Beyond the Barn: Five Apps I Use With My Calves – Shawn Miller, Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy

WeatherBug
This app tracks the daily weather and future forecast.  I use it to prepare for the weather and know how to adjust the curtains in the calf barns.

Secure Guard
This app provides a live feed from the maternity area cameras to my iPad or computer.  I use it to monitor calves in the warming pens so I know how many calves I’ll have coming to our calf facilities the next day.

TeamViewer
With this app, I have the ability to look at DairyComp and other programs on the farm’s main computer from offsite locations.  That means I can look up an individual animal anywhere.

AnyList
The purpose of this app is to create and share grocery store lists.  We just shop at a few “non-traditional” grocery stores.  I use the app to create lists of supplies I need from different locations and suppliers.  It helps me organize and manage our calf tool inventory.

Numbers
This app is used to build and design spreadsheets.  I use it to track growth, trial data and other information collected at our calf site.

Bonus app:  Notes
This is a standard app on Apple devices and is used to track information or to take notes.  I use it to track any changes that happen at the calf site such as starting a trial, changing a product or anything of significance.  I will also make notes of any noticeable trends and to monitor employee activities to reference in future performance reviews.