Land.db

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What operating systems does Land.db support?

   We support Windows XP SP2 & higher, Windows Vista, & Windows 7 on both 32 bit and 64 bit platforms.  We do not support Linux or Mac OS but do have several Mac users running Windows.

2. Do I have to be an Administrator to run Land.db?

   Administrator privileges may be required to install Land.db; however you are not required to be an administrator to run the program. Also, we don’t require the deactivation of Windows Vista’s User Account Control.

3. How do I create my field maps in Land.db?

   There are two ways to create field boundary maps in Land.db. The first is to draw in your field boundaries by using Land.db’s boundary editing tools to trace the boundary over the aerial imagery. The second is to import a shapefile that contains the field boundary. If your fields have been mapped using another software package previously, it is very likely that these boundaries can be exported to a shapefile.

4. What hardware do I need?

   - Processor: 2.8 Ghz Pentium 4 or equivalent (i.e. 1.8 Core 2 Duo or Pentium M)
   - RAM: 1 GB or greater
   - At least 2 GB of free hard drive space. This is for the storage of imagery and can vary based on how large of an area that needs to be stored.

5. How do I get background imagery?

   Land.db supports several image file types: MrSID, JPEG2000, and GeoTiff. Most commonly we use imagery from the National Agriculture Imagery Program, which is administered by the USDA Farm Service Agency.  We commonly provide this imagery on drive or disk to our customers for their convenience; however it can be downloaded directly by visiting the NRCS Geospatial Data Gateway.

6. What happens to data that is uploaded to Ag Connections’ servers?

   Data privacy is a big deal at Ag Connections. We believe our customers maintain ownership of their data, even when it is stored on our servers. We will not sell off or distribute in any manner the crop production records captured through any of our services or systems, unless specifically instructed to by the customer.  Data uploaded to our servers is archived and maintained so that our customers have access to a secure, off-site data backup location for their most critical production records.

7. Do I have to have an internet connection to use Land.db?

   Land.db operates offline, utilizing the speed of your computer rather than relying on the speed of your internet connection.  All of the features of Land.db – mapping, records, reports – are always available. Land.db only utilizes the internet occasionally for software updates and database backups.

8. What’s the difference between Crop Production Record Keeping and my accounting records?

   While accounting records provide a great level of detail around financial transactions, they do not typically give a history of all the application records and activities that occur on a field during the growing season. Crop Production Record Keeping identifies these activities so that they can be managed and quantified for profitability analysis, regulatory compliance, and logistics.

9. How can I find the time to keep up with my application records?

   Producers already face long hours and many other management challenges without having to worry about data entry and office time.  Land.db makes it simple to quickly enter the necessary records in as few steps as possible. Our customer base has found Land.db to be a great time-saving tool, in that business critical information is now available at the click of a button rather than requiring hours of time to compile.

10. Do I have to create my own list of inputs?

    Ag Connections supplies a crop input product master list that contains many crop protection, fertilizer, seed, and service products.  This list provides our customers with important crop protection reference data that includes the labeled product name, manufacturer, EPA registration number, active ingredient, and other regulatory information that all producers are required to record.  We constantly update this list as new products come to market, and also give the customer the ability to create custom fertilizers and services that are unique to their operation.