Introduction – why record?

This chapter is placed before that on analysing the data because the information must obviously be made available before it can be utilised. To serve as an introduction, general reasons for keeping farm records are given below. This is followed by a description of what records should be kept, together with explanations as to why these particular items are necessary. The details of how recording should be done are included as appendices, since they are intended mainly for reference purposes and can be omitted by readers whose interest is more general. In fact, some may prefer to obtain a more specific understanding of the uses to which such data can be put before reading this chapter, so that they can better appreciate the recommendations that are made. In this case they are advised to read Chapters 20 and 21 before the present chapter.

In the descriptions of the recording techniques contained in the appendices, some of the details given may seem petty and superfluous. They are deliberately included, however, because they are often not appreciated, and one of the most important reasons for farmers not keeping records that would be valuable to them is that they do not know precisely what needs to be done. Sometimes recording is started but later abandoned because it proves to be too difficult or not to be giving the information required. Often these faults can be rectified by a clearer appreciation of recording procedures.