Introduction to Harvest
The Harvest module allows you to plan expected yields, record actual scale weights, and analyze your harvest operation’s performance by lot, group, and period.
The Harvest Challenge
Section titled “The Harvest Challenge”Harvest is the critical moment when all year’s work materializes into value. However, many farms face:
- Yield uncertainty: Don’t know how much to expect until it’s over
- Hidden variability: Some lots yield less, but don’t know which ones
- Team issues: Harvest groups with different productivity
- Scattered data: Paper scale tickets that never get analyzed
The Cycles Approach
Section titled “The Cycles Approach”Arlo organizes harvest into Harvest Cycles - defined periods (typically 1-4 weeks) where:
- You schedule expected yields by lot and group
- You record actual scale weights day by day
- You compare planned vs. actual with color codes
- You adjust expectations and resources for the next cycle
Key Concept: Planned vs. Actual
Section titled “Key Concept: Planned vs. Actual”The module’s heart is the comparison between what you expected to harvest and what you actually harvested.
Harvest Schedule (Planned)
Section titled “Harvest Schedule (Planned)”This is your ideal plan before work begins:
- Harvest date
- Lot to harvest
- Assigned harvest group
- Expected quantity and units
- Expected weight (calculated automatically)
Actual Harvest
Section titled “Actual Harvest”This is reality from each harvest entry:
- Weights recorded in harvest entries (with vehicle or without)
- Automatically aggregated by date/lot/group
- Net weight from the flow: scale minus tare, or unit capacity × quantity
Performance Indicators
Section titled “Performance Indicators”| Color | Range | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 🟢 Green | 95% - 105% | On target - expected yield |
| 🟠 Amber | < 95% | Below target - investigate causes |
| 🔵 Blue | > 105% | Above target - exceptional yield |
| ⚪ Gray | No data | No plan or no entries |
Module Structure
Section titled “Module Structure”Configuration
Section titled “Configuration”| Component | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Vehicles | Register trucks/vehicles with empty weight |
| Harvest Units | Containers (baskets, crates) with capacities |
| Harvest Groups | Teams/crews that execute harvest |
Operations
Section titled “Operations”| Component | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Harvest Cycles | Planning periods with defined dates |
| Scheduling | Yield plans by date/lot/group |
| Harvest Entries | Net weight recording (with vehicle or without) |
Analysis
Section titled “Analysis”| Component | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Cycle Dashboard | Real-time performance view |
| Reports | Exports and detailed analysis |
Harvest Cycles: The Harvest Sprint
Section titled “Harvest Cycles: The Harvest Sprint”Why short cycles?
Section titled “Why short cycles?”Instead of planning the entire season at once, 1-4 week cycles allow:
- Continuous adjustment: Correct estimates based on actual results
- Clear accountability: Specific goals for bounded periods
- Early detection: Identify problems before they accumulate
- Resource management: Redistribute groups based on performance
Cycle constraints
Section titled “Cycle constraints”- No overlap: You cannot have two cycles with overlapping dates
- Data protection: Cannot delete a cycle that already has schedules
- Unique code: Each cycle has a unique reference code
Behind the Scenes
Section titled “Behind the Scenes”Net weight calculation
Section titled “Net weight calculation”With vehicle:
net_weight = scale_weight - vehicle_empty_weightEmpty weight comes from the vehicle record or the last same-day entry for that vehicle (weight memory).
Without vehicle:
net_weight = harvest_unit_capacity × quantityYou can override net weight if a unit was not full.
Actual harvest aggregation
Section titled “Actual harvest aggregation”The system maintains a unique record (HarvestActual) for each combination of:
- Date
- Lot
- Harvest group
When you add or modify entries, the system automatically recalculates totals for that combination.
Performance calculation
Section titled “Performance calculation”performance_percentage = (actual_weight / planned_weight) × 100
If 95% ≤ percentage ≤ 105% → On target (green)If percentage < 95% → Below target (amber)If percentage > 105% → Above target (blue)Next Steps
Section titled “Next Steps”- Define harvest units - Containers and their capacities
- Create harvest groups - Teams that will execute work
- Choose entry flows - With vehicle and/or without (register vehicles only if you use with-vehicle)
- Configure your first cycle - Start planning