When every minute matters
FarmOnline+ protects 100,000 birds
We do not regret one second of it - we wish we had done it years ago
Travis and Dena Bybee, Thomas Creek Ranch Farm, Urbana, Missouri, USA
For Travis and Dena Bybee, becoming full-time poultry farmers wasn't a decision they made overnight. In fact, it took years. Today, the couple owns and operates Thomas Creek Ranch Farm together, managing two free-range organic layer houses in Urbana, Missouri.
Before building their free-range organic layer farm, Travis spent more than 25 years as a banker while simultaneously running a cattle farm. During that time, he financed countless poultry houses and gained firsthand insight into the financial realities of poultry production.
When the couple finally decided to pursue poultry production full-time, they spent nearly two years researching every detail.
Today, the Bybees operate two 50,000-bird free-range organic layer barns, both fully equipped with SKOV's equal-pressure ventilation system. But while much of their planning focused on creating the perfect environment and air quality for the birds, one tool has become essential to managing their farm each day, and that is FarmOnline+
Running a farm without being tied to it
One of Travis' and Dena's biggest concerns before entering the poultry industry was lifestyle.
Like many growers, they wanted a successful production - but they did not want to sacrifice every family event, vacation, or weekend away from home.
FarmOnline+ fully supported that.
Being able to make changes remotely is huge for us
Whether they are attending a basketball game, visiting family, or traveling out of state, they can immediately see what is happening inside their barns.
Temperature, feed intake, water consumption, ammonia levels, and production data are all available from their phones or tablets.
For growers, that kind of visibility creates something often overlooked in poultry production, which is peace of mind.
The alarm that made all the difference
The true value of data often becomes clear when something goes wrong. While Travis and Dena were on vacation in Florida, FarmOnline+ sent an alarm indicating abnormal water levels.
After logging in to the system remotely, Travis confirmed that no water was flowing into the barn. He immediately contacted his brother, who drove to the farm and switched to a backup well until the issue was resolved.
The cause turned out to be a damaged electrical cable leading to the primary water pump. Without the alert, the birds could have been left without water for more than 24 hours. Instead, the interruption lasted approximately 90 minutes.
For Travis and Dena, it was a powerful reminder that real-time monitoring is more than convenience and freedom. It is the protection of the birds and their production. This alert saved their birds' lives and prevented the water issue from becoming costly.
Spotting problems before they become bigger problems
On the Bybee farm, FarmOnline+ has become part of the daily routine. In fact, Travis and Dena admit they probably check it more often than necessary.
Between Dena and me, we probably look at it once an hour
They use FarmOnline+ to monitor:
Feed consumption
Water consumption
Temperature and humidity levels
Ammonia levels
Egg production
One example came when both flocks suddenly experienced a decline in production.
Feed intake dropped. Water intake dropped. Egg production dropped.
Because FarmOnline+ provided immediate visibility into all key performance indicators, Travis quickly identified the common factor, a feed issue affecting both barns.
We could watch all of that happen
That insight allowed the issue to be addressed quickly, minimizing its impact on production. This is yet another example of how FarmOnline+ and real-time production monitoring saved their birds’ lives and prevented the issues from getting out of hand, which could have cost them money.
Actionable Information – 24/7
Many growers today have access to data. What matters is whether that data helps them make better decisions.
According to Travis, that is one of the biggest differences he sees between FarmOnline+ and other systems. Compared to other systems used in his region, he believes FarmOnline+ provides significantly greater visibility into farm performance.
FarmOnline+ definitely has the most valuable information at your fingertips
From trend graphs and historical performance data to real-time monitoring and alarm management, the platform helps turn information into valuable action. And despite the depth of the available data, they found the system easy to use from the start.
Looking ahead
For Travis, FarmOnline+ is about much more than data on a screen.
It is about knowing what is happening inside the barn when they are hundreds of miles away. It is about identifying issues before they become costly problems. And it is about having the confidence to leave the farm for a family event, a vacation, or simply a day away without losing sight of the production.
As more poultry producers face rising costs, labor challenges, and increasing performance demands, access to reliable, real-time information is becoming more important than ever. For the Bybees, the decision to invest in modern technology was ultimately about protecting the business they worked so hard to build.
And after years of research, months of hard work, and countless hours spent monitoring their birds, their conclusion remains the same.
For many growers, that may be one of the most valuable returns on investment of all. Because at the end of the day, farming is challenging enough. Keeping track of what is happening inside your barns should not have to be.