Someone asked me about ways to cut down paper in the farm office.  The question wasn’t posed by an environmentalist, but rather by a farmer with an office that had been overtaken by clutter.   There were too many old farm records, catalogs, invoices, and receipts to fit in file cabinet.   

I gave the question some thought and I decided that this would be a great topic for lots of old and new farmers.   

I know some of you are computer shy, but let me start by reminding you that the US farmer is the best trained, most educated, farmer in the world. They use the highest tech equipment/machinery (most with GPS), grow genetically modified crops, turn on irrigation pivots from cell phones, track live and approaching weather through the internet, market their crops/livestock through sophisticated indexes, and some are even making use of RFID.   

With that being said, we are technology savvy group, but most of us haven’t reassessed the farm office since we bought our first computer and loaded it up with Farmfacts.

I’ve come up with the following 9 technology tips that will help reduce paper usage in your farm office and get your operation more organized and efficient.   

Tips for Cutting Paper Usage in your Farm Office 

1)       Catalogs: Ask your vendors to email you electronic versions of whatever they are trying to sell.  If they have a catalog, they have a digital version that they can email. (by the way, you will be doing them a favor by saving production and mail costs)  -Estimated Cost = FREE 

2)       Printer: Unplug the printer.  Put it on the other side of the room.  Connect it when you need it.  –It will be a hassle I know.  That’s the point. You will only use it when you need it. -Estimated Cost = FREE 

3)       Faxes: Get an eFax account.  All faxes will be re-roughed to your email. (don’t print your faxes unless they need to be signed and returned)  -Estimated Cost = $20 per mo 

4)       Receipts: Buy a receipt scanner.  They are small, easy to use, and relatively inexpensive. Here is an example of one with a pretty neat demonstration: http://www.neatreceipts.com/getorganized?gclid=CJWXqaGcopMCFSUqagodDDn9nw -Estimated Cost = $200 

5)       Invoicing: Use Electronic Invoicing.  PayPal is pretty simple and works great. Quickbooks also offers an integrated online bill pay solution that is very slick.  (yes, you will loose 3% or so on credit card fees, but keep in mind that you will get your money faster and have less paperwork to track. –good things come with a price.) -Estimated Cost = N/A 

6)       Bill-Pay: Ask anyone and everyone that you pay bills to, if they offer an “electronic payment solution.” (some call it electronic bill-pay) If you are dealing with a smaller company, ask them to send you a PayPal invoice via email.  -Estimated Cost = FREE 

7)       Software: Use Farm Management Software to do your record keeping and accounting.  Check out: http://www.123farmworks.com . The software links your accounting info to your field, livestock, maps and GPS data if you are doing precision farming. -Estimated Cost = N/A 

8)       E-Statements: Ask your bank, co-op, Credit Card Company, lenders, insurance companies, fuel provider to send e-statements to your email instead of paper statements. -Estimated Cost = FREE 

9)       Purchases: Stop writing checks and start using a debit card that draws from your checking account.  All your expenses will be shown on 1 monthly statement. -Estimated Cost = FREE 

(Also see PC Magazine tips cutting paper usage in any business: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2279360,00.asp)

If you spend a little time getting set up, your farm office will become more organized and efficient and there will be far less clutter.  Good luck!

 

GLOBAL ATTENTION FUELS POSITIVE RESPONSE TO THE WORLD AGRICULTURAL FORUM’S FIRST CONGRESS IN AFRICA

2009 World Congress Replaces 2008 African Congress, with Addition of Higher Education Initiative to Take Place in Kampala, Uganda February 24-27, 2009 

ST. LOUIS (April 14, 2008)— For the first time in history, the World Agricultural Forum’s (WAF) 2009 World Congress will take place outside of the United States and will be hosted by the Republic of Uganda. Due to overwhelming interest for what was supposed to be a regional meeting has become the WAF’s 2009 World Congress, “Africa Meets the World: Creating Prosperity By Investing in Agriculture.” The 2009 World Congress, scheduled for February 24-26, 2009 in Kampala, Uganda will conclude with the introduction of the WAF Task Force on Strategic Partnerships for Higher Education in Africa – Entrepreneurship and Community Development on February 27, 2009.

 

“The world’s attention to Africa continues to grow, particularly with humanitarian concerns,” said the Right Honorable James Bolger, ONZ, former Prime Minister of New Zealand and Ambassador to the United States, and current chairman of the World Agricultural Forum Advisory Board.  “However, with the hundreds of institutions, organizations and foundations offering aid, several Africans have told us that they can barely keep up with all those who approach them. Looking beyond Africa’s agricultural potential, the need for collaboration among these various groups will propel initiatives for higher education, encouraging entrepreneurs.  The entrepreneurs will create small businesses, providing more employment opportunities and eventually cultivating an environment for economic growth.” 

 The WAF Task Force on Strategic Partnerships for Higher Education in Africa is a joint effort with the 2007 Global Consortium of Higher Education and Research for Agriculture (GCHERA), the U.S. National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC) and Sustainability, Education and the Management of Change in the Tropics (SEMSIT), Additionally, individual academic institutions from Europe, the United States and Asia will be included in this initiative.  “The growth of the World Agricultural Forum’s Congress in Africa is tremendous and great outcomes are anticipated,” said the Honorable Hilary Onek, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries for the Republic of Uganda. “The WAF Task Force on Strategic Partnerships for Higher Education in Africa is beneficial component of the 2009 World Congress as it provides an avenue to implement the solutions discussed for making Africa a target for investments for agriculture. World Agricultural Forum 2009 World Congress Prior to the introduction of the WAF Task Force on Strategic Partnerships for Higher Education in Africa, the 2009 World Congress will convene key players in global agribusiness.  The Congress will foster open discussions and bring attention to increasing Africa’s ability to attract investments and secure economic sustainability through the continent’s raw agricultural resources.  Topics, such as the worldwide debate on food vs. fuel will be addressed, as will the production of bio-energy at the village level for use by the village community.   Similarly to previous World Congresses, the 2009 World Congress will bring together an influential group of speakers to include heads of state, policy leaders, economists, corporate CEO’s and NGO experts from around the world to discuss the topics and necessary actions that will make a difference in African agriculture today. More information on the 2009 African Congress is available at www.worldagforum.org. About the World Agricultural Forum (WAF) 

The World Agricultural Forum (WAF) is a neutral, global organization providing all countries and sectors an equal voice for the discussion of agriculture policies and strategies. It promotes and leads meaningful debates seeking solutions regarding world agricultural issues. The WAF vision, “to empower agriculture so as to feed every man, woman and child on earth,” is translated through its mission to serve as a catalyst for developing action plans that meet the growing need for food, water, fiber and fuel, in a sustainable manner. 

 

On a global stage, the WAF produces one of the largest biennial gatherings of leaders concerned about the needs of the world’s growing population and the respective shortages of food, fuel, fiber and water in both developed and developing nations. For the first time in history, the WAF’s 2009 World Congress will take place outside of St. Louis, MO, USA and will be hosted by Uganda, Africa. The agenda for each Congress is primarily focused on the theme of “creating wealth through investing in agriculture.”   

 For more information about the World Agricultural Forum, visit www.worldagforum.org or contact Michelle Kuehler at mkuehler@blacktwigllc.com.