---
title: "Farm Configuration"
canonical: "https://farmconnect.docs.rubiconwater.com/space/FCD/2022342801/Farm%20Configuration"
format: markdown
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> Macro (toc)

> ℹ️ **Note**
> ℹ️ 
> ℹ️ Farm Configuration was formerly called Bay Configuration.

The Farm Configuration module is where you specify where the bays, channels, and devices on your farm are located. 

# Create or Modify Bays and Channels

## What are Bays and Channels?

Bays and channels are both areas that you draw on the map. The process for creating the areas is the same but they have different purposes. Create bays and channels so that you can specify where on-farm devices are located and which bays and channels they are associated with. You must do this before you can create irrigation programs.

### Bays

A bay is used for irrigations. 

- When you associate a gate, pump, or other water-supply device to a bay, FarmConnect automatically adds the option to create an *Irrigate Bay* program step for that bay.

> ℹ️ **Note**
> ℹ️ 
> ℹ️ A bay is an irrigation unit - you cannot irrigate part of a bay.

- You can track or [Add water usage for a bay](https://rubiconwater.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/FCD/pages/2029846565/Irrigation+History+and+Water+Usage#Adding-a-Usage-for-a-Bay) using the [https://rubiconwater.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/FCD/pages/2029846565](https://rubiconwater.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/FCD/pages/2029846565) tools.

> Macro (hiddenfragment-macro)
> 
> <span style="color: #ff5630">**Hidden: Excluding mention of crops for now **</span>

### Channels

A channel is used to route water around the farm. 

- When you associate a gate, pump, or other water-supply device to a channel, FarmConnect automatically adds the option to create a *Fill Channel* program step for that channel.
- You can’t track water usage for channels.
- You can’t associate crops with channels.

## Create a Bay or Channel

**Step 1**

In the FarmConnect portal choose **Administration > Farm Configuration**. If necessary move the map to where you want to create your area.

**Step 2**

Click the **Add** button at the top right to start creating an area. Select either *Bay* or *Channel* from the drop-down options.

**Step 3**

Click on the map to add points that mark the edges of your area. 

- As you add points the application will draw the edges of your area.
- When you add enough points, it will create a closed area (but you can keep adding points to change the area boundaries).
- If you want to change the area, you can drag points to new locations or click to add more points.

**Step 3**

When you have finished adding points, scroll up to the **Details** panel. You can use this panel to:

- Specify a name for the area - or accept the default name assigned by FarmConnect.
- Modify the size of the area by editing the *Area* field in the **Area** section.

> ℹ️ **Note**
> ℹ️ 
> ℹ️ Drawing a bay on the map is not very precise and the actual area of your bay may not match the area calculated from the map. The bay area may be used in usage calculations and for automation (for example for calculating dynamic cutoff for SmartFront sensors) so you should change the area if the calculated area doesn’t match the known area of your bay or channel. 
> ℹ️ 
> ℹ️ Saving this value changes the *Bay Area* attribute for the area and** this updated area will be used in any calculations.** It does NOT change the *drawn* area on the map. Note that the area value shown in the **Details** panel will revert to the area calculated from your drawn co-ordinates but this will not be the area used in calculations. 
> ℹ️ 
> ℹ️ (You cannot modify the co-ordinates directly in the *Vertices* field, you must make any changes on the map).

- Specify how the area is displayed on the map in the **Display** section.

# Setting Area Attributes

View or modify attributes for bays and channels in the **Attributes** tab. Click **Add New** to add a new attribute or to modify an existing attribute.

Most of the available attributes are not used in the current version of FarmConnect portal (but may be used in future development). One exception is *Bay Area* which is calculated by default from the shape you have drawn on the map, but you can modify it here if necessary. 

> Macro (hiddenfragment-macro)
> 
> <span style="color: #ff5630">**HIDDEN: Assume this is true - a lot of them seem crop related. Or maybe people just like to record these details for their own purposes?**</span>

# Associating Devices with a Bay or Channel

You can use the device popup on the map to associated devices with a bay or channel. See [Associate a Device with a Bay or Channel](https://rubiconwater.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/FCD/pages/2022342773/Device+Configuration#Associate-a-Device-with-a-Bay-or-Channel) for more details.

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