LCP
Well-known member
I have had a smartphone for about 4 years now, and have found it rather useful for various ranch jobs. I thought I'd share what I've found, maybe other folks have other ideas to add to the thread.
- Google Forms has been really useful for record keeping. I make the form on the computer using Google Forms, then make a shortcut to the form page on my phone. I have separate forms for grazing records, doctoring records, and supplementing records. After filling out the form, the data is automatically entered on a spreadsheet for easy reference. It is really user-friendly to create the forms, and best of all, multiple people can contribute. For example, if there's three different people who might take salt out or move cattle on your operation, they can fill out the forms from their own phones out in the field and all their data ends up in the same spreadsheet if you want. Real handy. You have to have a Google account to create them, but not to fill out the forms once created. Here's a video about Google Forms: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwf72lwPLVY
- Explorer for ArcGIS is a mapping program which I've used to create ranch maps. There is a free online account (I'm big on free stuff) in which I made the maps to begin with, and then an app for my phone for me to open the maps when I'm in the field. Makes it real handy to measure a temporary paddock I'm making with polywire, as it integrates your GPS location into the map. The only complaints I have is that they make it almost impossible to email copies of the maps (I have to take screenshots and send those instead) and I can't edit maps with the phone app. Maps can be shared with other people, so if you wanted to send the new hand out to check a water tank they've never been to before, you could mark it on the map and he could find it using the app on his phone.
- GPS Essentials app has basic tools that any GPS has. I have used it mainly for running polywire on hilly terrain to keep myself going generally in the right direction so my fence at least ends up where I want it to. Its not terribly user-friendly but serves its purpose.
- Evernote is handy for keeping track of odds and ends, in addition to more structured information. I'm using it for my range monitoring records, as I can include photo points in the notes as well. With shared notebooks, you can share notes with other people in your operation also. I used Evernote for my doctoring records before switching over to Google Forms. It worked fine, just that Forms made data entry a little faster and put it in a spreadsheet for me.
Anyone else have something to share? BTW I have nothing against Red Books or whatever other tried-and-true methods are out there. I still use pencil and paper for certain things, and I don't think that will change anytime soon.
- Google Forms has been really useful for record keeping. I make the form on the computer using Google Forms, then make a shortcut to the form page on my phone. I have separate forms for grazing records, doctoring records, and supplementing records. After filling out the form, the data is automatically entered on a spreadsheet for easy reference. It is really user-friendly to create the forms, and best of all, multiple people can contribute. For example, if there's three different people who might take salt out or move cattle on your operation, they can fill out the forms from their own phones out in the field and all their data ends up in the same spreadsheet if you want. Real handy. You have to have a Google account to create them, but not to fill out the forms once created. Here's a video about Google Forms: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwf72lwPLVY
- Explorer for ArcGIS is a mapping program which I've used to create ranch maps. There is a free online account (I'm big on free stuff) in which I made the maps to begin with, and then an app for my phone for me to open the maps when I'm in the field. Makes it real handy to measure a temporary paddock I'm making with polywire, as it integrates your GPS location into the map. The only complaints I have is that they make it almost impossible to email copies of the maps (I have to take screenshots and send those instead) and I can't edit maps with the phone app. Maps can be shared with other people, so if you wanted to send the new hand out to check a water tank they've never been to before, you could mark it on the map and he could find it using the app on his phone.
- GPS Essentials app has basic tools that any GPS has. I have used it mainly for running polywire on hilly terrain to keep myself going generally in the right direction so my fence at least ends up where I want it to. Its not terribly user-friendly but serves its purpose.
- Evernote is handy for keeping track of odds and ends, in addition to more structured information. I'm using it for my range monitoring records, as I can include photo points in the notes as well. With shared notebooks, you can share notes with other people in your operation also. I used Evernote for my doctoring records before switching over to Google Forms. It worked fine, just that Forms made data entry a little faster and put it in a spreadsheet for me.
Anyone else have something to share? BTW I have nothing against Red Books or whatever other tried-and-true methods are out there. I still use pencil and paper for certain things, and I don't think that will change anytime soon.