# FARMS The Farm and Ranch Management Support (**FARMS**) system is a user-friendly interface from OpenET that makes accessing and using ET data simpler than ever—on any device, including mobile. FARMS offers customizable report generation and powerful insights to streamline agricultural planning. We invite you to explore its features, share your feedback, and help us shape a platform that truly meets the needs of the farming community. Join us in taking a data-driven approach to agriculture and discover what FARMS can do for you. ## Step 1: Log in When you visit [FARMS](https://farms.etdata.org), you’ll be prompted to sign in to your OpenET [account](https://account.etdata.org/login?redirect=https://farms.etdata.org/). After logging in, you’ll be automatically redirected back to the site.

If you haven't visited in a while, you will need to log in.

An [API key](https://account.etdata.org/settings/api) is required to use FARMS. Once you have generated an API key on your user profile, you will be able to access the reporting features of FARMS. Make sure to keep your API key private —treat it like a password.

An API key is required to create reports.

## Step 2: Define your region of interest {% hint style="success" %} **Note:** All files uploaded to OpenET are automatically reprojected to EPSG:4326 (WGS84). {% endhint %} When you first visit the site you will be prompted to add a set of boundaries. Boundaries can be either uploaded, drawn, or selected from OpenET's geodatabase.

This modal will appear if you have no saved boundaries.

Any spatial region of interest you define must comply with the area and polygon limits of the FARMS service. These are different from individual account quotas and apply to all users. | Limit | Amount | | ----------------- | ------------- | | Max Area | 500,000 acres | | Max Polygon Count | 500 | Below is a table outlining the three methods you can use to define boundaries in FARMS.

{% tabs %} {% tab title="Upload Shapes" %} Upload either a geoJSON file or a zipped shapefile, which will automatically be reprojected to **EPSG:4326**. If you’re using a shapefile, make sure your zipped folder includes at least the .shp, .dbf, and .prj files. Avoid spaces or special characters in file names and only include one set of shapefiles per folder. If there is any reason the file can not be ingested you will see an error message in the lower left of the upload window. Each polygon in your shapefile must have a unique identifier attribute, which you’ll select manually during the upload process. Hit the `Save Shapes as Dataset` button for them to show up in your View Boundaries tab.

{% endtab %} {% tab title="Draw Your Own" %} FARMS includes a drawing tool that lets you create and modify shapes. Each polygon is automatically assigned an "ID" attribute, which increments from 1. Once done, hit the `Save Shapes as Dataset` button for them to show up in your View Boundaries tab.

{% endtab %} {% tab title="Select Existing" %} You can also select from the existing fields in the OpenET field boundary dataset. Each polygon is automatically assigned an “ID” attribute based on the existing field’s identifier. Once done, hit the `Save Selected Shapes as Dataset` button for them to show up in your View Boundaries tab.

Select from over 4.5 million pre-defined polygons.

{% endtab %} {% endtabs %} ## Step 3: Build your report After defining your spatial region, click **`Create Report`** to generate a new report. You can then specify the time period, interval, and model-variable combinations. Be sure your chosen time range falls within the quota intervals listed in the table below. These intervals ensure there are enough cloud-free satellite observations and sufficient historical data for accurate reporting. | Report Interval | Minimum Amount | Maximum Amount | | --------------- | -------------- | -------------- | | Daily | 30 | 60 | | Monthly | 3 | 120 |

### Enable Recurring Reports Reports can be set to automatically recur. Each daily recurring report will automatically cover the previous 60 days from the date it is generated, while monthly will cover the previous 12 months. When a new report is created, you'll receive an email notification with a direct link to access it. The following table outlines the available recurring options. | Report Interval | Recurrence Interval | Recurrence Expiration | | --------------- | ------------------- | --------------------- | | Daily | 3, 7, or 30 days | 1 year | | Monthly | 1, 3, or 12 months | 2 years | After saving the report, you’ll be taken to a temporary page while the report is generated. This page will automatically refresh upon completion, but you can close it and return later if you prefer.

## Step 4: View & Download Once a report is complete, you can select multiple fields to add them to the chart. Each field is color-coded, and you can deselect it by clicking again. To download the report’s data as a CSV, click the download icon. The CSV will include columns such as *time*, *id*, and *area\_acres*, along with any relevant volume calculations in acre-feet (based on your selected variables). If you prefer a PDF, click the printer icon and use your device’s standard print functionality for the field of interest.

Example report with multiple fields selected.

### Handling Failed Reports Occasionally, a report may fail to generate. Common reasons for this include: * Invalid or improperly formatted geometry * An error during the Earth Engine export process * No cloud-free satellite observations available for the selected date range When a report fails, it will be highlighted in red within the **View Reports** tab. You can view the specific error message there to help identify and resolve the issue.

## Step 5: Make Public By default, all FARMS reports are **private**. They can be password-protected under the settings icon for secure sharing. If a report is set to public with the toggle icon, anyone with the shared link can access it—but they must have an OpenET account to view it.