Paperwork

[Jdunn55]

Might sound stupid to some of you, but one of the main things I'm really struggling with is the paperwork side of things. I obviously knew there would be copious amounts but the sheer volume is now becoming overwhelming. Have any of you got any tips to make it easier and more organised? I'm now getting to the stage where if I dont catch up now I'm not going to be able to catch up at all.
Its things like medicine records, ai records, calving, pedigree registrations etc but also paying the bills, and then random things like scanning in direct debit letters for feed companies, nmr etc as well
Do you guys prioritise things or have certain times/days to get it done? I keep trying to have a day to catch up but then something happens and my plans all fly out the window faster than my sanity left my body after starting up the parlour for the first time

 

[alan6430]

Might sound stupid to some of you, but one of the main things I'm really struggling with is the paperwork side of things. I obviously knew there would be copious amounts but the sheer volume is now becoming overwhelming. Have any of you got any tips to make it easier and more organised? I'm now getting to the stage where if I dont catch up now I'm not going to be able to catch up at all.
Its things like medicine records, ai records, calving, pedigree registrations etc but also paying the bills, and then random things like scanning in direct debit letters for feed companies, nmr etc as well
Do you guys prioritise things or have certain times/days to get it done? I keep trying to have a day to catch up but then something happens and my plans all fly out the window faster than my sanity left my body after starting up the parlour for the first time

You can’t have plans if your a dairy farmer I’m afraid

 

[Beef farmer]

Ask for help.
Drop unnecessary sh!t
You mum or dad not able to help?

 

[pappuller]

Might sound stupid to some of you, but one of the main things I'm really struggling with is the paperwork side of things. I obviously knew there would be copious amounts but the sheer volume is now becoming overwhelming. Have any of you got any tips to make it easier and more organised? I'm now getting to the stage where if I dont catch up now I'm not going to be able to catch up at all.
Its things like medicine records, ai records, calving, pedigree registrations etc but also paying the bills, and then random things like scanning in direct debit letters for feed companies, nmr etc as well
Do you guys prioritise things or have certain times/days to get it done? I keep trying to have a day to catch up but then something happens and my plans all fly out the window faster than my sanity left my body after starting up the parlour for the first time

All invoices paid 20th month, 1 session an hour a month online banking. Are you milk recording ? Either nmr or cis should be able to provide the herd management program

 

[Beef farmer]

All invoices paid 20th month, 1 session an hour a month online banking. Are you milk recording ? Either nmr or cis should be able to provide the herd management program

Drop unnecessary sh!t
Ffs

 

[sidjon]

I do everything once a week, other than write drug use in dairy diary every milking (less than a minute).

 

[Muddyroads]

I know just what you mean. It’s all too easy to prioritise the things we like to do, primarily outside. I don’t have any magical answers and would love to think someone here will come up with one, but I doubt it.
We did a benchmarking exercise a while ago and I was very impressed with the speed that an experienced farm secretary was able to go through and sort information. From what I can see, we should probably be more prepared to pay somebody like that in the same way that we pay contractors. Just because we can do something, doesn’t mean we have to.

 

[More to life]

for day to day herd management I've always found the NMR dairy very helpful.

 

[dinderleat]

Might sound stupid to some of you, but one of the main things I'm really struggling with is the paperwork side of things. I obviously knew there would be copious amounts but the sheer volume is now becoming overwhelming. Have any of you got any tips to make it easier and more organised? I'm now getting to the stage where if I dont catch up now I'm not going to be able to catch up at all.
Its things like medicine records, ai records, calving, pedigree registrations etc but also paying the bills, and then random things like scanning in direct debit letters for feed companies, nmr etc as well
Do you guys prioritise things or have certain times/days to get it done? I keep trying to have a day to catch up but then something happens and my plans all fly out the window faster than my sanity left my body after starting up the parlour for the first time

Get someone in once a week plenty of farm secretary’s around that would help probably be the best help you pay for, do a bit more milking instead of relief perhaps. Little and often also helps and streamline things so digital option like herdwatch

 

[LTH]

Dad keeps a little pocket diary of what has been done medicine wise and then just fills it in the proper one now and again. Set a date fortnightly or monthly for your bill paying and that’s the day/night it gets done.

 

[Jdunn55]

for day to day herd management I've always found the NMR dairy very helpful.

I've got one of them and its brilliant to be fair, the only thing is I keep it in the house as I know for a fact that if I keep it in the parlour/dairy/storage room itll get sh!t high and then I always forget to write stuff in it when I get inside at lunch if you know what I mean, what's best, accept itll get sh!t high and have it somewhere or have another diary and transfer the stuff between once a week?

 

[dinderleat]

I've got one of them and its brilliant to be fair, the only thing is I keep it in the house as I know for a fact that if I keep it in the parlour/dairy/storage room itll get sh!t high and then I always forget to write stuff in it when I get inside at lunch if you know what I mean, what's best, accept itll get sh!t high and have it somewhere or have another diary and transfer the stuff between once a week?

Buy 2

 

[___\0/___]

I have a old phone and SIM card that I whats app any medicine, ai, info too it means I have dates and times and info is backed up in two different places.

 

[Jdunn55]

Get someone in once a week plenty of farm secretary’s around that would help probably be the best help you pay for, do a bit more milking instead of relief perhaps. Little and often also helps and streamline things so digital option like herdwatch

What would they do though? I've thought about it and am worried I would be wasting my money as I'd still have to write down everything or else sit down and tell them and then I would be better off just doing it myself?

 

[LTH]

It is a lot for one person to do when just started on your own, id probably get a bit overwhelmed so nowt to feel stupid about. If a bill comes goes into a paper folder with to pay on it and then when it’s paid goes into folder saying paid then to accountants. Keep things as simple as possible paying someone to do paperwork wouldn’t be a bad idea there are people who offer that sort of service.

 

[Beef farmer]

I have a old phone and SIM card that I whats app any medicine, ai, info too it means I have dates and times and info is backed up in two different places.

Yeah I txt the wife any key dates/numbers.
Oh how life has changed

 

[Jdunn55]

I have a old phone and SIM card that I whats app any medicine, ai, info too it means I have dates and times and info is backed up in two different places.

I might give that a go actually, just a matter of sitting down every now and again and writing them down from there

 

[Wee Willy]

Yeah I txt the wife any key dates/numbers.
Oh how life has changed

I whatsapp my 10 year old son all the calvings and services. He loves it as he misses the farm with being back at school after lockdown. Now he whatsapp me on day 18 post service to keep an eye on cow served 3 weeks previous.

 

[dinderleat]

What would they do though? I've thought about it and am worried I would be wasting my money as I'd still have to write down everything or else sit down and tell them and then I would be better off just doing it myself?

Find someone that fits in with you perhaps doing the bills and vat and maybe passports and stuff.

 

[Jdunn55]

Find someone that fits in with you perhaps doing the bills and vat and maybe passports and stuff.

I suppose if I'm planning on trying the phone method above I could find someone who would be willing to let me just message them all the stuff I do during the week for them to write it down and then I wouldnt need to write it down again for them