AGMODELS-L: 199703XX

is the compilation of discussion during Mar 97

via AB4EL Web Digests @ SunSITE

AGROMOMY Homepage @ SunSITE

>From LISTSERV@crcvms.unl.edu Sat Mar  1 09:22:29 1997
Date: Sat, 01 Mar 1997 08:21:42 -0600
Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 27 Feb 1997 to 28 Feb 1997




Date: Sat, 1 Mar 1997 08:21:42 -0600 Reply-To: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Sender: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> From: Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 27 Feb 1997 to 28 Feb 1997 To: Recipients of AGMODELS-L digests <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> There is one message totalling 35 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. Commodity price simulations?
Date: Thu, 27 Feb 1997 18:07:02 -0700 From: Warren Snelling <beefmgt@CADVISION.COM> Subject: Commodity price simulations? Hello all, Are there programs available to generate several years worth of commodity prices based on historical data, similar to climate generation programs using historical weather data? I'd like to generate 20-30 years worth of feed grain, hay, and cattle prices (cull cows, weaned calves, carcasses) and apply these prices to a biological simulation of beef production. The ultimate goal is to identify economic optima for important traits and refine selection criteria for beef cattle seedstock. We're using SPUR (Simulation of Production and Utilization of Ranglands) and CBCPM (Colorado Beef Cattle Production Model) to model forage and cattle production, but are missing an economic component. All suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Warren Snelling BeefBooster Management LTD beefmgt@cadvision.com 226, 1935 - 32 Avenue NE (403)291-9771 Calgary, Alberta T2E 7C8 (403)291-9559 (fax) --------------------------------

>From LISTSERV@crcvms.unl.edu Sun Mar  2 01:03:09 1997
Date: Sun, 02 Mar 1997 00:02:01 -0600
Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 28 Feb 1997 to 1 Mar 1997




Date: Sun, 2 Mar 1997 00:02:01 -0600 Reply-To: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Sender: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> From: Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 28 Feb 1997 to 1 Mar 1997 To: Recipients of AGMODELS-L digests <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> There is one message totalling 25 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. I am getting sick of asking this
Date: Sun, 2 Mar 1997 13:39:42 +1000 From: Michael Blackmore <wizard@RURALNET.NET.AU> Subject: I am getting sick of asking this If someone doesn't give me a way of removing myself from this bloody SPAM mail group soom, I will get real upset. Is this the only way of generating interest in the site or something ? Unsubscribe Me....NOW !!! ******************************************************************** EMAIL:- wizard@ruralnet.net.au or mmcc@ruralnet.net.au ******************************************************************** This Message Transmitted on 100% Recycled Electrons ******************************************************************** --------------------------------

>From LISTSERV@crcvms.unl.edu Mon Mar  3 02:06:33 1997
Date: Mon, 03 Mar 1997 00:00:45 -0600
Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 1 Mar 1997 to 2 Mar 1997




Date: Mon, 3 Mar 1997 00:00:45 -0600 Reply-To: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Sender: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> From: Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 1 Mar 1997 to 2 Mar 1997 To: Recipients of AGMODELS-L digests <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> There are 2 messages totalling 60 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. I am getting sick of asking this 2. IF YOU'RE TIRED OF BEING PART OF THIS GROUP
Date: Sun, 2 Mar 1997 10:06:34 -0500 From: Aezapp@AOL.COM Subject: Re: I am getting sick of asking this you have to go to the mailing list search and find it there
Date: Sun, 2 Mar 1997 15:01:35 -0800 From: "Timothy J. Harsch" <tharsch@CALWEB.COM> Subject: IF YOU'RE TIRED OF BEING PART OF THIS GROUP Dear AGMODELS-L members - This message is to inform anyone and everyone belonging to the AGMODELS-L list server on how to unsubscribe from the list. Simply send an email to listserv@unl.edu with the words "unsubscribe AGMODELS-L" or "signoff AGMODELS-L" in the body of the text. I usually put any command in the Subject as well for thoroughness. You can also learn more about commands such as the one above by sending email to that address with the word "help" in the body. I'd like to take the liberty of resending this message to the group whenever someone sends an email to the rest of the group stating how angry they are that the group has not unsubscribed them(since this seems to happen alot). Any member of the group is powerless to unsubscribe any other member of the group. To send an email to three hundred members of the group stating how angry you are is in my opinion, a little rude, although understandable if you don't know what else to do. I joined the group to receive emails containing discussions about ag models, as well as to get emails from anyone who feels their product may relate. I don't think I have received emails concerning unrelated products and hope I don't. But, if you are a member of the group, please realize that is the type of email you are likely to get from time to time. But, if you have a product that relates or if you would like to start a topic with the group, I personally would love to get your email. I'm hoping that this email does not seem rude but is helpful to all. Sincerely, Advanced Veterinary Services Tim Harsch Computer Programmer/Technical Support (916) 759-8374 P.S. Please visit the Home Page of a revolutionary new program called "Ranch Vision." http://www.ranchvision.com --------------------------------

>From LISTSERV@crcvms.unl.edu Wed Mar  5 01:02:39 1997
Date: Wed, 05 Mar 1997 00:01:25 -0600
Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 2 Mar 1997 to 4 Mar 1997




Date: Wed, 5 Mar 1997 00:01:25 -0600 Reply-To: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Sender: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> From: Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 2 Mar 1997 to 4 Mar 1997 To: Recipients of AGMODELS-L digests <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> There is one message totalling 34 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. Note on SPUR
Date: Tue, 4 Mar 1997 09:50:51 -0700 From: Warren Snelling <beefmgt@CADVISION.COM> Subject: Re: Note on SPUR Dr Hanson, > I am glad to see that you are using SPUR and CBCPM. I was interested to > know whether you are actually using SPUR or SPUR2. We completed the > coupling of SPUR and CBCPM into a DOS version we call SPUR2 DOS ver 2.2. > Currently we are completing work on a new version that incorporates > changes made for SPUR91 and the CENTURY model. This will be SPUR2 DOS ver > 2.4. Later this year we will release the first true windows version. This > version will probably be our last. We will call it SPUR97. You probably know better than I exactly which version of SPUR I'm using - it's Rick Bourdon's SPUR/CBCPM code ported to Linux. With the interface between SPUR and CBCPM, I'm sure it's closer to SPUR2 than SPUR. I've left the SPUR code alone, but have made some changes to CBCPM. So far, changes to CBCPM have involved code describing feedlot growth, and accomodating the BeefBooster crossbreeding system with specialized heifer, maternal and terminal bulls. Warren Snelling BeefBooster Management LTD beefmgt@cadvision.com 226, 1935 - 32 Avenue NE (403)291-9771 Calgary, Alberta T2E 7C8 (403)291-9559 (fax) --------------------------------

>From LISTSERV@crcvms.unl.edu Sun Mar  9 01:02:30 1997
Date: Sun, 09 Mar 1997 00:01:36 -0600
Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 4 Mar 1997 to 8 Mar 1997




Date: Sun, 9 Mar 1997 00:01:36 -0600 Reply-To: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Sender: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> From: Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 4 Mar 1997 to 8 Mar 1997 To: Recipients of AGMODELS-L digests <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> There are 2 messages totalling 69 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. ASA Symposium on Linking Models and GIS (2)
Date: Sat, 8 Mar 1997 18:59:09 -0500 From: "Dr. Gerrit Hoogenboom" <gerrit@TANGINE.BAE.GRIFFIN.PEACHNET.EDU> Subject: ASA Symposium on Linking Models and GIS --=====================_857876155==_ --=====================_857876155==_ During this year's Annual Meetings of the American Society of Agronomy/Crop Science Society of America/Soil Science Society of America, Division A-3 and the Software Scene are cosponsoring a symposium entitled "Integrating Simulation Models with GIS for Agricultural and Environmental Systems Research." The format includes a session with invited papers plus volunteered oral, poster and software scene papers that either describe how a model is linked or integrated with GIS or an application of a GIS-Model linkage system. Both invited and volunteered papers are to be included in a published proceedings. If you are interested in participating, please send a Title form to ASA headquarters. Title forms are DUE on March 20, 1997 ! This 1997 ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meetings will be held from October 26 to 31 in Anaheim, CA. For further information about this symposium please contact me at the address below. Gerrit Hoogenboom --=====================_857876155==_ ======================================================================== Gerrit Hoogenboom Associate Professor Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering The University of Georgia Griffin, Georgia 30223-1797, USA Phone: 770-229-3438 (New !) FAX: 770-228-7218 E-mail: gerrit@bae.griffin.peachnet.edu ======================================================================== --=====================_857876155==_--
Date: Sat, 8 Mar 1997 21:23:36 -0500 From: Aezapp@AOL.COM Subject: Re: ASA Symposium on Linking Models and GIS How would you like to make $500-$1000 extra a week. You can do this! If you like to make money this is for you! Email me at aezapp@aol.com and I will tell you all about it. If you can't wait for an email you can go here for complete information. http://members.aol.com/Aezapp/money.html (use cut and past) --------------------------------

>From LISTSERV@crcvms.unl.edu Tue Mar 11 01:01:18 1997
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 00:00:23 -0600
Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 8 Mar 1997 to 10 Mar 1997




Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 00:00:23 -0600 Reply-To: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Sender: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> From: Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 8 Mar 1997 to 10 Mar 1997 To: Recipients of AGMODELS-L digests <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> There are 2 messages totalling 54 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. information query 2. ASA Symposium on Linking Models and GIS
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 10:13:48 +0000 From: Jean-Marc FERRERO <ferrero@CPE.IPL.FR> Subject: information query Dear Sir, Madam, We are 15 students currently in our 4th year of an agricultural engineering degree course and we are collecting information about simulation and optimization models in agriculture and food-processing, as systems aid in decision-making.>We would like to thank you very much for sending us any information you have which could help us in our research. If you are interested in the result of our research, please do not hesitate to ask us for it. Yours sincerely, the students. e-mail : Girafe@ISARA.IPL.fr ___________________________________________________________ jean-marc FERRERO tel. : 04-72-32-50-91 I.S.A.R.A fax. : 04-72-32-51-21 31 place Bellecour 69288 Lyon Cedex 02 E-mail : ferrero@isara.ipl.fr FRANCE ____________________________________________________________
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 10:02:07 -0600 From: Maribeth Milner <milner@AMES.NET> Subject: Re: ASA Symposium on Linking Models and GIS Please remove me from your mailing list IMMEDIATELY! Maribeth At 09:23 PM 3/8/97 -0500, you wrote: >How would you like to make $500-$1000 extra a week. You can do this! If you >like to make money this is for you! Email me at aezapp@aol.com and I will >tell you all about it. If you can't wait for an email you can go here for >complete information. http://members.aol.com/Aezapp/money.html >(use cut and past) > --------------------------------

>From LISTSERV@crcvms.unl.edu Wed Mar 12 12:26:11 1997
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 11:24:49 -0600
Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 10 Mar 1997 to 11 Mar 1997




Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 11:24:49 -0600 Reply-To: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Sender: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> From: Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 10 Mar 1997 to 11 Mar 1997 To: Recipients of AGMODELS-L digests <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> There are 2 messages totalling 162 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. To Aezapp : Junking the agmodels list (2)
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 09:12:59 -0600 From: "D.Hartkamp (NRG - CIMMYT, INT.)" <dhartkamp@CIMMYT.MX> Subject: To Aezapp : Junking the agmodels list PlEASE will you stop sending these kind of messages to this scientifically orientated discussion list. It is bothering a lot of people and many scientists are unsubscribing because of these kind of mails. I'm sure by sending out this mail for more than 3 times to the same people YOU'VE really MADE YOUR POINT. Thank you for your understanding D. Hartkamp CIMMYT Mexico Tip: Seeing you want only American or Canadian Nationals for the mailing jobs don't junk an international mailing list. Stick to distributing it within those countries. I'm sure this is a better way to communicate your message. ---------- From: Aezapp@AOL.COM[SMTP:Aezapp@AOL.COM] Sent: Saturday, March 08, 1997 8:23 PM To: AGMODELS-L@crcvms.unl.edu Subject: Re: ASA Symposium on Linking Models and GIS How would you like to make $500-$1000 extra a week. You can do this! If you like to make money this is for you! Email me at aezapp@aol.com and I will tell you all about it. If you can't wait for an email you can go here for complete information. http://members.aol.com/Aezapp/money.html (use cut and past) begin 600 WINMAIL.DAT M>)\^(@`/`0:0" `$```````!``$``0>0!@`(````Y 0```````#H``$-@ 0` M`@````(``@`!!) &`#P!```!````# ````,``# #````"P`/#@`````"`?\/ M`0```%(`````````@2L?I+ZC$!F=;@#=`0]4`@````!!9VUO9&5L``(P`0````4```!33510`````!X``S !````&@```$%'34]$14Q3+4Q M8W)C=FUS+G5N;"YE9'4````#`!4,`0````,`_@\&````'@`!, $````=```` M)T%G;6]D96QS+4P@1&ES8W5SL1T)&/" `KG43<```>`!X,`0````4```!33510 M`````!X`'PP!````% ```&1H87)T:V%M<$!C:6UM>70N;7@``P`&$!9VNU(# M``<0; ,``!X`"! !````90```%!,14%315=)3$Q93U535$]04T5.1$E.1U1( M15-%2TE.1$]&34534T%'15-43U1(25-30TE%3E1)1DE#04Q,64]2245.5$%4 M141$25-#55-324].3$E35$E425-"3U1(15))3D<``````@$)$ $```!%! `` M000``.<&``!,6D9U=%Q6&?\`"@$/`A4"J 7K`H,`4 +R"0(`8V@*P'-E=#(W M!@`&PP*#,@/%`@!P<D)Q$>)S=&5M`H,S=P+D!Q,"@'T*@ C/"=D[\18/,C4U M`H *@0VQ"V#@;F(;L07 ). $@1/ M(V$K'($*A40A0$@*P'1K!2O < J%0TE-35G25 7097@?,&\*A2Y6:04@.B & M464<@ANR=^L`<"*A;A]Q00> !1 ?0&L#H 6Q0P!P81QP`Y%._R `(,$'0 0@ M*>(K,2!1=/<E42D0'()I!4 #\!YA`Z#]',!O'/$%H"3@/%$'D">I_QYC'H$B M8"7 `D $D#4!'X#S'C$%H&UM). ?,1/0+Y0?':4A0#.&"HLA`#$X,,$"T6DM M,30T#? ,T'-$0PM9,38*H -@$]!C?05 +49G"H=%&PPP1>9&/P-A-#!$_T8$ M#((4L&5Z`&%P<$!!3TPN`$-/35M33510^CI++%U'#T@=!F ",$E/JTI;!A!T M"'!D0% L!= C"L 1<" P.%'P,3E .3<@.#HR*L!09DU-7T@=5&]/GTI<1P1- M3RUP3%,M3$ Q!0!C=FTGD"3@;"[="8!U4W].;B40:D8A59]92EM2930P&R!! M$?)PV3VP:74GX"#13 N '2$='*!-!'$W<2-B1TE30 # 9 $D-4/@["TD&3!#X" RT#Q0(F#5(F!W M">!K(4!9&\$V`OLX\!Y3(2%0'8 ;L0J%8^MY!&!N94!A/T4O96(#D1/@*:)NU2#^9QY (?$=`"GA"H5 L2,AOT%!"X IX0# -R)",6@" M0+DT("\O!X &T# A+FN5KB]+)'0`:0(N`#T``0````$`````````G:@` ` end
Date: Mon, 11 Mar 2097 08:15:06 -0800 From: "Timothy J. Harsch" <tharsch@CALWEB.COM> Subject: Re: To Aezapp : Junking the agmodels list AG-Modelers - One way to deal with spam mail, is to reply directly to the author. If many of us do this, they get the idea. The real author's address is always in the email somewhere. With Internet Explorer you can find it by right-clicking and getting "properites" on the email. Another more generic way is to save the email, then view the saved email with a text viewer. There should be a list of "Recieved" fields at the top and then a date field, below it is the "From" field... this is who sent the email. Sincerely, Advanced Veterinary Services Tim Harsch Computer Programmer/Technical Support (916) 759-8374 P.S. Please visit the Home Page of a revolutionary new program called "Ranch Vision." http://www.ranchvision.com ---------- > From: D.Hartkamp (NRG - CIMMYT, INT.) <dhartkamp@CIMMYT.MX> > To: AGMODELS-L@crcvms.unl.edu > Subject: To Aezapp : Junking the agmodels list > Date: Tuesday, March 11, 1997 7:12 AM > > PlEASE will you stop sending these kind of messages to this scientifically > orientated discussion list. It is bothering a lot of people and many > scientists are unsubscribing because of these kind of mails. I'm sure by > sending out this mail for more than 3 times to the same people YOU'VE > really MADE YOUR POINT. > Thank you for your understanding > D. Hartkamp > CIMMYT Mexico > > Tip: Seeing you want only American or Canadian Nationals for the mailing > jobs don't junk an international mailing list. Stick to distributing it > within those countries. I'm sure this is a better way to communicate your > message. > > ---------- > From: Aezapp@AOL.COM[SMTP:Aezapp@AOL.COM] > Sent: Saturday, March 08, 1997 8:23 PM > To: AGMODELS-L@crcvms.unl.edu > Subject: Re: ASA Symposium on Linking Models and GIS > > How would you like to make $500-$1000 extra a week. You can do this! If you > like to make money this is for you! Email me at aezapp@aol.com and I will > tell you all about it. If you can't wait for an email you can go here for > complete information. http://members.aol.com/Aezapp/money.html > (use cut and past) > > > --------------------------------

>From LISTSERV@crcvms.unl.edu Thu Mar 13 09:20:20 1997
Date: Thu, 13 Mar 1997 00:00:02 -0600
Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 11 Mar 1997 to 12 Mar 1997




Date: Thu, 13 Mar 1997 00:00:02 -0600 Reply-To: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Sender: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> From: Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 11 Mar 1997 to 12 Mar 1997 To: Recipients of AGMODELS-L digests <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> There are 4 messages totalling 304 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. To Aezapp : Junking the agmodels list (2) 2. Scheduling Software (2)
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 07:19:21 -0800 From: Tom Hodges <thodges@TRICITY.WSU.EDU> Subject: Re: To Aezapp : Junking the agmodels list Unfortunately the apparent author often is not the author. The header is usually forged so that we can't respond that way. You need to set full or rich headers and have someone study the header information who can try to trace back at least to the ISP that is being used to forward the stuff. If there is an email address in the body, try sending an encouraging enquiry to that address. If they respond as if they know what you are talking about, then mail bomb them. Tom Hodges On Mon, 11 Mar 2097, Timothy J. Harsch wrote: > AG-Modelers - > One way to deal with spam mail, is to reply directly to the author. > If many of us do this, they get the idea. The real author's address > is always in the email somewhere. With Internet Explorer you can > find it by right-clicking and getting "properites" on the email. > Another more generic way is to save the email, then view the saved > email with a text viewer. There should be a list of "Recieved" > fields at the top and then a date field, below it is the "From" > field... this is who sent the email. > > Sincerely, > > Advanced Veterinary Services > Tim Harsch > Computer Programmer/Technical Support > (916) 759-8374 > > P.S. Please visit the Home Page of a revolutionary new program > called "Ranch Vision." > > http://www.ranchvision.com > > ---------- > > From: D.Hartkamp (NRG - CIMMYT, INT.) <dhartkamp@CIMMYT.MX> > > To: AGMODELS-L@crcvms.unl.edu > > Subject: To Aezapp : Junking the agmodels list > > Date: Tuesday, March 11, 1997 7:12 AM > > > > PlEASE will you stop sending these kind of messages to this > scientifically > > orientated discussion list. It is bothering a lot of people and > many > > scientists are unsubscribing because of these kind of mails. I'm > sure by > > sending out this mail for more than 3 times to the same people > YOU'VE > > really MADE YOUR POINT. > > Thank you for your understanding > > D. Hartkamp > > CIMMYT Mexico > > > > Tip: Seeing you want only American or Canadian Nationals for the > mailing > > jobs don't junk an international mailing list. Stick to > distributing it > > within those countries. I'm sure this is a better way to > communicate your > > message. > > > > ---------- > > From: Aezapp@AOL.COM[SMTP:Aezapp@AOL.COM] > > Sent: Saturday, March 08, 1997 8:23 PM > > To: AGMODELS-L@crcvms.unl.edu > > Subject: Re: ASA Symposium on Linking Models and GIS > > > > How would you like to make $500-$1000 extra a week. You can do > this! If you > > like to make money this is for you! Email me at aezapp@aol.com and > I will > > tell you all about it. If you can't wait for an email you can go > here for > > complete information. http://members.aol.com/Aezapp/money.html > > (use cut and past) > > > > > > >
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 14:34:11 +0100 From: Laurence Benjamin <laurence.benjamin@HRI.AC.UK> Subject: Scheduling Software Dear All On 10th February, I made a general enquiry to agmodels about the existance of software to schedule sowing times and planting densities and harvesting times of field vegetables. The only response I had was from Tom Hodges about the Simpotato model. The crux of his response was :- Version 1.60 for Win95/NT can be downloaded from my web pages. It is aimed at water and nitrogen relations, and is a fairly complete physiological simulator. http://www.tricity.wsu.edu/htmls/hodges I can add BROCOLLI, which schedules the production of brocolli. It intrigues me how small the response has been. Is there virtually no software to aid growers to schedule production of field vegetables? Do growers simply stick labels on a wall chart, with sowing and harvesting times based on previous experience? Wouldn't software based upon a growth model calibrated to extensive experimental treatments give a better guide to growers? Or is it that the developers and users of such software don't subscribe to agmodels? I would be grateful for any answers to these points others may be able to provide. Regards Laurence Benjamin Horticulture Research International Wellesbourne Warwick CV35 9EF United Kingdom tel direct line +44 1789 472024 tel switch board +44 1789 470382 fax +44 1789 470552 email laurence.benjamin@hri.ac.uk
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 10:00:39 +0200 From: Matti Teittinen <mteittin@CC.HELSINKI.FI> Subject: Re: To Aezapp : Junking the agmodels list > > AG-Modelers - > One way to deal with spam mail, is to reply directly to the author. > If many of us do this, they get the idea. The real author's address > is always in the email somewhere. With Internet Explorer you can > find it by right-clicking and getting "properites" on the email. > Another more generic way is to save the email, then view the saved > email with a text viewer. There should be a list of "Recieved" > fields at the top and then a date field, below it is the "From" > field... this is who sent the email. Better way to react these spams is to contact directly to spammer's Internet provider (in this case AOL American On-Line), and ask them to do something (even ask to close spammer's account). Spammers usually use fake or forged address, and sometimes innocent people may suffer from mail bombs. Yours Matti Teittinen
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 11:44:56 -0600 From: "D.Hartkamp (NRG - CIMMYT, INT.)" <dhartkamp@CIMMYT.MX> Subject: Re: Scheduling Software Dear Laurence, I'm sure in The Netherlands they are using this a lot in the Westland Greenhouse Area. A) They might indeed not know of this listing B) A lot of people have unsubscribed from this listing due to some pathetic actions of people junking this list with nonsense. You may look on the WEB for a software producing company called DAStronic. They are located in Halen, Belgium. Don't give up yet hope this helps Dewi Hartkamp CIMMYT Mexico ---------- From: Laurence Benjamin[SMTP:laurence.benjamin@HRI.AC.UK] Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 1997 7:34 AM To: AGMODELS-L@crcvms.unl.edu Subject: Scheduling Software Dear All On 10th February, I made a general enquiry to agmodels about the existance of software to schedule sowing times and planting densities and harvesting times of field vegetables. The only response I had was from Tom Hodges about the Simpotato model. The crux of his response was :- Version 1.60 for Win95/NT can be downloaded from my web pages. It is aimed at water and nitrogen relations, and is a fairly complete physiological simulator. http://www.tricity.wsu.edu/htmls/hodges I can add BROCOLLI, which schedules the production of brocolli. It intrigues me how small the response has been. Is there virtually no software to aid growers to schedule production of field vegetables? Do growers simply stick labels on a wall chart, with sowing and harvesting times based on previous experience? Wouldn't software based upon a growth model calibrated to extensive experimental treatments give a better guide to growers? Or is it that the developers and users of such software don't subscribe to agmodels? I would be grateful for any answers to these points others may be able to provide. Regards Laurence Benjamin Horticulture Research International Wellesbourne Warwick CV35 9EF United Kingdom tel direct line +44 1789 472024 tel switch board +44 1789 470382 fax +44 1789 470552 email laurence.benjamin@hri.ac.uk begin 600 WINMAIL.DAT M>)\^(CD1`0:0" `$```````!``$``0>0!@`(````Y 0```````#H``$-@ 0` M`@````(``@`!!) &`#P!```!````# ````,``# #````"P`/#@`````"`?\/ M`0```%(`````````@2L?I+ZC$!F=;@#=`0]4`@````!!9VUO9&5L``(P`0````4```!33510`````!X``S !````&@```$%'34]$14Q3+4Q M8W)C=FUS+G5N;"YE9'4````#`!4,`0````,`_@\&````'@`!, $````=```` M)T%G;6]D96QS+4P@1&ES8W5SD8=(_P`*`0\"%0*H!>L"@P!0 M`O()`@!C: K 2 *P!T@OG4`D!D0'F$$`!ZP(!6@IP5 '4$=T2!7!Y!T'A+T($<)TF@(8!&P M%+$;`#(N'#9!*1UB'J!M:9QG:!_R#; )@"!N'^&F:R/@!^!O9A]4; 0`UG0? M(0J%0B*@01_#)'&X<&5O"U =(!& =A[AZ0" =6($\F(CL0-2))OL(&0*4!Y@ M;QS@`W =(-<*L!W1)2!C'K!C)2 "(&L$("9H:B=0:Q\G)/(@_P/P'= CT0" M"? 1L"('"H4V60A@(P!A'J 5H&]K\R1@("5%0B@0!;$?L"FPG0& =Q["$U $ M<'5C'R+5!:!M"K!N'J!C!T FT&$@\$1!4W0#8 ,`8_\B`"+#'L(5H#(P$] @ M\!U!%D@'0 GP+"7 96QGJ&EU;2VN1 (@)P5 XS4P)R)P('D1P J%(6#')I ? M5!V ;'!S-@8'T&9I-($`(&MA,= *A4,@24U-650%T&5X'2I@;QO<"HLD\#$X M,,$"T6DM,30T#? ,T/,]LPM9,38*H -@$] JH'P@+3_7"H<^BPPP/U9&?0-A M.D#>/U8,@ALW-/%N!FHY\ N 6U--5% V.@M@&V0N)^!%1$!(`%))+D%#+E5+ M_EU ?T&-!F ",$*_0\L@@+1D;@>09"[P-.!-"L 1$7 @,3(TX#$Y.4 W(#)X!J]S^14!]#RU,1<%-1)/ ?,H'=>D"GQ M;;%J44D?\?]G# =Q(/ J$&OQ$] P02#A_P,`,M%?L6L!"V JLS3@(-+]'X-F M"W >`#(1,<$FT!/0^5U*<&@3L"K %: U,#(QSQS@!W!8(&[Q `C#_!T!=2C+0&P"!L$G1!" VT_\?L"?@`D!Y48F@ MCR I8X]5_9K!3P7 'X$LX!YA>/%AW?\-L"<@%:":0664(8&/H6-B_S%0EG(P MI760FT,GAF"JDG:]@TQWFP)U4@G -!%F6"#_,!0R`0!QCX8=T2&1:T")4?\J M\1W2B=$N\75A:@*@JRF0WS$1C- -L(?O6_%2:< +$?^"75OS1)^ROUOP;8 ` M("I@OU@@C0`=$;) $;!,HTD",-\$D7J#H(P@@#)1<$CL4L?(760;;3_H4$]GC%D8' _DE@Q'2 @*X,] MP$S@-S@Y(#0!P>PR-+Y>`^%T3,$&X L1T\ :&4 X,FP[87 @Q,M_PNH84,/& M8@L`P ,11@] ^F@%$"X`T%,`NO99?UJ/%S]E"H45,0#-@ ```P`0$ `````# M`!$0`````$ `!S @IAE\#"^\`4 `"# @IAE\#"^\`1X`/0`!````!0```%)% (.B `````H;L` ` end --------------------------------

>From LISTSERV@crcvms.unl.edu Fri Mar 14 01:02:16 1997
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 00:01:05 -0600
Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 12 Mar 1997 to 13 Mar 1997




Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 00:01:05 -0600 Reply-To: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Sender: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> From: Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 12 Mar 1997 to 13 Mar 1997 To: Recipients of AGMODELS-L digests <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> There is one message totalling 30 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. New Subscriber
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 19:04:30 +1000 From: Chris pritchard <agcontn@RTC.CAMPASPE.NET.AU> Subject: New Subscriber HI to all, Just a brief note about me, I work for the company H.J.Heinz in Australia. My work centers around the Tomato plant research side of things here. My interest is in crop modeling, just how much you can actually model and to what degree of accuracy. As a part time Ag Degree student starting this year I will be majoring in GIS using ArcView, so mainly I will be 'lurking' on this group to see what other people are discussing. An area of interest that I would like to look at is what factors affect Tomato fruit solids. The problem is that there are so many possible variables , where do you start and how finite do you go. I was thinking that you would start off with general info and then as you drill down on promissing leads , define them in greater detail. Would be interested in talking to people involved in yield prediction modeling. Regards, Chris **************************************************** C.J.Pritchard agcontn@campaspe.net.au --------------------------------

>From LISTSERV@crcvms.unl.edu Sun Mar 16 07:52:52 1997
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 1997 10:21:02 -0600
Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 13 Mar 1997 to 14 Mar 1997




Date: Sat, 15 Mar 1997 10:21:02 -0600 Reply-To: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Sender: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> From: Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 13 Mar 1997 to 14 Mar 1997 To: Recipients of AGMODELS-L digests <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> There are 6 messages totalling 294 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. relational information systems for crop protection (2) 2. To Aezapp : Junking the agmodels list 3. Modeling symposium: invitation to participate 4. Scheduling Software (2)
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 14:46:21 +0100 From: Aleksandra Krumpak <aleksandra.krumpak@UNI-LJ.SI> Subject: relational information systems for crop protection Dear colleagues, Just now we are preparing a proposal for the research project for the Ministry for agriculture in Slovenia: "Model of interactive relational multimedia information system for crop protection" on national level. As far I know such information systems exist in USA (NAPIS, PESTIS,...)and they are accessible via Internet. Does anyone have any information about such or similar information systems on national level in other countries ? We would like to know what kind of solutions already work in other countries. Thank you in advance, Best regards, Aleksandra Krumpak, M.Sc.
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 13:26:42 +0000 From: Ludmila Pachepsky <lpachepsky@ASRR.ARSUSDA.GOV> Subject: Re: relational information systems for crop protection Dear Aleksandra, Try http://dino.wiz.uni-kassel.de/ecobas/ecobas.html in Germany ------------------------------------- Name: Ludmila Pachepsky Remote Sensing and modeling Lab Bldg 007, Rm 008 BARC-W 10300 Baltimore Ave. Beltsville, MD 20705 301-504-6042 (voice) 301-504-5823 (fax) E-mail: lpachepsky@asrr.arsusda.gov ------------------------------------- 3/14/97 13:26:42
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 13:55:12 -0600 From: Ashok Verma <Akv4411@SUGAR.AGE.UIUC.EDU> Subject: Re: To Aezapp : Junking the agmodels list I think that it is enough, please focus on something constructive. I hope that this guy will not try again. Thanks Ashok Verma Graduate Research Assistant Lab for Water Quality Modeling and GIS Department of Agricultural Engineering 1304 W Pennsylvania Ave University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Urbana, IL 61801 URL:http://www.age.uiuc.edu/students/graduate/akv/akv.html Phone 217-333-9415 217-333-7956 Fax: 217-244-0323
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 18:32:55 -0600 From: "Dr. Bob Caldwell" <serc018@UNLVM.UNL.EDU> Subject: Modeling symposium: invitation to participate Call for papers: Symposium on FRAMEWORKS FOR MODELING AND DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS Annual meetings of the ASA/CSSA/SSSA Anaheim, CA, October 26-31, 1997 Things are changing quickly in the ag software arena. One industry representative in a recent seminar described it as "over heating", with intensive development work going on at a number of places around the country, and around the world. Now seems a good time for the developers and users of crop models to step back and reconsider: "Where have we been? What lessons have we learned in the last 30 years of modeling and decision support system development?" "Where are we headed? What are reasonable projections of where we will be in 30 years?" "With such a vision for the future, what should we be doing now? What new approaches should we invest in to help us, collectively, make faster progress toward our goals?" To help answer those questions, a symposium is being organized for the 1997 meetings of the American Society of Agronomy. Leading the symposium will be a series of papers, software demonstrations, and panel discussions from distinguished members of the modeling community. Representatives from the private sector, both developers and users of software, will also give their perspectives. Volunteered papers, from scientists and private-sector developers, are encouraged. We would particularly like to see demonstrated new "frameworks": better ways of organizing software and software development, so that our research becomes more efficient and more useful to a broader audience, and ultimately has a greater impact on decision makers. To present a paper in this symposium, you need to FAX a Title Summary form (published in the Jan. '97 issue of Agronomy News) to the ASA Headquarters on or before next Thursday, March 20. (In an emergency, call (402) 472-3674 to have a copy of the Title Summary form FAXed to you.) Abstracts are due June 19. Bob Caldwell, Univ. of Nebraska, and Marie-Claude Fortin, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada / Univ. of British Columbia, Symposium organizers. Sincerely, Bob Caldwell, Cropping Systems Specialist, Dept. of Agronomy/SEREC/NEREC University of Nebraska - Lincoln 204 Mussehl Hall, P.O. Box 830714, Lincoln, NE 68583-0714 serc018@unlvm.unl.edu Phone: (402) 472-3674. FAX: (402) 472-3858.
Date: Thu, 13 Mar 1997 17:35:48 +1000 From: Chris pritchard <agcontn@RTC.CAMPASPE.NET.AU> Subject: Re: Scheduling Software Of interest to Laurence and others, I have been looking for Agricultural programs of any sort for the last 2 months throught the internet and have come up with virtually nothing except an address to "Farm Works" software at http://www.farmworks.com It would seem that there is not enough demand by FARMERS for these programs. In 1991 as an Ag student in Australia our class had to pick an agricultural computer program and evaluate it there where 18 students who all evaluated different programs. I have looked for these companys since but it would seem that they have either gone broke our moved into another field. If someone knows otherwise please set me straight as I am still after getting together a list of programs, but I think the above is the case. Sorry I cant help you might just have to set up an excell file or some type of DB. Best regards, Chris. > > > I can add BROCOLLI, which schedules the production of brocolli. > > It intrigues me how small the response has been. Is there virtually > no software to aid growers to schedule production of field vegetables? > Do growers simply stick labels on a wall chart, with sowing and > harvesting times based on previous experience? Wouldn't software > based upon a growth model calibrated to extensive experimental > treatments give a better guide to growers? Or is it that the > developers and users of such software don't subscribe to agmodels? > > I would be grateful for any answers to these points others may be able > to provide. > > Regards > > Laurence Benjamin > > Horticulture Research International > Wellesbourne > Warwick > CV35 9EF > United Kingdom > > tel direct line +44 1789 472024 > tel switch board +44 1789 470382 > fax +44 1789 470552 > > email laurence.benjamin@hri.ac.uk > > **************************************************** C.J.Pritchard agcontn@campaspe.net.au
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 19:00:36 -0800 From: "Timothy J. Harsch" <tharsch@CALWEB.COM> Subject: Re: Scheduling Software Chris - Perhaps you should take a look at Ranch Vision. Link is on my sig. Sincerely, Advanced Veterinary Services Tim Harsch Computer Programmer/Technical Support (916) 759-8374 P.S. Please visit the Home Page of a revolutionary new program called "Ranch Vision." http://www.ranchvision.com ---------- > From: Chris pritchard <agcontn@RTC.CAMPASPE.NET.AU> > To: AGMODELS-L@crcvms.unl.edu > Subject: Re: Scheduling Software > Date: Wednesday, March 12, 1997 11:35 PM > > Of interest to Laurence and others, > I have been looking for Agricultural programs of any sort for the last 2 > months throught the internet and have come up with virtually nothing except > an address to "Farm Works" software at http://www.farmworks.com It would > seem that there is not enough demand by FARMERS for these programs. In 1991 > as an Ag student in Australia our class had to pick an agricultural > computer program and evaluate it there where 18 students who all evaluated > different programs. I have looked for these companys since but it would > seem that they have either gone broke our moved into another field. > If someone knows otherwise please set me straight as I am still after > getting together a list of programs, but I think the above is the case. > Sorry I cant help you might just have to set up an excell file or some > type of DB. > > Best regards, > Chris. > > > > > > I can add BROCOLLI, which schedules the production of brocolli. > > > > It intrigues me how small the response has been. Is there virtually > > no software to aid growers to schedule production of field vegetables? > > Do growers simply stick labels on a wall chart, with sowing and > > harvesting times based on previous experience? Wouldn't software > > based upon a growth model calibrated to extensive experimental > > treatments give a better guide to growers? Or is it that the > > developers and users of such software don't subscribe to agmodels? > > > > I would be grateful for any answers to these points others may be able > > to provide. > > > > Regards > > > > Laurence Benjamin > > > > Horticulture Research International > > Wellesbourne > > Warwick > > CV35 9EF > > United Kingdom > > > > tel direct line +44 1789 472024 > > tel switch board +44 1789 470382 > > fax +44 1789 470552 > > > > email laurence.benjamin@hri.ac.uk > > > > > **************************************************** > C.J.Pritchard > > agcontn@campaspe.net.au --------------------------------

>From LISTSERV@crcvms.unl.edu Mon Mar 17 07:07:46 1997
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 03:47:55 -0600
Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 14 Mar 1997 to 16 Mar 1997




Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 03:47:55 -0600 Reply-To: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Sender: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> From: Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 14 Mar 1997 to 16 Mar 1997 To: Recipients of AGMODELS-L digests <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> There is one message totalling 110 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. Scheduling Software
Date: Sun, 16 Mar 1997 08:40:43 -0500 From: "Peter F. Hollings" <PHollings@COMPUSERVE.COM> Subject: Scheduling Software Dear All -- I'm as puzzled as Laurence about the absence of more formal approaches to managing agricultural production processes. In my experience (business school followed by 20+ years working with industrial applications of information technology) I've not seen such neglect(?) of an issue with such apparent practical consequence. I hypothesize that a robust solution would consist of the following major components: A) A production planning component which might use simulation or optimization technologies to allocate production resources (e.g., fields, feedlots, etc.) to specific products (crops). This component would also deal with the subproblem for each species of defining the optimum production strategy for that species (crop intensity, feed, feed rate, etc.). B) The production plan would then be translated into operational schedules and communicated so that they could be executed. Process information would need to be captured including crop data (growth, mortalities, etc.), environmental variables and actual schedule execution. This system component would perform three other functions: 1) initiate alerts for out of bounds environmental variables, scheduled operations which were missed/delayed, etc.; 2) adjust the future schedule based on process information (e.g., it rained so irrigation needs to be cancelled) and 3) accumulate actual productiion statistics to improve the ability to develop optimum production strategies for use during subsequent crop cycles. C) Production forecasting and other "interface functions" which are needed to support other components of the business system (e.g., sales, finance, etc.). I'd like comments on the relevance of these ideas as well as what barriers have kept agriculture from implementing them (cost, dislike of technology, etc.). How valuable would this approach be to farmers -- would it have sufficient benefit for them to want to adopt it? Are there any areas that are more likely to adopt this (intensive greenhouse farming? recirculating aquaculture systems?) and what would be a realistic time frame (e.g., It's coming, but maybe in ten-twenty years?)? Is this idea just so wierd that there would be only a very few interested in implementing it now? I think Laurence raised an interesting point and I'm hoping for a good discussion. Are most "AGMODELERS" university types and how do you see these tools in relation to real, working farms? (If any of you wish to discuss commercial aspects of this, I'd be plesased to do so, but please do so off the list.) BTW, my primary interest area for applying this technology is aquaculture. Peter Hollings ************************************************************* From: Laurence Benjamin[SMTP:laurence.benjamin@HRI.AC.UK] Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 1997 7:34 AM To: AGMODELS-L@crcvms.unl.edu Subject: Scheduling Software Dear All On 10th February, I made a general enquiry to agmodels about the existance of software to schedule sowing times and planting densities and harvesting times of field vegetables. The only response I had was from Tom Hodges about the Simpotato model. The crux of his response was :- Version 1.60 for Win95/NT can be downloaded from my web pages. It is aimed at water and nitrogen relations, and is a fairly complete physiological simulator. http://www.tricity.wsu.edu/htmls/hodges I can add BROCOLLI, which schedules the production of brocolli. It intrigues me how small the response has been. Is there virtually no software to aid growers to schedule production of field vegetables? Do growers simply stick labels on a wall chart, with sowing and harvesting times based on previous experience? Wouldn't software based upon a growth model calibrated to extensive experimental treatments give a better guide to growers? Or is it that the developers and users of such software don't subscribe to agmodels? I would be grateful for any answers to these points others may be able to provide. Regards Laurence Benjamin Horticulture Research International Wellesbourne Warwick CV35 9EF United Kingdom tel direct line +44 1789 472024 tel switch board +44 1789 470382 fax +44 1789 470552 email laurence.benjamin@hri.ac.uk --------------------------------

>From LISTSERV@crcvms.unl.edu Wed Mar 19 01:04:05 1997
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 1997 00:02:57 -0600
Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 17 Mar 1997 to 18 Mar 1997




Date: Wed, 19 Mar 1997 00:02:57 -0600 Reply-To: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Sender: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> From: Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 17 Mar 1997 to 18 Mar 1997 To: Recipients of AGMODELS-L digests <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> There are 3 messages totalling 264 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. Scheduling software (2) 2. Scheduling Software
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 07:49:33 -0500 From: Chris Butts <cbutts@ASRR.ARSUSDA.GOV> Subject: Scheduling software AGmodelers: The USDA, ARS, National Peanut Research Lab is beginning to approach some of the problems faced by row crop farmers in optimizing crop and livestock enterprises through the development and testing of a series of decision support systems. The first is a multi-year, multi-crop whole farm planning model called PNTPLAN. It is a model designed and developed by Dr. Marshall Lamb, an agricultural economist working cooperatively with us and Auburn University (mlamb@ag.auburn.edu). PNTPLAN requires detailed farm descriptions, including equipment lists, irrigation availability for each field, crops, rotations, yields, value, actual budgets, fields, farms, etc. Using LINDO, the matrix is optimized for up to five years using either maximum profits as the optimizing function. The results show the optimum production on a field by field, farm by farm basis for the whole farming enterprise over the five year period. The farm manager may also obtain a monthly cash flow statements for the upcoming year to use as supporting documentation for production loans, etc. The planning model has the most intense information relating to the performance of peanut in response to rotations and managment, thus the name, PNTPLAN. However, as other data is obtained for other cropping enterprises, that will be added to the knowledge base. We are also working on other in-season decision support systems including an expert system for managing irrigated peanut production (irrigation scheduling, scouting, and fungicide application). I mention the irrigation expert system, EXNUT, because it is the furthers along and is scheduled for official release by ARS for the 1997 crop year. This expert system uses field data including soil type, planting date, rainfall, and max/min 2" soil temperature readings to schedule irrigation and fungicide applications. Decisions also include the warnings of possible pests (diseases, soil-borne pathogens, and insects). Other data considered in the decision process are potential (historical) yields, irrigation capacity, and probability of rain. Using this computer program, costs approximately $2.00 per acre and has consistently increased yields by 200-300 lb/acre and crop value of $5-10 per ton. Jim Davidson, mechanical engineer (jdavidson@asrr.arsusda.gov), is responsible for developing EXNUT Another scheduling aid under development is called HARVPRO. It is an aid to help the manager schedule the optimum harvest of his peanuts based on optimum peanut maturity (peanut is an indeterminant crop), disease pressure, risk of inclement weather at harvest (hurricanes, rainfall), and availability of equipment and labor. HARVPRO is in the developmental stages and currently undergoing field testing and validation. Jay Williams, ag engineer (jwillms@asrr.arsusda.gov), is responsible for developing HARVPRO. We are in the process of bringing a post doc on board to help us get a comprehensive production expert system for non-irrigated peanut production decisions off the drawing board. We have (with extensive help from several peanut production experts including retired agronomists, soil scientists, active farmers, extension specialists, etc) developed a fairly comprehensive knowledge base regarding many production decisions ranging from land preparation, to planting, re-planting, pest management, etc. This post doc will have the responsibility of getting the knowledge base from written words into a decision tree, then begin operational testing of the system. We have other systems under development, to help schedule commercial drying operations, storage facilities (inventory control), shelling plant set up and operating parameters, farmer marketing, etc. For more information on these systems, check out our homepage........ ************************************************************************ * Chris Butts * Phone: 912-995-7431 * * Agricultural Engineer * Fax: 912-995-7416 * * USDA, ARS * email: cbutts@asrr.arsusda.gov * * 1011 Forrester Dr., SE * * * Dawson, GA 31742 * WWW: http://sacs.cpes.peachnet.edu/nprl/ * * * * ************************************************************************
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 12:24:18 -0500 From: Romain Gagnon <RGagnon@SMARTRAIN.COM> Subject: Scheduling software Dear folks: We believe that the best scheduling is always based on real soil moisture and temperature at root level. See our web site to find out how we solve this issue. Romain Gagnon, Eng President & CEO Smart Rain Corporation 1505, Place de l'Hotel-de-ville, suite 102 St-Bruno, Quebec Canada, J3V 5Y6 tel: (514)441-4289 fax: (514)441-2147 cell: (514)893-6506 E-mail:RGagnon@SmartRain.com WEB: http://www.SmartRain.com
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 17:21:05 -0800 From: Richard Brazil <rbrazil@RANCHVISION.COM> Subject: Scheduling Software Dear Peter, I believe that modeling software is the way of the future for agriculture. Application of this technology is simply to useful and potential benefits too great for private industry not to embrace them eventually. In the meantime, it is more a question of confidence in the approach and persistence in marketing. In my experience, producers are excited by the concepts when presented with them; however, many producers, especially ranchers for which our product is targeted, are quite conservative by nature especially when it comes to spending money on new technology. They must be convinced that a significant expenditure will be cost effective before signing on. It definitely helps when they know others who are benefiting. We are having more success by introducing our product (Ranch Vision at http://www.ranchvision.com) through the educational establishment. They are more open to new technology and are amazed at the educational benefits their students receive. Remember, today's students are tomorrow's industry leaders. Over time, it will gain more and more steam. The bottom line is, it's a tremendously useful approach, it works. Be confident, keep the faith; private industry will eventually catch on. Richard M. Brazil, DVM President Advanced Veterinary Services P.O Box 437 Potter Valley, CA 95469 http://www.ranchvision.com phone (707) 462-0408 email rbrazil@ranchvision.com ---------- > From: Peter F. Hollings <PHollings@COMPUSERVE.COM> > To: AGMODELS-L@crcvms.unl.edu > Subject: Scheduling Software > Date: Sunday, March 16, 1997 5:40 AM > > Dear All -- > > I'm as puzzled as Laurence about the absence of more formal approaches to > managing agricultural production processes. In my experience (business > school followed by 20+ years working with industrial applications of > information technology) I've not seen such neglect(?) of an issue with such > apparent practical consequence. > > I hypothesize that a robust solution would consist of the following major > components: > > A) A production planning component which might use simulation or > optimization technologies to allocate production resources (e.g., fields, > feedlots, etc.) to specific products (crops). This component would also > deal with the subproblem for each species of defining the optimum > production strategy for that species (crop intensity, feed, feed rate, > etc.). > > B) The production plan would then be translated into operational schedules > and communicated so that they could be executed. Process information > would need to be captured including crop data (growth, mortalities, > etc.), environmental variables and actual schedule execution. This system > component would perform three other functions: 1) initiate alerts for out > of bounds environmental variables, scheduled operations which were > missed/delayed, etc.; 2) adjust the future schedule based on process > information (e.g., it rained so irrigation needs to be cancelled) and 3) > accumulate actual productiion statistics to improve the ability to develop > optimum production strategies for use during subsequent crop cycles. > > C) Production forecasting and other "interface functions" which are needed > to support other components of the business system (e.g., sales, finance, > etc.). > > I'd like comments on the relevance of these ideas as well as what barriers > have kept agriculture from implementing them (cost, dislike of technology, > etc.). How valuable would this approach be to farmers -- would it have > sufficient benefit for them to want to adopt it? Are there any areas that > are more likely to adopt this (intensive greenhouse farming? recirculating > aquaculture systems?) and what would be a realistic time frame (e.g., It's > coming, but maybe in ten-twenty years?)? Is this idea just so wierd that > there would be only a very few interested in implementing it now? > > I think Laurence raised an interesting point and I'm hoping for a good > discussion. Are most "AGMODELERS" university types and how do you see > these tools in relation to real, working farms? (If any of you wish to > discuss commercial aspects of this, I'd be plesased to do so, but please > do so off the list.) > > BTW, my primary interest area for applying this technology is aquaculture. > > Peter Hollings -------------------------------- From LISTSERV@crcvms.unl.edu Tue Mar 18 10:08:42 1997 Received: from crcvms.unl.edu (crcvms.unl.edu [129.93.1.2]) by calzone.oit.unc.edu (8.8.5/8.8.5) with ESMTP id KAA10419 for <modena@SUNSITE.UNC.EDU>; Tue, 18 Mar 1997 10:08:23 -0500 (EST) Received: from crcvms.unl.edu by crcvms.unl.edu (PMDF V5.1-5 #17254) with ESMTP id <01IGMLVIFBEA000109@crcvms.unl.edu> for modena@SUNSITE.UNC.EDU; Tue, 18 Mar 1997 00:01:41 CST Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 00:01:28 -0600 From: Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@crcvms.unl.edu> Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 16 Mar 1997 to 17 Mar 1997 Sender: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@crcvms.unl.edu> To: Recipients of AGMODELS-L digests <AGMODELS-L@crcvms.unl.edu> Reply-to: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@crcvms.unl.edu> Message-id: <01IGMM05USMC000109@crcvms.unl.edu> Content-Length: 11576 X-Status: Status: OR
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 00:01:28 -0600 Reply-To: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Sender: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> From: Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 16 Mar 1997 to 17 Mar 1997 To: Recipients of AGMODELS-L digests <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> There are 2 messages totalling 246 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. Scheduling Software (2)
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 09:33:44 -0500 From: Chris Butts <cbutts@ASRR.ARSUSDA.GOV> Subject: Re: Scheduling Software AGmodelers: The USDA, ARS, National Peanut Research Lab is beginning to approach some of the problems faced by row crop farmers in optimizing crop and livestock enterprises through the development and testing of a series of decision support systems. The first is a multi-year, multi-crop whole farm planning model called PNTPLAN. It is a model designed and developed by Dr. Marshall Lamb, an agricultural economist working cooperatively with us and Auburn University (mlamb@ag.auburn.edu). PNTPLAN requires detailed farm descriptions, including equipment lists, irrigation availability for each field, crops, rotations, yields, value, actual budgets, fields, farms, etc. Using LINDO, the matrix is optimized for up to five years using either maximum profits as the optimizing function. The results show the optimum production on a field by field, farm by farm basis for the whole farming enterprise over the five year period. The farm manager may also obtain a monthly cash flow statements for the upcoming year to use as supporting documentation for production loans, etc. The planning model has the most intense information relating to the performance of peanut in response to rotations and managment, thus the name, PNTPLAN. However, as other data is obtained for other cropping enterprises, that will be added to the knowledge base. We are also working on other in-season decision support systems including an expert system for managing irrigated peanut production (irrigation scheduling, scouting, and fungicide application). I mention the irrigation expert system, EXNUT, because it is the furthers along and is scheduled for official release by ARS for the 1997 crop year. This expert system uses field data including soil type, planting date, rainfall, and max/min 2" soil temperature readings to schedule irrigation and fungicide applications. Decisions also include the warnings of possible pests (diseases, soil-borne pathogens, and insects). Other data considered in the decision process are potential (historical) yields, irrigation capacity, and probability of rain. Using this computer program, costs approximately $2.00 per acre and has consistently increased yields by 200-300 lb/acre and crop value of $5-10 per ton. Jim Davidson, mechanical engineer (jdavidson@asrr.arsusda.gov), is responsible for developing EXNUT Another scheduling aid under development is called HARVPRO. It is an aid to help the manager schedule the optimum harvest of his peanuts based on optimum peanut maturity (peanut is an indeterminant crop), disease pressure, risk of inclement weather at harvest (hurricanes, rainfall), and availability of equipment and labor. HARVPRO is in the developmental stages and currently undergoing field testing and validation. Jay Williams, ag engineer (jwillms@asrr.arsusda.gov), is responsible for developing HARVPRO. We are in the process of bringing a post doc on board to help us get a comprehensive production expert system for non-irrigated peanut production decisions off the drawing board. We have (with extensive help from several peanut production experts including retired agronomists, soil scientists, active farmers, extension specialists, etc) developed a fairly comprehensive knowledge base regarding many production decisions ranging from land preparation, to planting, re-planting, pest management, etc. This post doc will have the responsibility of getting the knowledge base from written words into a decision tree, then begin operational testing of the system. We have other systems under development, to help schedule commercial drying operations, storage facilities (inventory control), shelling plant set up and operating parameters, farmer marketing, etc. For more information on these systems, check out our homepage........ ************************************************************************ * Chris Butts * Phone: 912-995-7431 * * Agricultural Engineer * Fax: 912-995-7416 * * USDA, ARS * email: cbutts@asrr.arsusda.gov * * 1011 Forrester Dr., SE * * * Dawson, GA 31742 * WWW: http://sacs.cpes.peachnet.edu/nprl/ * * * * ************************************************************************
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 07:21:12 -0800 From: Richard Brazil <rbrazil@RANCHVISION.COM> Subject: Re: Scheduling Software Dear Peter, I believe that modeling software is the way of the future for agriculture. Application of this technology is simply to useful and potential benefits too great for private industry not to embrace them eventually. In the meantime, it is more a question of confidence in the approach and persistence in marketing. In my experience, producers are excited by the concepts when presented with them; however, many producers, especially ranchers for which our product is targeted, are quite conservative by nature especially when it comes to spending money on new technology. They must be convinced that a significant expenditure will be cost effective before signing on. It definitely helps when they know others who are benefiting. We are having more success by introducing our product (Ranch Vision at http://www.ranchvision.com) through the educational establishment. They are more open to new technology and are amazed at the educational benefits their students receive. Remember, today's students are tomorrow's industry leaders. Over time, it will gain more and more steam. The bottom line is, it's a tremendously useful approach, it works. Be confident, keep the faith; private industry will eventually catch on. Richard M. Brazil, DVM President Advanced Veterinary Services P.O Box 437 Potter Valley, CA 95469 http://www.ranchvision.com phone (707) 462-0408 email rbrazil@ranchvision.com ---------- > From: Peter F. Hollings <PHollings@COMPUSERVE.COM> > To: AGMODELS-L@crcvms.unl.edu > Subject: Scheduling Software > Date: Sunday, March 16, 1997 5:40 AM > > Dear All -- > > I'm as puzzled as Laurence about the absence of more formal approaches to > managing agricultural production processes. In my experience (business > school followed by 20+ years working with industrial applications of > information technology) I've not seen such neglect(?) of an issue with such > apparent practical consequence. > > I hypothesize that a robust solution would consist of the following major > components: > > A) A production planning component which might use simulation or > optimization technologies to allocate production resources (e.g., fields, > feedlots, etc.) to specific products (crops). This component would also > deal with the subproblem for each species of defining the optimum > production strategy for that species (crop intensity, feed, feed rate, > etc.). > > B) The production plan would then be translated into operational schedules > and communicated so that they could be executed. Process information > would need to be captured including crop data (growth, mortalities, > etc.), environmental variables and actual schedule execution. This system > component would perform three other functions: 1) initiate alerts for out > of bounds environmental variables, scheduled operations which were > missed/delayed, etc.; 2) adjust the future schedule based on process > information (e.g., it rained so irrigation needs to be cancelled) and 3) > accumulate actual productiion statistics to improve the ability to develop > optimum production strategies for use during subsequent crop cycles. > > C) Production forecasting and other "interface functions" which are needed > to support other components of the business system (e.g., sales, finance, > etc.). > > I'd like comments on the relevance of these ideas as well as what barriers > have kept agriculture from implementing them (cost, dislike of technology, > etc.). How valuable would this approach be to farmers -- would it have > sufficient benefit for them to want to adopt it? Are there any areas that > are more likely to adopt this (intensive greenhouse farming? recirculating > aquaculture systems?) and what would be a realistic time frame (e.g., It's > coming, but maybe in ten-twenty years?)? Is this idea just so wierd that > there would be only a very few interested in implementing it now? > > I think Laurence raised an interesting point and I'm hoping for a good > discussion. Are most "AGMODELERS" university types and how do you see > these tools in relation to real, working farms? (If any of you wish to > discuss commercial aspects of this, I'd be plesased to do so, but please > do so off the list.) > > BTW, my primary interest area for applying this technology is aquaculture. > > Peter Hollings > > > > ************************************************************* > From: Laurence Benjamin[SMTP:laurence.benjamin@HRI.AC.UK] > Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 1997 7:34 AM > To: AGMODELS-L@crcvms.unl.edu > Subject: Scheduling Software > > Dear All > > On 10th February, I made a general enquiry to agmodels about the > existance of software to schedule sowing times and planting densities > and harvesting times of field vegetables. The only response I had was > from Tom Hodges about the Simpotato model. The crux of his response > was :- > > Version 1.60 for Win95/NT can be downloaded from my web pages. It is > aimed at water and nitrogen relations, and is a fairly complete > physiological simulator. > > http://www.tricity.wsu.edu/htmls/hodges > > > I can add BROCOLLI, which schedules the production of brocolli. > > It intrigues me how small the response has been. Is there virtually > no software to aid growers to schedule production of field vegetables? > Do growers simply stick labels on a wall chart, with sowing and > harvesting times based on previous experience? Wouldn't software > based upon a growth model calibrated to extensive experimental > treatments give a better guide to growers? Or is it that the > developers and users of such software don't subscribe to agmodels? > > I would be grateful for any answers to these points others may be able > to provide. > > Regards > > Laurence Benjamin > > Horticulture Research International > Wellesbourne > Warwick > CV35 9EF > United Kingdom > > tel direct line +44 1789 472024 > tel switch board +44 1789 470382 > fax +44 1789 470552 > > email laurence.benjamin@hri.ac.uk --------------------------------

>From LISTSERV@crcvms.unl.edu Thu Mar 20 01:03:45 1997
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 1997 00:02:31 -0600
Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 18 Mar 1997 to 19 Mar 1997




Date: Thu, 20 Mar 1997 00:02:31 -0600 Reply-To: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Sender: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> From: Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 18 Mar 1997 to 19 Mar 1997 To: Recipients of AGMODELS-L digests <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> There is one message totalling 27 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. Routing of surface runoff
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 1997 09:42:25 -0500 From: "E. John Sadler" <sadler@SUNBRN.FLORENCE.ARS.USDA.GOV> Subject: Routing of surface runoff Greetings, Anyone know of a model to route runoff inside a watershed? Any assistance this vast (and unpaid!) research department can give would be appreciated. Thanks John ============================================================== E. John Sadler, Ph.D. USDA-ARS sadler@florence.ars.usda.gov Coastal Plains Soil, Water, and Plant Research Center 803-669-5203x112 (voice) 2611 West Lucas St. 803-669-6970 (fax) Florence, SC 29501-1241 U.S.A. ============================================================== --------------------------------

>From LISTSERV@crcvms.unl.edu Fri Mar 21 07:24:21 1997
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 1997 03:49:13 -0600
Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 19 Mar 1997 to 20 Mar 1997




Date: Fri, 21 Mar 1997 03:49:13 -0600 Reply-To: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Sender: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> From: Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 19 Mar 1997 to 20 Mar 1997 To: Recipients of AGMODELS-L digests <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> There are 2 messages totalling 79 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. Scheduling Software 2. GUICS 1.6 & Simpotato v 1.60 for Win95/NT
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 1997 11:51:47 +0000 From: Oscar Monje <oscar@MENDEL.USU.EDU> Subject: Re: Scheduling Software Peter. I don't have concrete answers to your suggestions, but I think that you have chosen an ambitious goal for ONE single model to encompass. On the other hand, answers like the excerpt below (...I snipped off the rest of the advertisement!) may or may not help you. I say this because private industry is only willing to share their marketing strategy, but (obviously) cannot disclose the details of their products. I am just a student...and i've checked out a few of these AD homepages...and they have neat approaches, and NICE gadgets (instrumentation)...but can INDUSTRY types give us a bit more discussion than an AD? > I believe that modeling software is the way of the future for > agriculture. Application of this technology is simply to useful and > potential benefits too great for private industry not to embrace them > eventually. OM oscar@mendel.usu.edu http//www.usu.edu/~cpl/index.html
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 1997 14:36:55 -0800 From: Tom Hodges <thodges@TRICITY.WSU.EDU> Subject: GUICS 1.6 & Simpotato v 1.60 for Win95/NT I have just put version 1.6 of the GUICS program on my ftp site. You may download the original disk files with just the Glycim model installed or download the package with the Simpotato model installed as well. With Simpotato ftp://ftp.tricity.wsu.edu/pub/simpotato/GUICS/GUICS16.zip ftp://ftp.tricity.wsu.edu/pub/simpotato/GUICS/GUICS.INI ftp://ftp.tricity.wsu.edu/pub/simpotato/GUICS/README.GUI The original GUICS installation disks: ftp://ftp.tricity.wsu.edu/pub/simpotato/GUICS/DISK1 ftp://ftp.tricity.wsu.edu/pub/simpotato/GUICS/DISK2 http://www.tricity.wsu.edu/htmls/hodges The GUICS interface program was developed by Yacov Pachefsky. Simpotato v 1.60 has all the features of earlier versions with a few improvements. To be compatible with GUICS there are some minor changes in the input files so you will need to modify your old input files if you are upgrading. For American users, one important new feature - input and output files can be in metric or American units (lbs, acres, inches, etc.). The separate Simpotato package includes other programs to design graphics screens, to test graphics screens, and to convert input files between metric and American units. Tom Tom Hodges, Cropping Systems Modeler USDA-ARS email: thodges@tricity.wsu.edu 24106 N Bunn Road voice: 509-786-9207 Prosser, WA 99350 USA Fax: 509-786-9370, 509-786-9277 == HomePage http://www.tricity.wsu.edu/htmls/hodges == == ## Rent this space for your HomePage ## == If this represents anything, it is only my opinion. --------------------------------

>From LISTSERV@crcvms.unl.edu Sat Mar 22 01:49:20 1997
Date: Sat, 22 Mar 1997 00:48:21 -0600
Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 20 Mar 1997 to 21 Mar 1997




Date: Sat, 22 Mar 1997 00:48:21 -0600 Reply-To: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Sender: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> From: Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 20 Mar 1997 to 21 Mar 1997 To: Recipients of AGMODELS-L digests <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> There is one message totalling 36 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. Scheduling Software
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 1997 12:47:03 +0000 From: Oscar Monje <oscar@MENDEL.USU.EDU> Subject: Re: Scheduling Software Peter. I don't have concrete answers to your suggestions, but I think that you have chosen an ambitious goal for ONE single model to encompass. On the other hand, answers like the excerpt below (...I snipped off the rest of the advertisement!) may or may not help you. I say this because private industry is only willing to share their marketing strategy, but (obviously) cannot disclose the details of their products. I am just a student...and i've checked out a few of these AD homepages...and they have neat approaches, and NICE gadgets (instrumentation)...but can INDUSTRY types give us a bit more discussion than an AD? > I believe that modeling software is the way of the future for > agriculture. Application of this technology is simply to useful and > potential benefits too great for private industry not to embrace > them eventually. OM oscar@mendel.usu.edu http//www.usu.edu/~cpl/index.html OM oscar@mendel.usu.edu http//www.usu.edu/~cpl/index.html --------------------------------

>From LISTSERV@crcvms.unl.edu Sun Mar 23 01:47:47 1997
Date: Sun, 23 Mar 1997 00:46:28 -0600
Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 21 Mar 1997 to 22 Mar 1997




Date: Sun, 23 Mar 1997 00:46:28 -0600 Reply-To: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Sender: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> From: Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 21 Mar 1997 to 22 Mar 1997 To: Recipients of AGMODELS-L digests <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> There is one message totalling 103 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. Scheduling Software
Date: Sat, 22 Mar 1997 13:39:38 -0800 From: Richard Brazil <rbrazil@RANCHVISION.COM> Subject: Re: Scheduling Software Howdy, I thought I'd address Oscar's response since it raises a number of interesting issues. First of all, to be successful taking any product to private industry you must have two things: 1) A good product and 2) A good marketing strategy. It's wrong to think it can be done based on the quality of the product alone. You can't just take a product, any product, and say "Here it is." Assuming that because you know it's wonderful, everyone else will too, and they'll knock each other over attempting to get to it. In fact, you can't even say "Here it is" and show them seven pages full of all the great things it does because after about the third sentence they'll get this glazed look in their eyes revealing that they really don't care. People buy things for one reason and one reason only, are you ready -BECAUSE THEY NEED IT. If you can't tell people why they need your product, how it will benefit them, forget it, they're not interested. If you're not prepared to market your product don't even start development because you're wasting your time. If you have poor marketing strategy, your project won't get off the ground. On the other hand, if you don't have a good product, your project won't have legs. You need both. I didn't think I'd have to explain what a good product was. Perhaps I do. Perhaps that is a big part of the reason for the lack of success in this area. A good product is, are you ready again, SOMETHING PEOPLE NEED. That is a simple statement but inherent within it are several key points. First of all, who are these people, who is your audience. How big is that audience, what are these people like, what is their education, technological capabilities, etc... Your product must meet the needs and capabilities of this audience. Specific for this field, systems can be modeled in an infinite variety of ways. You must do it using variables for which your target audience is willing and able to measure, monitor and record, otherwise it is useless to them. For instance, our product targets grazing livestock producers ( I hope this doesn't sound like an "AD" since I probably caught most of you between your keyboards and rounding up your cows), we're not going to ask them for frequent animal weights, milk production measurements, wool or mohair growth, neonatal IgG levels, individual animal genotypic or phenotypic parameters, body condition scores, fecal egg counts, daily forage consumption or any number of other countless useful but impractical data. We have defined grazing livestock systems ( that fall within the assumptions of our model) including ALL biological and economic variables (either directly or INDIRECTLY) using data that is readily accessible to our target audience as they relate to the primary need or objective of that audience. And this brings me to the second point - What are their needs. This is crucial and something that is often overlooked. There's a tremendous preoccupation with production. And this, I believe is wrong. Production was the primary objective for Central Planner's in the Politburo, but in a free society, production is relevant only as it relates to PROFIT! PROFIT is (or should be) the primary objective of a private business owner (within the context of established goals or constraints, of course). This misunderstanding has had a lot to do with the downfall of agriculture in North America. We have definitely made tremendous strides in agricultural production in the last fifty years but how have our farmers and ranchers fared? Obviously not well, and it is because of this fixation on production at the expense of profit. As soon as production exceeds the point at which that production is profitable, resources are being wasting (and the producer is paying for it!). Basically the public is saying "We don't need that." And when we continue to produce unprofitably we simply worsen the problem for everyone. If you are targeting business owners you MUST relate everything to profit, THAT should be the objective. Also, although Peter's ideas may be ambitious, he's on the right track. His model SHOULD be comprehensive otherwise it's looking at just part of the equation making it very difficult to relate it to the final objective. Another thing I'd like to address is this prejudice that it is somehow more honorable to be part of a government funded academic or research organization than to be in private industry. First of all, private industry is the place from which those government funds were confiscated in the first place. The MARKETPLACE is the true arena of ideas, and the public votes with their pocketbooks. People may tell you your ideas are great but until they're willing to spend money on them, you'd better doubt their sincerity. You might say your project is great, but until your willing to risk everything you have for it, I doubt your sincerity. Entrepreneurialism is not for the faint of heart. The rewards are real if you're right; however, the loss is great if your wrong. Hope this helps. Richard M. Brazil, DVM President Advanced Veterinary Services P.O Box 437 Potter Valley, CA 95469 http://www.ranchvision.com phone (707) 462-0408 email rbrazil@ranchvision.com --------------------------------

>From LISTSERV@crcvms.unl.edu Tue Mar 25 01:48:20 1997
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 1997 00:47:21 -0600
Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 22 Mar 1997 to 24 Mar 1997




Date: Tue, 25 Mar 1997 00:47:21 -0600 Reply-To: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Sender: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> From: Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 22 Mar 1997 to 24 Mar 1997 To: Recipients of AGMODELS-L digests <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> There are 2 messages totalling 151 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. New Subscriber, Interest in Tomatoes 2. Research Scientist Position
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 14:46:37 +0000 From: "Romeo R. Favreau" <rrfavreau@UCDAVIS.EDU> Subject: Re: New Subscriber, Interest in Tomatoes Hi Chris, A good person to contact on Modeling Tomatoes is Johan M. Scholberg at jmsch@ifas.ufl.edu. He did the Tomato model in the DSSAT system. Good Luck Romeo R. Favreau 707 Oriole Ave, Davis, CA 95616 e-mail rrfavreau@ucdavis.edu, rrfavreau@compuserve.com phone (916) 758-7881 At 07:04 PM 3/12/97 +1000, you wrote: >HI to all, >Just a brief note about me, > I work for the company H.J.Heinz in Australia. My work centers around the >Tomato plant research side of things here. My interest is in crop >modeling, just how much you can actually model and to what degree of accuracy. > As a part time Ag Degree student starting this year I will be majoring in >GIS using ArcView, so mainly I will be 'lurking' on this group to see what >other people are discussing. > An area of interest that I would like to look at is what factors affect >Tomato fruit solids. The problem is that there are so many possible >variables , where do you start and how finite do you go. I was thinking >that you would start off with general info and then as you drill down on >promissing leads , define them in greater detail. Would be interested in >talking to people involved in yield prediction modeling. > > Regards, > Chris >**************************************************** > C.J.Pritchard > > agcontn@campaspe.net.au > > Romeo R. Favreau 707 Oriole Ave, Davis, CA 95616 e-mail rrfavreau@ucdavis.edu, rrfavreau@compuserve.com phone (916) 758-7881
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 18:36:20 -0500 From: "Dr. Gerrit Hoogenboom" <gerrit@TANGINE.BAE.GRIFFIN.PEACHNET.EDU> Subject: Research Scientist Position --=====================_859257175==_ --=====================_859257175==_ ***POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT*** POSITION: RESEARCH SCIENTIST Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department and the Artificial Intelligence Center of the University of Georgia, in collaboration with researchers from Georgia Tech and Georgia State University are establishing a center for decision support systems related to environmentally sound economic development. Center projects will include developing decision systems and tools to evaluate alternatives for both economic profitability and environmental sustainability. This is the first of two positions beinf advertised; a second position at research scientist or post- doctoral associate level is anticipated by October '97. JOB DESCRIPTION: This is a non-tenure track faculty position on a 12-month basis The person will be responsible for developing decision support systems related to evaluating alternative agricultural systems and land use for economic development. Responsibilities include collecting and organizing expert knowledge; data analysis; programming; evaluating decision support systems; and presentation of workshops and training sessions. Close interactions with collaborating scientists in the USA and Columbia is required. Limited travel to Latin America will be required. Additionally, the person will be required to prepare grant proposals to private foundations, and to US and international granting agencies. QUALIFICATIONS: Candidate must have a Ph. D. in Computer and Information Science, Environmental/Agricultural Engineering, Electrical Engineering or in a related field. He/she must have background in knowledge-based systems and in one of the following: fuzzy logic, artificial neural networks, genetic algorithms, or statistical methods. Knowledge of Geographical Information System (GIS) and understanding of biophysical processes in agricultural crop production systems will be desirable. Good oral and written communication skills are required. SALARY: Commensurate with qualifications and experience. POSITION AVAILABLE: Immediately CLOSING DATE: April 30, 1997 or when a suitable candidate has been identified. APPLICATIONS: Send a letter of application, curriculum vitae and name, telephone number and address (both mailing and email) of four references to: Brahm P. Verma Professor of Biological and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Fellow, Artificial Intelligence Center The University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602-4435 U.S.A. Email: bverma@bae.uga.edu Application sent by electronic mail must be followed up with hard paper copy. THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION INSTITUTION --=====================_859257175==_ ======================================================================== Gerrit Hoogenboom Associate Professor Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering The University of Georgia Griffin, Georgia 30223-1797, USA Phone: 770-229-3438 (New !) FAX: 770-228-7218 E-mail: gerrit@bae.griffin.peachnet.edu ======================================================================== --=====================_859257175==_-- --------------------------------

>From LISTSERV@crcvms.unl.edu Fri Mar 28 01:03:39 1997
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 00:02:20 -0600
Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 24 Mar 1997 to 27 Mar 1997




Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 00:02:20 -0600 Reply-To: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Sender: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> From: Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 24 Mar 1997 to 27 Mar 1997 To: Recipients of AGMODELS-L digests <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> There is one message totalling 26 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. Crop modeling; England
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 1997 18:23:14 +1000 From: Chris pritchard <agcontn@RTC.CAMPASPE.NET.AU> Subject: Crop modeling; England Hi, I will be coming to England in the month of May at the end and would like if possible to arrange to meet with some of you who are involved in crop modeling research while I am there. I am studying my Ag-science degreeand will be majoring in GIS. The data that I will be involved with will be with Tomato's. As I am new to the subject I am interested in looking at and talking with how you went about setting up your programs. I will be using Arc-View as the GIS program. If you have the time to show me your setup while I am in England please email me direct to discuss further. Regards, Chris. **************************************************** C.J.Pritchard agcontn@campaspe.net.au --------------------------------

>From LISTSERV@crcvms.unl.edu Sun Mar 30 01:02:15 1997
Date: Sun, 30 Mar 1997 00:01:11 -0600
Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 27 Mar 1997 to 29 Mar 1997




Date: Sun, 30 Mar 1997 00:01:11 -0600 Reply-To: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Sender: Agmodels-L Discussion List <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> From: Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> Subject: AGMODELS-L Digest - 27 Mar 1997 to 29 Mar 1997 To: Recipients of AGMODELS-L digests <AGMODELS-L@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU> There is one message totalling 33 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. EPIC software (GIS version)
Date: Sat, 29 Mar 1997 13:28:56 +0100 From: Miklewsk <miklewsk@NS1.EKON.AR.SZCZECIN.PL> Subject: Re: EPIC software (GIS version) I am very interested in Windows version of EPIC Thanks in advance Antoni Miklewski Land Use Planning and Rural Development Department Agricultural University in Szczecin POLAND Dewi Hartkamp wrote: Hello great modellers of the world Is someone aware of how to obtain EPIC software. Apparently there is a = new version having a GIS interface (or linkage).=20 I know of two sites for general Epic information. One has downloadable = executables and source codes but I am more interested in the new = version, or information on it. Thanks in advance D.Hartkamp CIMMYT Mexico --------------------------------

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