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Computer Programs
Farm Management System Computer Program
Recordkeeping System
Description: The Farm Management Recordkeeping System is
designed to store laboratory test results for soil tests, water tests, manure
tests, and forage/plant tests on one or more fields in one or more farms for a
particular producer. It also keeps records about the usage of those materials on
fields, crops, and livestock, along with fertilizer and restricted use pesticide
applications, soil amendments, and resulting crop yields. The producer can then
use this historical information to determine the best amendments for subsequent
crop plantings, as well as to meet certain governmental reporting
requirements.
In addition to storing this information, the Farm
Management System also provides the following capabilities:
1) Keep records for multiple farms and multiple fields in
each farm.
2) Browse Windows to display all or a set of test results
or applications entered, instead of one at a time on the screen.
3) Search functions to specify a value, a set of values,
and/or a range of values to match for any of the test's fields or combinations
of those fields.
4) Printouts of results and applications by field, test,
or application in farm set or test screen, column, or lab format (where defined)
within a given date range, if needed.
5) Conversions of selected component measurements from As
Fed Basis to Dry Matter Basis.
6) Latitude and Longitude entries for each test for
precise global positioning location specifications.
Tests are identified by specifying the following:
1) Farm Identifier
2) Field/Sample Identifier
3) Acres for field
4) Lab Identifier
5) Date of Sample
6) Depth of Sample
7) Latitude and Longitude of Sample
8) Comments, as needed
The laboratory test results kept by the Farm Management
System include:
1) Soil Tests with 16 measured components, along with
recommended amendments for up to three specified crops or forage species.
2) Water Tests with 26 measured components in ppm or
meq/l, along with standard test classifications for domestic water samples.
3) Manure Tests with 21 measured components, for use as
fertilizer or feed, in lbs/ton for dry samples or lbs/1000 gal for liquid
samples.
4) Forage/Plant Tests with 18 measured components in
fields with up to three specified crops or forage species.
The field description and application information, which
is kept on a per-field basis and a per-planting-season basis, includes the
following:
1) Up to three crops or forage species may be specified
per field.
2) Information about Animal Waste Permit, Source, and
Handling Methods.
3) Plant/Crop Analysis with harvest date, acres, crop,
and yield, along with the corresponding Forage/Plant Test record and any
prevalent weeds in the field this season.
4) Soil Amendment Rates with the date, amendment rates
applied, and acreage, along with the corresponding Soil Test record.
5) Water Applications with the date, amount applied, and
acreage, along with the corresponding Water Test record.
6) Manure Applications with the date, amount applied, and
acreage, along with the corresponding Manure Test record; also showing the
resulting rate analysis for liquid fertilizer applications.
7) Fertilizer Applications with the date, amount and
units applied, acreage, and product name and analysis.
8) Restricted Use Pesticide Applications with the date,
amount and units applied and treated, weather conditions, product name and
number, and applicator identification.
9) Forage for Grazing or Harvesting with the date, days
and head grazed, and amount, which can be converted from bales, along with the
corresponding Forage/Plant Test record and any prevalent weeds.
Conception: Billy Moore
Programmer: Stephen Rea, Becky Bridges
Restrictions: Crop Codes and Forage Species Codes are
unique to Arkansas. Distribution outside of the state would require that those
states supply their own crop code and species code databases and that the Farm
Management System be distributed through and supported by their own Cooperative
Extension Services.
Hardware/Software Required:
1) 386, 486, or Pentium based PC
2) Windows 3.1, Windows for Workgroups 3.11, Windows 95 or later
3) 3.5 Meg Disk Space
4) 4 Meg Memory (8 Meg optimal)
Special Skills/Costs: Familiarity with the Microsoft
Windows interface. Availability: Public Distribution within Arkansas (see
Restrictions).
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