Crop cycles

A cycle identifies the crop, variety and field. Its planned and actual dates show when planting and harvest were expected and when harvest was recorded. Farm Manager can see whether the cycle is Planned, Planted, Growing, Harvesting or Closed. The cycle remains the common reference for field work and harvest quantities, so a later crop on the same field does not absorb the previous crop’s work.

A manager preparing a new season starts with the field’s operating status and survey history. They then record the crop and variety and expected harvest. The operator’s tasks link to that cycle and field. As work proceeds, the manager reviews the dated observations and completed operations before moving the cycle forward.

• Crop identity. Record crop and variety on the cycle rather than relying on a field name to imply what is growing.
• Dated plan. Keep planting and expected harvest dates visible next to actual harvest date.
• Stage history. Use the cycle status to separate planned, growing, harvesting and closed work.

Agree when the team moves a cycle from Planned to Planted and then to Growing. Decide who records the actual harvest date and when Closed is appropriate. The status values are operational labels; the team should use them consistently with the dates and associated harvest records. Before importing older cycles, confirm the field references and date conventions with the people who manage planting records.

For a field with successive crops, retain a separate cycle for each planting. The manager should be able to inspect the old harvest without confusing it with the current plan. A task for the current crop must point to the current cycle, even if both cycles share the same field.

Create a Planned cycle on an Available field, with a crop, variety and expected harvest. Add a planting task for that field and cycle, assign an owner, and set its due date. After the work is completed, record the planted date and move the cycle through its active status. Add a harvest record to this cycle and check that its quantity and grade do not appear under an earlier cycle.

Review a second crop cycle on the same field. The manager should see separate dates, task links and harvest records. If a task points to the right field but the wrong cycle, correct that reference before reporting input use or harvest yield against it.

• Crop cycles in progress — Review active crops by field, variety, dates and stage.
• Field work due — Check dated tasks and their status for the selected crop cycle.
• Harvests for review — Open the harvested quantity and grade associated with a cycle.

See field planning and harvest review.