METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CAPTURING AND REPORTING WITNESS VERIFICATION DATA IN AN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

1 . A computing apparatus, comprising:

a machine-readable computer database to:

store machine-readable agricultural production data in the computer database, the agricultural production data specifying at least one attribute concerning the production of an agricultural product;

store machine-readable witness verification data in the computer database, the witness verification data representing a witness verification of the agricultural production data; and

one or more programmed computers operable to:

retrieve the machine-readable production data from the computer database for use by the one or more programmed computers in a computer-implemented process or to communicate the agricultural production data to another computing device.

2 . A computing apparatus, comprising:

a machine-readable computer database to:

store machine-readable, digitally signed agricultural production data in the computer database, the agricultural production data specifying at least one attribute concerning the production of an agricultural product;

wherein the digital signing of the agricultural production data signifies that the agricultural production data has been verified by a witness, the witness being a person other than the person or process sourcing the agricultural production data; and

one or more programmed computers operable to:

retrieve the machine-readable, digitally signed production data from the computer database for use by the one or more programmed computers in a computer-implemented process or to communicate the digitally signed agricultural production data to another computing device.

3 . An apparatus, comprising:

a hand-held device including:

a display; and

at least one processor to:

a) capture or record machine-readable agricultural production data or agricultural product data, the agricultural production data specifying at least one attribute concerning the production of an agricultural product and being entered by a data entry person or process;

b) receive an indication of witness verification of the agricultural production data by a human witness other than the data entry person;

c) store machine-readable witness verification data, the witness verification data representing a witness verification of the agricultural production data; and

d) transfer the agricultural production data and the witness verification data to another computer.

4 . A computing apparatus, comprising:

a computer or hand-held device including:

a display; and

one or more input devices;

at least one processor on the computer or hand-held device to:

a) capture or record machine-readable agricultural production data or agricultural product data, the agricultural production data specifying at least one attribute concerning the production of an agricultural product and being entered by a data entry person or process;

b) receive an indication of witness verification of the agricultural production data by a human witness other than the data entry person;

c) store machine-readable witness verification data, the witness verification data representing a witness verification of the agricultural production data; and

d) transfer the agricultural production data and the witness verification data to another computer.

5 . The computing apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the one or more input devices includes one or more of the following: a keyboard; bar code reader; an imaging camera; and, a radio frequency identification means.

6 . The computing apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the one or more input devices includes one or more of the following: optical, radio, infrared, audio, and video input devices.

7 . A computing apparatus, comprising:

a hand-held device including:

a display; and

at least one processor to:

a) capture or record machine-readable agricultural production data or agricultural product data, the agricultural production data specifying at least one attribute concerning the production of an agricultural product and being entered by a data entry person or process;

b) receive an indication of witness verification of the agricultural production data by a human witness other than the data entry person;

c) digitally sign the verified agricultural production data to signify its verification;

d) store machine-readable, digitally signed agricultural production data in the computer database; and

e) transfer the digitally signed agricultural production data to another computer.

8 . A computing apparatus, comprising:

a computer including:

a display; and

one or more input devices; and

at least one processor to:

a) capture or record machine-readable agricultural production data or agricultural product data, the agricultural production data specifying at least one attribute concerning the production of an agricultural product and being entered by a data entry person or process;

b) receive an indication of witness verification of the agricultural production data by a human witness other than the data entry person;

c) digitally sign the verified agricultural production data to signify its verification;

d) store machine-readable, digitally signed agricultural production data in the computer database; and

e) transfer the digitally signed agricultural production data to another computer.