Farm Software

My grandfather always said, "If it ain't broke don't fix it." That mentality has become something of a mantra among farmers, which is probably why so many of them continue to record their farm details and information on paper. The advantages of tracking farm information on paper seem obvious to the farmers that still do it.

Pros of Using Paper Records

• They're comfortable with this method.
• Paper is cheap.
• It's easy to pick up their notebook or file and take it to whomever needs the information.
• They don't have to buy or learn any new technology to keep their records this way.

If they're honest, farmers that still use paper to track their records would admit that there are also some obvious disadvantages to this record keeping method.

Cons of Using Paper Records

• If the paperwork is lost or accidentally destroyed there's no back-up copy or easy way to replace the records.
• After keeping records on paper for years, the paperwork piles up and becomes harder to organize.
• Others may have difficulty reading or following your paper records.
• When the records need to be shared with someone far away, copying, scanning, faxing and/or mailing the appropriate information can be a headache.