HGCA Grain Management Software

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Growers had the chance to try for themselves two of HGCA’s innovative software packages at the Grain Management roadshow held in Cambridge last week. These are RL Plus, a data interrogation package designed to allow interactive interrogation of HGCA Recommended Lists data, and GrainPlan, a grain store management package.

database will allow varieties to be compared according to factors such as location or soil type

“ The HGCA Recommended Lists contain literally millions of pounds worth of data. We are committed to making all of this data available to growers and to do so we have commissioned RL-Plus which we believe will be a valuable but easy to use tool,” said Jim McVittie, manager of the HGCA Recommended Lists, demonstrating the interactive online database.

The new database will allow varieties to be compared according to factors such as location or soil type, as well as by the market for which they are intended.

“ The management and monitoring of grain in store is increasingly important as food safety becomes a key driver is this area,” said Roger Williams, HGCA’s assistant director of research and development as he introduced Grainplan to the delegates.

This user-friendly software will allow growers to create their own ‘virtual grainstore’ based on what they have on-farm and will provide vital marketing and monitoring data. They were given a demonstration of how to set up the system for their own farms.

Delivering what the customer wants, taking representative samples of grain and monitoring moisture and temperature during storage were all covered at the roadshow.

RL plus will be launched during spring 2004 for winter wheat and spring barley. It will be available on-line and will be sent to levy-payers as a CD with the full HGCA Recommended Lists. GrainPlan is now available and can be ordered from the website.