|
Herd WORKS Quarterly!
Issue No. 3 |
Distinguish Your Alpaca Farm from Other Farms with Improved Herd Records that aid in Sound Decision Making
Save time.
Reduce Errors.
Make better decisions.
______________________________ |
|
New Video Tutorials
Check out the first of a series of video tutorials which will be added to the Alpaca Herd WORKS web site over the next few weeks. Whether you just want to check out the software or are an experienced user that wants to gain proficiency, these short videos will walk through the functionality step by step.
______________________________ |
|
Excerpts from "Record Keeping for the Ranch"
(Editors Note: In this article, a Farm Services Agency loan offiicer helps you understand the corellation between good record keeping and a successful farm/ranch operation)
"Record keeping. It's been compared to sitting in a dentist chair or cleaning the bathroom. It's a chore that is often put on the back burner in lieu of more important tasks on the ranch like chores, baling hay and fixing fence. Yet, record keeping is one of the most important keys to success in any operation."
"Records can be used as a management resource for producers. Records monitor progress of the business and determine the need for change in the future. Maybe we need to modify things in the operation. By looking at our records, we can make those adjustments; however, without records, we would probably continue to do the same things year after year."
|
|
Dear Tim,
It's already July - hard to believe that we are already half way through 
2010! Farm activities tend to slow down a bit during the summer months for most farms and ranches, as kids and grandkids are home, vacations and traveling are on the schedule and the hot weather can make it tough being outside.
Looking for something to do while you're cooling off with that ice-cold lemonade? Why not check out the online videos listed in the left sidebar to help you get started with Alpaca Herd WORKS. The videos are 10-20 minutes long and are designed to help you get up and running in no time.
Also, since you are between show seasons, now is a good time to work on your record keeping tasks to be ready for the busy Fall season.
If you are a current user of Alpaca Herd WORKS, spend a few minutes updating your herd records. If you have not yet tried it, why not download a free trial and see for yourself if it can help mange your records. As always, help with your questions is readily available (we raise alpacas ourselves).
Thank you for reading about Alpaca Herd WORKS. Let me hear from you about how I can make your alpaca operation record keeping easier for you!
Sincerely,
Tim Sheets
Creator of Alpaca Herd WORKS |
|
Quick Setup from ARI Data
Extract Your Herd List from the ARI website
It's quick and easy to create your herd data in Alpaca Herd WORKS. Just open the Setup Wizard and connect to the ARI website. Open your herd list and click the extract button. A record is created in Herd WORKS for each alpaca which includes ARI name, ARI #, DOB, Breed, Sex and Color!
ARI Web Viewer
 |
Extracted Data |
|
|
Record Keeping for the Ranch
from Tri-State Livestock News - June 22, 2010
Record keeping. It's been compared to sitting in a dentist chair or cleaning the bathroom. It's a chore that is often put on the back burner in lieu of more important tasks on the ranch like chores, baling hay and fixing fence. Yet, record keeping is one of the most important keys to success in any operation, said Mary Held, a farm loan officer with the Farm Service Agency (FSA).
Held was one of the speakers at the Ag Women's Day held on June 15, 2010, where more than 70 women met to listen to presentations on crop and livestock insurance, estate planning, gardening, grilling, and more.
Held recognized that women in agriculture are often placed in the role of bookkeeper, so she offered some sound ideas to consider for getting the job done and maintaining accurate records for the operation to reference.
Three copies, three reasons
So, why should producers keep records anyway? And, how often should I maintain and keep these records?
read more... |
|
Coming Soon! - iPACA for iPhone and iPod Touch
Add Mobility to Your Herd Manangement Tasks
 We are pleased to announce that an iPhone version of Alpaca Herd WORKS called iPACATM will soon be available to to add mobility to your herd management tasks. Alpaca Herd WORKS currently allows you to create group procedures and print work sheets to take to the barn to record weights and medications given. iPACATM will allow you to bypass the worksheets and and enter the data directly into your iPhone or iPod Touch. Then, simply sync iPhone with your home computer and all the data is transferred! I think you will agree that this has the potential to make you record keeping even easier!
iPACATM will be included with the next version of Herd WORKS and will have the above mentioned functionality, individual alpaca data including pedigree, photos, breeding data, contacts, expenses and much more including a drug reference and dosage calculator. I think you will find that iPACATM will provide you with the herd data you need when you're on the go! iPACATM will be provided at no charge to registered users, but will require the purchase of the mobile app from the iTunes store.
More information on the availabilty of iPACATM will be posted on the Alpaca Herd WORKS website soon.
| | |