Our Journey

Pocket PAM 2.2
A complete rewrite of the Pocket PAM software for smartphones was undertaken almost as soon as version 2 had been released to take advantage of the improvements in the technology tools we had used. We took the opportunity to vastly improve program flow and user experience.

Precision Data Processor (PDP)
Our precision farming data analysis and mapping software, FarmStar, was rewritten during 2007 – 2009 under the new name of PDP. PDP was available as a precision data processing module for the PAM application and also for the gpMapper application. In 2014 we created a derivative of PDP, a cut-down, standalone version of the software called PDP “Lite” which is used to convert variable rate maps (or recipes) between the various formats used for the various consoles.

Syngenta & PAM “Crop QA”
In cooperation with Syngenta and Barret Burston Malting, we developed the beginnings of what was to become known as PAM Enterprise. Specially selected Victorian Barley growers running our PAM QA+ application would push their cropping records via the internet to a PAM system hosted in our office. That central PAM application would then be accessed by Syngenta and Barret Burston Malting as well as a brewer in Japan who was the acquirer of the Barley.

Pivot PAM
Pivot Fertilizer negotiated with us to have a specially branded version of PAM that had enhancements built into it that focused on Quality Assurance requirements for their “Great Grains QA” initiative. Pivot PAM also had special electronic import capabilities for the PivotTest soil and leaf test laboratory results. Pivot PAM’s life came to an end after Pivot went into liquidation and was eventually absorbed into the Incitec organisation.

“LIS” & “LSB” for AACo
A tender process was undertaken by AAco (Australian Agricultural Company) to find a suitable software developer to build for them a comprehensive system to manage their vast cattle herd and 22 cattle stations covering more than 1% of the Australian landmass. We were awarded the job and customised PAM and PAM MultiClient over a year or more to fill their needs. We also developed “LIS” (Livestock Inventory System) to accumulate cattle numbers and number change (sales, purchases, agistments, transfers, natural increases, deaths, rations, re-classes) from the customised PAM system on the stations into a system for head office staff to use. We also developed “LSB” Livestock Budgeting that was used on the stations and a head office version that accumulated the station’s budgets into a master budget. That project ran through until the end of 2001. With internet coverage being either absent or unreliable, all data was being transferred between the stations and Brisbane head office, automatically via email.

“FarmStar”

We began developing Australia’s first and only ever comprehensive precision farming data mapping and analysis application. It was first released in the spring of 1996 at the Dowerin Field Days were visitors saw the first yield maps produced in Australia using data collected from a Microtrak yield monitor operated by Richard Barrett in conjunction with a company called Precision Farming Australia (PFA).
We co-developed variable rate application data formats with Australian precision farming controller manufacturers Farmscan and KEE. KEE was later bought out by TopCon. We also worked closely with Rinex on data exchange formats. Rinex was later bought out by Leica.
FarmStar was completely rewritten in 1999-2000. Around that time, in collaboration with Senwes, South Africa, we were involved in the first-ever variable-rate fertilizer application project undertaken with a Flexicontrol system. Over a week or more, working closely with the Flexicontrol engineers in Canada iron out teething problems. During the late 1990’s early 2000’s as well as working closely with all Australian based controller manufacturers, we signed agreements with a range of global machinery and controller manufacturers to enable us to interface with their yield monitoring and variable rate systems, including John Deere, Agco and Raven.

“Interfarm”

Through 1995 we developed our first farm mapping application, designed mainly for farm planning, with layer management and the ability to import and geolocate aerial imagery. Interfarm also interfaced with the PAM application to some extent.

“MAX”

We developed an application for the head mechanic of a Ford dealership in the town of Merredin, Western Australia. MAX kept track of all the repairs and maintenance work carried out on their client’s vehicles and parts replaced, etc. It also kept records of engine numbers, chassis numbers, scheduled maintenance dates, and more. “MAX” then evolved into an application for asset management and was used by many Shire Councils, farmers, truck fleet operators, coach operators etc. “MAX” was replaced in 1997 by a Windows version of the same name. Eventually, the application was replaced in 2017 by a cloud and mobile combination application called MindMyAssets. mindmyassets.com

“Stocking Rate Manager”

We developed a comprehensive livestock management system focused on livestock movements, grazing days per hectare, and average stocking rates over different timeframes for the University of Western Australia’s School of Agriculture Animal Science Department. They were conducting an experiment over 8 farms, where each farm had different densities of Tagasaste Trees. Livestock movements were done very often as the paddock sizes were quite small. This system evolved into the Livestock module of the PAM application with the permission of the scientists running the experiment.