Today’s competitive business environment and rapid pace of change impacting upon the farming industry has made it impossible to manage a farm productively without capitalising on the various software and technological advancements that are becoming available. Additionally, the pressures to conform to sustainability principles have placed further stress upon farmers to match the performance of their agricultural business with environmental practices that will ensure the long term viability and sustainability, of not only the environment, but their future livelihood.

The various strategies employed to keep a farming operation productive and profitable are bundled under the term ‘farm management’. With the advent of cheaper and better technological solutions to problems, it is not only large commercial farms that are benefiting from these advances, but smaller family owned operations. A key aspect for any business is in its ability to keep accurate and up-to-date records for the business, including receipts and expenses, inventory and stock levels, crop and livestock information – all in an easy to use format which allows the farm manager to easily access the information and analyse the performance of the business.

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