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Innovation is key for Oregon’s largest hop growing operation
Technology Category
- Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Data Management Platforms
Applicable Industries
- Agriculture
Applicable Functions
- Field Services
- Quality Assurance
Use Cases
- Farm Monitoring & Precision Farming
- Remote Asset Management
Services
- Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services
The Challenge
In 2014, Drew Bell with Coleman Ag recognized the need to start collecting farm records electronically and in the field, by the people performing the actual applications, instead of behind a desktop in an office. The main drivers for this need were state regulations that enforce pesticide application tracking and to provide workers with accurate information about re-entry intervals after these applications. The Coleman family has a long history in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, having first arrived on the Oregon Trail in 1847 and settling in the Saint Paul area. The Coleman family soon started farming in the Willamette Valley, which is a tradition that the family has continued ever since, with the sixth generation Colemans currently at the helm.
About The Customer
The Coleman family has a long history in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, having first arrived on the Oregon Trail in 1847 and settling in the Saint Paul area. The Coleman family soon started farming in the Willamette Valley, which is a tradition that the family has continued ever since, with the sixth generation Colemans currently at the helm. The Coleman family sets itself apart though by the unique business structure they have developed. Liz Coleman, partner and manager of Brand and PR explains: “In 2014, three couples — my husband John and I, together with Tom & Melissa Coleman and Ben & Jen Coleman — came together as a farm collective and started what is today known as Coleman Agriculture. “We pooled our resources and now manage over 8,000 acres of family-owned farm ground. We’ve invested in outside leadership and leverage the diversity between ourselves as business partners who are active in the day-to-day operations. As the company’s founders we’ve come from varied backgrounds of professional experiences which has been the truest strength in our contemporary farming operation. Our focus is to strengthen and sustain our family business while growing forward towards R&D and exploring innovative and new crops while honoring our heritage and traditional farming values.”
The Solution
After looking at the different options, Coleman Ag decided to implement Agworld due to its mobile capabilities and its ease-of-use. They decided to have both senior management and field managers all collaborate together on the same platform. Not only is Coleman Ag now collecting accurate information about pesticide applications, they also create all their crop plans in Agworld, track their expenses and generate profitability reports among others. Because of their sheer size, it is key for them to have all field managers and office staff connected on Agworld, so they keep track of what is happening at all times. They even have some suppliers that are on Agworld too, which re-enforces their connectivity.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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