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One in Three Farms Is Using FarmLogs

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Re: One in Three Farms Is Using FarmLogs

#41

Post by ChuckFrank »

vollmarj wrote: post #37
wooster wrote: post #6

This number ("one in three") is really ambiguous[0], as I haven't seen them state what they consider a farm to be. It could be the Ag Census data (~2.2 million farms), or along some subset (say non-family farms at ~90 thousand), or some farm type (I believe I've previously seen them say "row crop farms"). I'm sure it seems like an impressive stat to throw out there, but it's a lot like saying they're offering a milli…

Happy to clear that up. We don't count hobby farms as they aren't our typical users. We are focusing on the ~280k row crop farms in the US of which over 90k have started using FarmLogs. Most of our customers have between 600 and 10k acres of land each.

Thank you. I think that's a fair representation of your marketshare. When you say 'started', what exactly do you mean? Used trials versions, previously engaged, or full time active members?

Re: One in Three Farms Is Using FarmLogs

#42

Post by fanquake »

I'd like to get a more comprehensive look at FarmLogs, hopefully they'll be more available in Australia soon. Although until then, after just browsing through the interface, I'd like to make a few points. I should point out I'm from a broad-acre farm of > 10'000acres, and we have single fields nearly 2.5x bigger than the 600acre size mentioned..

There's still seems to be to much of a focus on farmers having to manually enter data. Our machinery already records everything that happens in the paddock, there's no reason why we should have to sit down and manually enter everything we do. Farmlogs should connect to whichever machinery provider we use's API, and pull all the data straight from the machine. It's now possible to do that in real time, and it opens up far more interesting opportunities, (for example optimising variable rate maps in real time) as we can also push data back to the machines.

How do I connect and use my local weather station data within FarmLogs? One limitation of our current yield prediction software is that it's weather data feed comes from a BOM station nearly 30km away, that isn't nearly good enough, so we're seeing a transition to on farm weather stations. Ultimately we need to be able to collect weather info on a field by field basis, not only for crop modelling and yield prediction, but to better optimise harvesting/swathing schedules, and make more effective N applications (we can create better application maps based on the yield models + predicted weather).

Can I import my all my soil data? We've had extensive EM38 mapping, radio-metrics and soil testing done over the farm to better calibrate our yield models, and improve nutrient application, how do I put that data into FarmLogs? If I can, how do you use it? Can you generate my VR maps based on soil data + predicted weather information?

I'm also seeing some features that most farmers I know will never use. We don't need "another" calendar. We don't need to keep a record of all the grain we have stored in silos, or upload information about every piece of machinery we have on farm. What benefit does that give us? It seems like your almost trying to gameify farming with all the graphics..

I think tools like FarmLogs need to move away from just data collection/consolidation and much more towards yield prediction/modelling, and giving recommendations/optimising nutrient applications. We spend more than $500'000 a year on fert/chemicals, so if you can help me make a more precise variable rate map and save me 10% of that figure, thats something I'm going to use. Even if your charging me $5000/10'000/x'000 a year for it.

Re: One in Three Farms Is Using FarmLogs

#43

Post by csirac2 »

fanquake wrote: post #40
Bjorkbat wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, as a former farmer I'm a little bit skeptical. Last I checked the vast majority of farms out there aren't large operations, but incredibly small family-owned "hobby farms" or market gardens (what most of us would identify as a small vegetable farm). Having known many farmers over the years, I can only think of one who would really have a use for this. The rest would probably just dismiss it without much thought…

In Australia we've seen nothing but farm getting larger over the last 15-20 years. It's also interesting to compare the size of farm he's talking about to what we have here. On our property we have single fields 2x the size of what they consider a small farm (600acres).

The economics of farming certainly do seem different in the US. Is land really that much cheaper/higher-yielding? Is that why hobby farms in the US can break-even on such small areas? Or is the difference just in the subsidies they get? Or is high/consistent-yielding farmland simply locked away from smaller operators in Australia nowadays? A combination of everything?

Re: One in Three Farms Is Using FarmLogs

#44

Post by wooster »

vollmarj wrote: post #37
wooster wrote: post #6

This number ("one in three") is really ambiguous[0], as I haven't seen them state what they consider a farm to be. It could be the Ag Census data (~2.2 million farms), or along some subset (say non-family farms at ~90 thousand), or some farm type (I believe I've previously seen them say "row crop farms"). I'm sure it seems like an impressive stat to throw out there, but it's a lot like saying they're offering a milli…

Happy to clear that up. We don't count hobby farms as they aren't our typical users. We are focusing on the ~280k row crop farms in the US of which over 90k have started using FarmLogs. Most of our customers have between 600 and 10k acres of land each.

Thanks! That's helpful for clarifying what your target market is.

Re: One in Three Farms Is Using FarmLogs

#45

Post by whage »

I have been silently following FarmLogs for a long time, it is wonderful to see technology being merged with nature. I often thought about what it would be like working for them but the problem is that I'm from mid europe (Hungary). The majority of our country is farmland, we even have a somewhat similar and quite successful startup here, SmartVineyard who do similar stuff but specifically for grapes. Is it possible for non-US developers to join FarmLogs without relocating?

Re: One in Three Farms Is Using FarmLogs

#46

Post by wooster »

fanquake wrote: post #40
Bjorkbat wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, as a former farmer I'm a little bit skeptical. Last I checked the vast majority of farms out there aren't large operations, but incredibly small family-owned "hobby farms" or market gardens (what most of us would identify as a small vegetable farm). Having known many farmers over the years, I can only think of one who would really have a use for this. The rest would probably just dismiss it without much thought…

In Australia we've seen nothing but farm getting larger over the last 15-20 years. It's also interesting to compare the size of farm he's talking about to what we have here. On our property we have single fields 2x the size of what they consider a small farm (600acres).

What crops do you grow? Growing up near the Salinas Valley, I always associated row crops with produce and not grains, so a <600 acre "row crop" farm can generate pretty massive revenue.

Re: One in Three Farms Is Using FarmLogs

#47

Post by johnchristopher »

vollmarj wrote: post #37
wooster wrote: post #6

This number ("one in three") is really ambiguous[0], as I haven't seen them state what they consider a farm to be. It could be the Ag Census data (~2.2 million farms), or along some subset (say non-family farms at ~90 thousand), or some farm type (I believe I've previously seen them say "row crop farms"). I'm sure it seems like an impressive stat to throw out there, but it's a lot like saying they're offering a milli…

Happy to clear that up. We don't count hobby farms as they aren't our typical users. We are focusing on the ~280k row crop farms in the US of which over 90k have started using FarmLogs. Most of our customers have between 600 and 10k acres of land each.

Slightly off-topic but I am dumbstruck by the size of US farms. Where I live it's common for farmers to manage 10 hectares fields and these are considered big fields.

Re: One in Three Farms Is Using FarmLogs

#48

Post by fanquake »

wooster wrote: post #46
fanquake wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In Australia we've seen nothing but farm getting larger over the last 15-20 years. It's also interesting to compare the size of farm he's talking about to what we have here. On our property we have single fields 2x the size of what they consider a small farm (600acres).

What crops do you grow? Growing up near the Salinas Valley, I always associated row crops with produce and not grains, so a <600 acre "row crop" farm can generate pretty massive revenue.

Predominately wheat. The rest is lupins and a small amount of canola (~750ha this year).

Re: One in Three Farms Is Using FarmLogs

#49

Post by fanquake »

csirac2 wrote: post #43
fanquake wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In Australia we've seen nothing but farm getting larger over the last 15-20 years. It's also interesting to compare the size of farm he's talking about to what we have here. On our property we have single fields 2x the size of what they consider a small farm (600acres).

The economics of farming certainly do seem different in the US. Is land really that much cheaper/higher-yielding? Is that why hobby farms in the US can break-even on such small areas? Or is the difference just in the subsidies they get? Or is high/consistent-yielding farmland simply locked away from smaller operators in Australia nowadays? A combination of everything?

Land may be cheaper, but probably not higher yielding. When your buying land your essentially buying rainfall. We could easily find and buy xx'000 acres of really cheap land, but it if only gets 200-300mm of rain every year, your not going to be seeing serious yields. The other thing to remember is that irrigation is impossible for a lot of West Australian farmland.

Re: One in Three Farms Is Using FarmLogs

#50

Post by Totoradio »

johnchristopher wrote: post #47
vollmarj wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Happy to clear that up. We don't count hobby farms as they aren't our typical users. We are focusing on the ~280k row crop farms in the US of which over 90k have started using FarmLogs. Most of our customers have between 600 and 10k acres of land each.

Slightly off-topic but I am dumbstruck by the size of US farms. Where I live it's common for farmers to manage 10 hectares fields and these are considered big fields.

Same here, my father has a ~80 ha (~200 acres) farm in Brittany, and that's a medium sized farm in the area.
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