Last updated: January 1, 2025
This Cookie Policy explains how FarmHQ, Inc. ("FarmHQ," "we," "our," or "us") uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on the FarmHQ website (farmhq.org) and web dashboard. It describes what cookies are, which specific cookies we use, why we use them, and how you can manage your cookie preferences.
This policy applies to the FarmHQ website and web dashboard. The FarmHQ mobile application (iOS and Android) does not use browser cookies — it uses device identifiers for analytics purposes as described in our Privacy Policy.
Cookies are small text files that a website places on your device (computer, tablet, or phone) when you visit. They are widely used to make websites work, to improve user experience, and to provide information to the website operator about how the site is used. Cookies set by the website operator are called "first-party cookies." Cookies set by parties other than the website operator are called "third-party cookies."
Cookies can be "session cookies" — they expire when you close your browser — or "persistent cookies" — they remain on your device for a set period of time or until you delete them. Both types are used on the FarmHQ website.
In addition to cookies, websites may use other tracking technologies such as web beacons (also called "pixel tags" or "clear GIFs"), which are tiny transparent images embedded in web pages or emails that help measure activity. This policy covers cookies and these similar technologies collectively.
FarmHQ uses cookies for four distinct purposes:
FarmHQ does not use cookies for advertising targeting, behavioral profiling for sale to third parties, or cross-site tracking for commercial purposes.
These cookies are essential for the FarmHQ website and web dashboard to function. They cannot be disabled without preventing you from using core features. No consent is required for strictly necessary cookies under applicable law.
| Cookie Name | Provider | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|
fhq_session |
FarmHQ | Maintains your login session in the web dashboard. Contains a session identifier; no personal data is stored in the cookie itself. | Session (clears when browser closes) |
fhq_csrf |
FarmHQ | Cross-site request forgery protection token. Prevents malicious websites from submitting unauthorized requests on your behalf. | Session |
fhq_auth |
FarmHQ | Stores a secure, signed token to keep you logged in across browser sessions when you select "Stay logged in." The token expires and requires re-authentication. | 30 days |
These cookies remember your preferences to improve your experience on return visits. You can disable functional cookies through your browser settings, but doing so may affect how the website behaves on return visits.
| Cookie Name | Provider | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|
fhq_prefs |
FarmHQ | Stores your dashboard display preferences: which units to use (imperial or metric), default date range for charts, and notification display settings. | 1 year |
fhq_tz |
FarmHQ | Stores your detected or selected time zone, so that pump event timestamps and schedules are displayed in your local time rather than UTC. | 1 year |
FarmHQ uses Google Analytics 4 (GA4) to understand how visitors interact with the farmhq.org website. GA4 collects anonymized data about page views, session duration, navigation paths, referring sources, and general geographic location (country and US state, derived from IP address). IP addresses are anonymized before storage in Google's systems.
Google Analytics cookies are third-party cookies placed by Google, LLC. Google's use of these cookies is governed by Google's Privacy Policy (policies.google.com/privacy). FarmHQ uses the data collected by GA4 only for improving the farmhq.org website — we do not share GA4 data with third parties.
| Cookie Name | Provider | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|
_ga |
Google Analytics | Distinguishes unique users by assigning a randomly generated client identifier. Used to calculate visitor and session counts in analytics reports. | 2 years |
_ga_[ID] |
Google Analytics | Used by GA4 to persist session state data. The [ID] suffix corresponds to the FarmHQ GA4 property identifier. | 2 years |
_gid |
Google Analytics | Stores and updates a unique value for each page visited. Used to distinguish individual users within a 24-hour period. | 24 hours |
_gat_gtag_[ID] |
Google Analytics | Used to throttle request rate to the GA4 data collection endpoint. Limits the number of requests made per page load to reduce server load. | 1 minute |
FarmHQ uses localStorage (a browser storage mechanism similar to cookies) to remember your response to the cookie consent banner displayed on your first visit to farmhq.org. This preference is stored locally in your browser and is not transmitted to FarmHQ's servers.
| Storage Key | Provider | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|
fhq_cookie_consent |
FarmHQ | Stores "accepted" or "declined" to remember your response to the cookie consent banner, so the banner is not displayed on subsequent visits. | Until browser storage is cleared |
Most web browsers allow you to manage cookie settings through the browser's settings or preferences menu. You can typically: view all cookies stored by websites you have visited; delete cookies individually or all at once; block cookies from specific websites; block all third-party cookies; or block all cookies entirely (note: blocking all cookies will prevent you from logging in to the FarmHQ dashboard).
Instructions for managing cookies in common browsers:
To prevent Google Analytics from collecting data about your visits to farmhq.org, you can install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on, available at tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout. This add-on is available for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, and Internet Explorer. The add-on prevents the Google Analytics JavaScript from sending information to Google Analytics servers.
Alternatively, declining cookies via the FarmHQ cookie consent banner (clicking "Decline") prevents the GA4 tracking script from loading on farmhq.org.
Some browsers support a "Do Not Track" (DNT) signal that you can enable to request that websites not track your activity. FarmHQ respects DNT signals: when a browser sends a DNT:1 header to farmhq.org, FarmHQ does not load the Google Analytics tracking script. Strictly necessary cookies (login session, CSRF protection) are set regardless of DNT status, as they are required for the website to function.
FarmHQ may update the cookies we use as the website and platform evolve. When we add new cookies or change the purpose of existing cookies in a material way, we will update this Cookie Policy and display the cookie consent banner again to request renewed consent where applicable. The date at the top of this policy reflects the most recent revision.
For questions about this Cookie Policy or FarmHQ's use of cookies, contact:
FarmHQ, Inc.
Portland, OR, USA
Email: support@farmhq.org
Additional information about FarmHQ's data practices is available in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.