas, and Ramadan if direct marketing. Lamb is the customary meat for many Christian, Jewish, and Muslim traditions. Chefs are another potential outlet for lamb meat. However, the lamb must be slaughtered in a U.S.D.A. inspected and authorized facility to sell to a chef or a wholesale outlet like a grocery store. Direct-market farmers may prefer to sell lamb “on the hoof,” having the consumer pay them for the hanging weight and pay the slaughter and processing fees directly to the local butcher shop that processes the lamb. Another outlet for lamb meat is online sales, customized and shipped “butcher boxes” of specialty meats are growing in popularity and allow small-scale farmers to tap into market demand beyond their region. Some farmers will send their recently weaned lambs at auction as “feeder lambs.” Feeder lambs are usually purchased by feedlots or grazing operations to finish the animal for a short period before slaughter time. For additional resources: Marketing Lamb and Goat for Holidays Sheep – A Small-Scale Agricultural Alternative An Illustrated Guide to Sheep and Goat Production So you want to raise sheep Georgie Smith, known in her community as “Farmer Georgie,” is a fourth-generation farmer and journalist living on her family’s historic farm on a Pacific Northwest island. She ran her own small farm for more than 20 years. These days, when she’s not herding chickens, fixing the antique tractor (again), or growing heirloom dry beans, Georgie writes about farming. Georgie is passionate about supporting healthy, equitable, and sustainable food production and thriving family farms. www.farmergeorgiewrites.com Need help keeping track of your sheep production? Take Farmbrite for a trial run free for 14 days.