,transcribers ,note ,text emphasis denoted as ,italics and ,bold4 ,computers on the ,farm ,farm ,uses for ,computers1 ,how to ,select ,software and ,hardware1 and ,online ,information ,sources in ,agriculture ,illustration ,illustration ,united ,states ,department of ,agriculture ,farmers' ,bulletin ,number #bbgg ,cover ,photo3 ,fran and ,brian ,schnarre1 a farm couple from ,columbia1 ,missouri1 working at their computer4 ,photo by ,duane ,dailey1 ,university of ,missouri4 ,prepared by ,office of ,information1 ,office of ,governmental and ,public ,affairs ,issued ,march #aihd ,contents ,purpose of ,this ,bulletin #e ,what a ,computer ,can ,do for ,you #e ,recordkeeping #f ,farm ,management ,analysis #f ,process ,controllers #f ,telecommunications #g ,other ,uses #g ,computers on the ,farm #g ,how to ,choose a ,microcomputer ,system #h ,strategies for ,getting into ,computers #i ,alternatives to ,buying a ,microcomputer #aj ,information ,available from ,your ,county ,extension ,agent #aj ,how to ,select ,software #aa ,checklist for ,evaluating ,software #aa ,where to ,look for ,good ,software #ac ,compatibility ,counts #ac ,how to ,select ,hardware #ad ,checklist for ,evaluating ,hardware #ad ,where to ,look for ,good ,hardware #af ,types of ,hardware #af ,components of a ,microcomputer #ag ,try ,it ,out #ah ,computers ,need an ,investment of ,time and ,money #ai ,information ,available ,online from ,,usda1 ,state1 and ,private ,sources #bj ,other ,computer ,development at ,,usda #cj ,learning ,more about ,computers on the ,farm #cb ,glossary of ,computer ,terms #cd ,computers on the ,farm by ,deborah ,takiff ,smith ,purpose of ,this ,bulletin ,how can a computer help you operate your farm better8 ,how do you select useful computer programs 7software7 and equipment 7hardware78 ,if you have a computer or plan to get one1 what information can you obtain with your computer that will be useful for your farm operation8 ,this publication will help you answer such questions4 ,it will help you evaluate and select a new system1 or get more out of the one you already have4 ,the key components of computer systems you may want to know about are3 ,hardware--the physical equipment itself4 ,software--the computer programs on tape or disk1 and ,online sources of information--such as current market and weather information and technical reports4 ,this publication offers guidelines to help farmers select hardware1 software1 and online information4 7,see the glossary at the end of this publication for definitions of specialized computer terms47 ,what a ,computer ,can ,do for ,you ,you can use a microcomputer to help you-- ,determine the most economical feed ration for dairy cows and other farm animals4 ,schedule irrigation1 ,get quick access to records1 ,keep machinery inventories and depreciation schedules1 ,help with tax records and making out income tax returns1 ,keep livestock breeding and production records1 ,keep a record of loans and cash flow to meet interest and principal payments1 ,determine levels of earnings by working through a profit and loss statement and by calculating a percentage return to capital and a percentage return to equity1 ,decide the optimum production choice for a particular farm in a given year1 and the optimum combination of inputs to grow the crops or livestock chosen1 ,store large amounts of data1 and ,get current market and weather information if the microprocessor is connected via the telephone to data bases 7see section on online services74 ,software programs are also available in such areas as financial management1 crop and field records1 mailing lists for customers of certified seed and breeding stock1 machinery purchase versus custom hiring1 investment feasibility of building and livestock facilities1 commodity price charts and tables1 income taxation1 marketing1 soil conservation1 and integrated pest management4 ,the computer and its associated software packages can help you do four kinds of work3 7#a7 store and manipulate records1 7#b7 provide analyses for management decisions1 7#c7 control machines or monitor production1 and 7#d7 communicate faster with other people through their computers and data bases4 ,recordkeeping ,many experts recommend that you start on a small scale1 computerize one thing at a time1 and learn as you go along--rather than trying to put information on your entire farm operation into the computer all at once4 ,a good place to start is with farm records4 ,you can use microcomputers to keep track of financial records--such as cash flow1 bank balances1 accounts payable1 accounts receivable1 net worth statements1 costs1 and returns--as well as other records--such as livestock breeding and production reports1 crop and field records1 and mailing lists4 ,farm ,management ,analysis ,after computerizing the farm records1 the next step would be to do simple analyses on the microprocessor4 ,a good place to start is by analyzing data already stored in the computer or available in the files4 ,for example1 you could use the recordkeeping capabilities of the computer to record and depreciate equipment1 and to decide whether it is cheaper to lease or buy farm equipment4 ,general software is available to help you with accounting and bookkeeping1 basic business functions4 ,process ,controllers ,besides analyzing farm management problems and storing data1 computers have another key use--as process controllers4 ,they can control such devices as pumps and gates1 record milk output per cow1 and control grain drying4 ,to save water and energy1 some farmers have switched to sophisticated irrigation scheduling by programing their computers to read the moisture in the soil1 the weather1 and the humidity1 and to provide information on a plant's age and irrigation needs4 ,the computer then tells the farmer when to water a crop and for how long--and can even turn the water on and off4 ,telecommunications ,you can also use a computer as an up-to-date source for communication1 linking you to banks of information that are available almost instantaneously from public and private online information sources4 ,with the computer hooked up to the telephone1 you can get information quickly1 receive it visually1 and record it in detail if you wish4 ,some key information sources are listed on page #bj of this bulletin4 ,other ,uses ,farm families can use microcomputers the same way other families do--to plan the family budget1 keep an inventory of household furnishings1 keep track of recipes1 keep mailing lists1 turn lights and heat on and off1 type homework and other documents1 learn new skills1 and play games4 ,computers on the ,farm ,most of the computers farmers are getting are microcomputers1 also called home computers or personal computers4 ,they are the basis of the computer revolution that has been occurring since the late #aigj's and they are the focus of this publication4 ,many farmers1 especially the owners of the larger farms1 already have computers4 ,but you don't have to be a large farmer to afford a microcomputer4 ,computers can be useful in almost all areas of a farming operation--helping you decide what1 when1 and how to plant2 how to sell2 and how to arrange the farm business to be more efficient and more profitable4 ,the computer can supplement the calculator1 typewriter1 and file cabinet4 ,and it can send and receive written or graphic messages by telephone 7in most areas of the country7 that might be too long or complex to do verbally4 ,a computer can be very useful when repetitive analyses are needed or when data storage is important1 as with financial records or daily milk output per cow4 ,more and more1 farming requires sophisticated management decisions and management of basic resources1 including land1 water1 labor1 production inputs1 and capital4 ,these are the kinds of decisions the computer can help you make faster and more cost-effectively4 ,although a computer program for your farm operation could make recordkeeping and analysis easier and improve your ability to manage1 it might be hard to measure these improvements in dollars4 ,but the dollars you save by having better information on when to sell a crop1 how to monitor the business1 and how to diagnose a problem before it gets out of control might pay for the computer4 ,farmers and ranchers with large feedlot or other livestock operations might find that a feed formulation program could cut costs enough to pay for the computer system within a few months4 ,how to ,choose a ,microcomputer ,system ,should you buy a microcomputer8 ,how do you decide on a system that's best for you8 ,here are some factors to consider in making these decisions4 ,the first step is to think about your needs4 ,what would you do with your computer system8 ,how would you actually use it to help you run your operation better8 ,list your primary needs1 the important things you want to do right away with your computer4 ,then1 think of secondary needs--things you might do in the future once you have a computer4 ,once you've identified your needs1 the next step is to shop around--to find some software that fulfills your needs and to see some systems in operation4 ,go to computer stores or get in touch with the salespeople in your area4 ,you could decide to have custom programs written for your operation1 but they will be significantly more expensive than programs that have already been developed4 ,talk to other farmers1 ranchers1 extension and university specialists1 and business people who are using microcomputers4 ,find out what software they are using4 ,do some research 7by reading books or magazines1 taking a course or seminar1 or visiting a trade show7 so you'll be an informed customer when you shop seriously4 ,many computer experts strongly recommend against buying a computer first and then shopping for the software packages4 ,so identify your needs and select the software packages or materials that will help you do what you want to with your computer4 ,then find the hardware to run the programs4 ,the ,computer ,revolution ,the advent of computers to farm management 444 is already underway and seems likely to have a powerful influence1 said ,,usda historian ,wayne ,rasmussen in #aihb4 ,the computer should lead to more efficient management of machines and energy and should help in other farming operations such as cost accounting1 mixing feed rations and applying fertilizers and other resources efficiently4 ,some farmers now have computers of their own1 and many others have access to computer systems through their county agricultural agents1 ,rasmussen pointed out4 ,the computer can be seen as the third revolution in ,american farming4 ,the first revolution was the use of the horse1 which added animal power to human power4 ,the second was the switch from the horse to the tractor1 which again expanded the power an individual could wield4 ,but the computer is a different kind of technological advance because it adds to the farmer's power to manage4 ,by #aiij1 the computer will probably be as important a part of a commercial farmer's operation as the pickup truck4 ,farmers may flip on their computers first thing in the morning--instead of their radios--to get the latest market prices4 ,they can get a rundown on weather and growing conditions for major worldwide production areas2 pertinent data on prices1 market conditions1 credit terms1 transportation and storage rates1 and related forecasts2 and finally a list of priorities each day to take advantage of these conditions4 ,getting the right system--the combination of hardware 7the physical equipment7 and software 7the computer programs7--is the problem farmers must solve before they can make the most of the computer revolution4 ,strategies for ,getting ,into ,computers ,if you're interested in getting your farm's operations computerized1 and you're just starting1 you could choose various strategies for doing so4 ,one way is to first buy the basic hardware and components you think you need1 and then add memory and other components later4 ,if you do that1 be sure you can add additional disk drives1 memory1 and a printer to your computer1 all at a reasonable cost4 ,what can you do with a small computer once you outgrow it1 and you want to get a bigger one8 ,you might want to use your older computer in a small1 specialized farm operation1 or keep it to retrieve and analyze records that you stored on the old equipment4 ,other alternatives would be to trade it in on a larger computer1 advertise to sell it through the local want-ads1 trade or sell it to a friend or neighbor1 keep the small computer for someone else in the family 7perhaps a game-playing youngster71 or donate it to a local school or religious or charitable group and take a tax write-off4 ,the farm of the future may have many computers1 some for specific functions such as irrigation scheduling or dairy operations1 and one for financial records4 ,having several computers would help farmers deal with the problem of malfunctioning computers1 so that the whole farm would not be shut down if one computer goes down4 ,alternatives to ,buying a ,microcomputer ,you might consider alternatives to buying a computer4 ,you may be able to lease one to see what it will do for you1 and use it until your needs make it worthwhile to buy one4 ,prices keep coming down4 ,the best time to buy is when you find you can profitably make use of a computer4 ,even though it becomes technically obsolete1 it will still do for you what you purchased it for4 ,a programmable calculator may be an appropriate tool that is much less costly then a microcomputer4 ,if you like what a computer can do for your operation but aren't ready to buy one or to use it yourself1 you might hire a consultant to help you select an appropriate system4 ,or you might retain an accountant or computer consultant to run the financial analysis programs you need4 ,this kind of service gives quick results1 and relieves you of having to do it yourself4 ,information available ,from ,your ,county ,extension ,agent ,state ,cooperative ,extension ,services are helping ,states provide computers for county offices4 ,many ,state ,extension ,services already have computers in nearly every county ,extension office4 ,if you are considering buying or leasing a computer system1 or want software or timesharing services to make the most of the system you have1 a good place to go is to your ,state or county ,extension office4 ,in many ,states1 county ,extension offices have terminals connecting them to mainframe computers2 some have microcomputers which give them access to information on crop management1 animal production1 and marketing4 ,the county ,extension staff can tell you what is available online in your area that is tailored to your kind of farming and your region4 ,the ,extension staff will also be able to tell you the software programs applicable in your ,state4 ,many ,state ,extension offices have publications on computers1 and others have or are developing online information networks linking farmers and other users to the ,state university mainframe computer and its data base4 ,state ,extension specialists are a logical place to start when looking for software that is appropriate to your needs4 ,many ,state ,extension computer and agricultural experts have produced software materials that are available1 and the county agent will know about them4 ,in some cases the county ,extension office can lend you software4 ,if you don't have a computer1 the ,extension office may be able to run programs for you1 choosing the appropriate software available and plugging in the precise conditions and problems on your farming or ranching operation4 ,or they may be able to use the computer to search for information you need1 perhaps communicating with a large ,state1 regional1 or national data base4 ,as lower cost computers with improved software have become available1 an increasing number of people are turning to their ,state ,cooperative ,extension ,services for training in computer fundamentals1 equipment selection1 and software evaluation4 ,county agents can help people find what is available1 but they probably will not be preparing software programs themselves4 ,how to ,select ,software ,the key criteria for selecting good software are the following3 ,does it meet your needs8 ,does it do what it says it will do8 ,and does it have good support documentation8 ,checklist for ,evaluating ,software ,here are some factors to consider when evaluating and comparing software3 ,documentation4 ,look at the documentation or the written 7paper7 materials that come with your program4 ,these should explain clearly what the program does and what you have to do to use it4 ,ease of ,use4 ,is the program fairly easy to use8 ,does it guide you through the program8 ,instructions4 ,another factor you should consider in evaluating software is the instructions4 ,are there instructions in the program or in the written documentation8 ,are they readable8 ,you should be sure you understand how to operate the program4 ,help4 ,what help can you get if you run into problems8 ,does the program have a help function8 ,when you don't know how to answer a question or need help1 can you turn to a separate part of the computer program or to a part of the accompanying documentation to answer your question8 ,is there a company phone-in service you can call if you need help8 ,some software programs may come to you with bugs 7errors7 in them4 ,find out what backup services are available4 ,is there a hotline you can call for help if the program has a problem you can't solve8 ,does the company provide updated versions periodically8 ,are they free or at nominal cost8 ,compatibility with ,hardware4 ,is the software compatible with hardware you already have1 or does it run on an operating system you can use with your hardware8 ,some computers use tape cassettes1 like audio tape you use on a tape recorder4 ,the most standard storage medium for programs and data is the floppy diskette1 which looks like a soft phonograph record4 ,the diskette comes in several sizes--the most common are #h inches and #e inches4 ,a newer possibility is the #h-;inch hard disk4 ,the hard disk may be used for storage1 but you buy the software on a floppy disk and transfer it4 ,memory4 ,does your computer have enough memory to run the program8 ,recommendation4 ,does the program come from a reputable source1 or does it come with a recommendation from someone you trust8 ,effectiveness4 ,does the program do what you want it to do correctly and consistently8 ,where to ,look for ,good ,software ,where do you find good software8 ,some farmers and ranchers write their own programs or pay a programmer to write a custom program4 ,but most get existing programs either from ,state ,extension sources or from commercial outlets4 ,many operations farmers need to perform on a computer can be done by using generalized software packages readily available through commercial sources4 ,check with your ,county ,extension ,agent4 ,he or she may know of the programs that have been tailored for your operation4 ,the ,extension ,service has published a directory of agricultural software programs produced by ,state ,extension ,services1 entitled ,updated ,inventory of ,agricultural ,computer ,programs4,a ,footnote ,a3 ,to order a copy1 send #c4ej1 payable to the ,university of ,florida1 to ,administrative ,services ,institute of ,food and ,agricultural ,sciences 7,,ifas7 ,bldg4 #ffd ,university of ,florida ,gainesville1 ,,fl ,there are also various private directories of software that is compatible for particular equipment4 ,you can get these programs at computer stores or through mail-order sources4 ,many trade journals carry ads of agricultural software vendors4 ,the land-grant university in your ,state may have computer programs available for farmers at nominal cost4 ,many ,states have produced extensive computer software4 ,there are also many commercial software houses that produce computer programs in the field of agriculture4 ,the best programs are written by people who combine strong expertise in the agricultural subject matter with the ability to write good computer programs that are relatively friendly or easy to use4 ,the #aihj's have seen a big jump in the number1 quality1 and friendliness of agricultural software4 ,but you still need to evaluate carefully the programs you are considering4 ,remember that software selection and evaluation are important factors to consider when planning a computer system for your farm4 ,compatibility ,counts ,computers and marriages should share one thing in common3 ,compatibility4 ,if it's not there1 the system won't work4 ,not all hardware and software are compatible4 ,in fact1 hundreds of producers of computer equipment and computer programs are in the market1 and there are few across-the-board standards4 ,so it's important to get hardware and software that are compatible4 ,software1 or the computer programs themselves1 are not like records that can be played on any record player4 ,they have to be compatible with the hardware in terms of the programing language used1 operating system1 size1 format1 and other factors4 ,try to find a store in your area where you will get the expertise you need to obtain the right combination of software and hardware to meet your needs4 ,when you buy a computer1 find out whether it comes with a standard operating language that will allow you to use a wide variety of programs written in different languages on your computer4 ,even then1 you may find that a disk that supposedly works with that operating language will not work on your machine4 ,how to ,select ,hardware ,checklist for ,evaluating ,hardware ,here are some factors to consider when evaluating and comparing hardware3 ,software4 ,the first questions to ask are1 ,what software do you plan to use8 and ,which computer will run that program8 ,does the computer come with a standard operating system so that it will be compatible with a range of software programs8 ,memory4 ,how much memory1 or information storage capacity1 do you need8 ,the computer's memory is measured in kilobytes 7abbreviated ,k71 and most computers come in sizes ranging from #b,k up to #bef,k4 7,a kilobyte is equal to roughly #a1jjj characters47 ,you need to know the software program you will use and your recordkeeping requirements to accurately estimate the capacity of the equipment you need4 ,some agricultural programs use #dh,k or #fd,k of memory4 ,user friendly programs1 which require little training to use and which guide you through the program1 may be easier2 but they may require more memory for the program itself1 leaving you less storage space or memory for the data4 ,computation4 ,what kind of computational ability do you want your computer to have8 ,will it serve the computing needs you have identified for now and later8 ,input and ,output ,devices4 ,what kind of output do you need8 ,what additional pieces of equipment or peripherals 7such as separate screen1 disk drive1 modem1 printer7 will you need to buy to make this system do what you want it to8 ,most agricultural programs require a printer4 ,a dot matrix printer 7which produces characters made of small dots7 may be sufficient4 ,another option is a letter quality printer1 which is more expensive4 ,how big a screen do you need8 7,screens are measured in characters and in inches47 ,do you need an #hj-;column or #dj-;column monitor8 ,do you need color and strong graphics capability8 ,what quality screen image do you need8 ,can you add memory and other components later if you need to8 ,external ,storage4 ,what kind of external storage does the system use1 floppy disk1 hard disk1 or tape8 ,cassette tape storage costs less1 but compared to disk storage1 it has several disadvantages4 ,if the hardware uses floppy disks1 is the disk drive included as part of the computer package or does it come separately8 ,is a second disk drive included in the package or does it come separately8 ,what kind of a disk drive7s7 do you need1 single or double density8 ,hard or floppy8 ,training4 ,what training is available in the use of the new equipment8 ,backup and ,maintenance ,services4 ,what backup and maintenance services are available from the vendor or other sources1 once you've bought this computer8 ,what happens when the computer is down 7not working78 ,does the company or store from which you plan to buy offer a service contract1 and how much does it cost8 ,will you have to carry your computer to their site for servicing1 and how long are you likely to be without it8 ,how far away is your dealer and where will the computer actually be serviced8 ,it's important to buy something that you can have fixed fairly quickly and cheaply1 since elements of your system1 especially the mechanical parts1 may well need repair at some time4 ,value4 ,what equipment and software programs come with the basic package1 and are these items included in the base price8 ,compare prices carefully1 considering the components and software you are getting for a particular price4 ,do not buy on the basis of price alone1 but consider also the reliability of the equipment and the vendor1 and the service you will be getting to set up1 maintain1 and support your system4 ,where to ,look for ,good ,hardware ,many buyers get their computers at specialty stores that handle computers and other electronics4 ,some handle only one brand of computer4 ,it's worthwhile to shop around and see various systems4 ,the big national department store chains sell computers1 too4 ,talk to your neighbors about what they're using1 and be sure to get hands-on practice with systems you are considering4 ,try to find a reputable dealer who can offer backup support4 ,consider the pros and cons of getting all equipment from a single vendor versus shopping around for peripherals from different manufacturers4 ,a reliable dealer who handles several brands can help you make this decision4 ,check with your ,extension office4 ,it may have a ,state publication on computers or a checklist for buying one4 ,types of ,hardware ,farmers are using several different types of computers4 ,besides the microcomputer1 which is the most widely used1 other kinds of farm computers include interactive terminals1 videotex terminals1 handheld processors1 and minicomputers4 ,a microcomputer can be used as a stand-alone unit1 working on its own with a software disk or tape4 ,or it can be connected to outside information sources if it is equipped with a device known as a modem1 which allows the computer to communicate with other computers over the telephone4 ,the modem turns the computer from an information processor and storage machine into a piece of communications equipment4 ,an interactive terminal has no data storage capability but is linked to a central computer through the telephone4 ,this is called a dumb terminal because it can receive1 display1 and send information1 but it cannot process that information4 ,programs and data are stored in the central computer and the user pays a fee to access the system4 ,a videotex keyboard terminal can be connected to a telephone jack and any television set4 ,the user can request and receive any kind of information stored in the central computer4 ,some of the online services use this type of equipment 7see section about online information systems on page #bj74 ,many farmers are also using handheld programmable calculators4 ,these are convenient to use in the field1 and can record often repeated data1 such as daily milk production4 ,they have little memory 7usually #b,k7 and their output can be printed on #b-;inch paper tape4 ,they are much cheaper than the microcomputer4 ,farmers use them to record daily milk production1 formulate dairy and beef rations1 estimate value of dairy forages1 estimate cost of operating farm machinery1 and calculate depreciation and investment tax credit4 ,some very large farm operations use minicomputers1 which are larger1 have more memory1 can do more functions than the microcomputers1 and can support multiple users4 ,however1 the newer microcomputers have more memory and more functions1 and the difference between minicomputers and microcomputers has narrowed4 ,computer ,system ,components ,illustration3 ,printer2 ,display ,screen2 ,telephone_/,modem2 ,disk ,drive2 ,floppy ,disk2 and ,central ,processor with ,keyboard ,components of a ,microcomputer ,one way to understand how a microcomputer works is to see its key components4 ,the central processing unit 7,,cpu7 is the silicon chip that is the brain of the computer4 ,it does all the computation and controls all the other processing4 ,the ,,cpu stores memory of several kinds4 ,part of the memory is wired into the computer permanently by the manufacturer4 ,this is called ,read ,only ,memory 7,,rom74 ,it contains such things as the operating system and program language4 ,random ,access ,memory 7,,ram7 is the memory bank that includes the computer program or instructions1 as well as the data4 ,your storage devices--tape cassettes1 floppy disks1 or hard disks--that store computer programs and data1 are sometimes called external memory4 ,the computer system also needs input devices and output devices4 ,your keyboard is an input device2 disk drives and tape drives are also input devices4 ,the output will probably be a cathode ray tube 7,,crt71 which looks like a video monitor4 ,the printer is the other output device you may choose to include in your computer system4 ,make sure the microcomputer has an adequate number of input and output ports for future needs4 ,if you use your computer for communications1 you'll need a telephone modem4 ,here is a possible shopping list of hardware for a farmer's starting microcomputer system3 ,,cpu 7computer7 with #dh,k or #fd,k of memory4 ,,crt or monitor with adequate character width for the programs you plan to use4 ,one or two disk drives1 either #e or #h inches in diameter4 ,dot matrix printer 7optional74 ,modem for communication with large computer 7optional74 ,try it ,out ,be sure you try the system you plan to buy4 ,test run on a sample problem the hardware and software combination you are considering using4 ,see if you think the solutions the computer puts out are what you need4 ,if you insist on a thorough demonstration of the material you are considering buying1 you can evaluate it in terms of its ease of use and the usefulness of its analysis4 ,if you're thinking of buying a new software package for a computer you already have1 ask to try it out first4 ,some software distributors in the public sector will give you a trial period to make sure the program is satisfactory and runs on your equipment4 ,or you may be able to obtain a demonstration disk4 ,at least1 try out new programs with the same microprocessor1 printer1 and screen you use to make sure they will work on your equipment4 ,it's useful to have software evaluated by a reputable source--for example your local county ,extension agent1 ,state ,extension specialist1 or a neighbor who has had experience4 ,let the buyer beware is a good motto to remember as you shop around for a computer system4 ,getting ,comfortable with ,computers ,if you can use a typewriter1 you can use a computer4 ,most agricultural program's do not require particular math or technical skills1 just a knowledge of your farming operation and the ability to think in a logical1 orderly way4 ,most new programs are user friendly2 they ask you questions in plain ,english1 and you type the answer on the keyboard4 ,a good way to feel comfortable with computers is to try one out at your local computer store1 or at fairs1 conferences1 or workshops at universities4 ,computers ,need an ,investment in ,time and ,money ,in addition to considering the cost of a computer system1 consider the time and effort it takes to learn the equipment and the programs1 and to keep records4 ,who will be operating the microcomputer8 ,does he or she have the patience and skills to learn to operate the computer1 and to enter the large amounts of data that will be required initially8 ,the computer may save time and money4 ,many farmers find that they don't save time but they accomplish more in the time they do spend4 ,don't underestimate the amount of time and effort it will require to collect data1 make sure it's accurate1 enter the data1 and run the analyses4 ,it's important to consider how user-friendly the computer is1 and how much the computer's software will do to guide you through the analysis4 ,a computer will do calculations very quickly1 perhaps saving hours of laborious figuring4 ,a computer will store information from one time period to the next1 and recalculate alternatives quickly4 ,by making the information available1 it will help you identify strong and weak points in your operation4 ,however1 these functions will depend on your data4 ,if the records you use in making a computation are incomplete1 for example1 the computer cannot fill in the gaps for you nor overcome inaccuracies in the data4 ,information available ,online ,from ,,usda1 ,state1 and ,private ,sources ,you can transform your own microprocessor or other computer into a powerful communications device by adding a modem to it and communicating over the telephone4 ,this will help you gather information on news1 weather forecasts1 emergencies or disasters1 crop and livestock production1 and marketing 7including current and future prices74 ,online computer services also include buying and selling farm products2 purchasing farm and home supplies1 including teleshopping2 banking services2 business management advice2 ordering theater tickets2 information concerning farm and public policy2 and personal education and entertainment4 ,many farmers who are computerizing their operations1 as well as others in agriculture1 can use some form of online information4 ,there are more than #a1cjj public and private information sources available on computer4 ,new ones seem to come out every week4 ,the following selected list of information you can receive on computer includes some of the major private online information services with agricultural applications1 as well as the main ones available from ,,usda and the ,state land-grant institutions4 ,most of these information networks are paid for by the user based on the amount of use4 ,many charge an initial fee1 and then most charge the user by the amount of time he or she spends on the system4 ,no one computer system or online system may be adequate for everyone4 ,there are many good systems1 and different systems are good for different tasks4 #a4 ,,agnet ,,agnet is a major online information and problem-solving service for farmers1 ranchers1 agribusinesses1 and homes4 ,it is sponsored jointly by five ,state ,cooperative ,extension ,services--,nebraska1 ,montana1 ,north ,dakota1 ,south ,dakota1 and ,washington--and operated by the ,university of ,nebraska4 ,county ,extension offices in several ,states participate1 and farmers in nearly all the #ej ,states and ,canada subscribe to ,,agnet4 ,it helps people make marketing and production decisions and solve agricultural management problems1 and it provides current information on market conditions and news items4 ,it offers cash and futures market reports1 international market reports from the ,u4,s4 ,department of ,agriculture 7,,usda7 ,foreign ,agricultural ,service 7,,fas71 reports and report abstracts from the ,,usda's ,economic ,research ,service and ,statistical ,reporting ,service1 and market comments by ,extension ,service economists4 ,also available are electronic mail service and electronic conferencing1 which allows groups of users with similar interests to share ideas and information4 ,farmers and ranchers who have computer terminals with communication capability can access ,,agnet4 ,others can tap into ,,agnet through their county ,extension services4 ,,agnet subscribers are typically agricultural lenders and bankers4 ,extension specialists1 farm managers1 home economists1 agricultural consulting firms1 farmers and ranchers1 and exporters of agricultural commodities4 ,,address3 ,,agnet ,university of ,nebraska #aje ,miller ,hall ,university of ,nebraska ,lincoln1 ,,ne #fhehc #b4 ,,agricoia ,,agricoia is an online information service produced by the ,national ,agricultural ,library 7,,nad of ,,usda71 and is available commercially from a number of sources 7including ,,dialog and ,bibliographic ,retrieval ,services74 ,it provides comprehensive access to information on published literature pertaining to agriculture4 ,,agricoia is the catalog and index for ,,nal and covers materials published since #aigj4 ,it includes about #a4e million citations4 ,,agricoia contains citations to worldwide published books1 serial titles1 and journal articles on agriculture and related subjects4 ,in addition to bibliographic citations of published literature1 the system offers information through several specialized subfiles2 these subfiles include brucellosis 7,,bru71 environmental impact statements covering #aigg and #aigh 7,,env71 and the ,food and ,nutrition ,information ,center1 which emphasizes human nutrition research and education and food technology 7,,fnc74 ,librarians are the main users of this system4 ,,address3 ,to find out more about ,,agricoia1 contact3 ,educational ,resources ,staff ,national ,agricultural ,library ,room #adjb ,beltsville1 ,,md #bjgje #c4 ,agri,data ,network ,agri,data is a private information and computing network specializing in agriculture4 ,it offers immediate access to more than #aj1jjj pages of continuously updated business1 financial1 marketing1 weather1 and price information1 as well as analyses and recommendations from its own and other reporters1 analysts1 economists1 meteorologists1 and researchers4 ,it offers several different services1 including an online computing service that allows users to access a library of microcomputer software programs that can be transferred to the user's microcomputer2 an agricultural production technology service offering data bases from #dj land-grant universities and from agricultural1 chemical1 fertilizer1 equipment1 seed1 and feed companies2 an electronic yellow pages1 or product service directory for farmers2 and electronic mail4 ,,address3 ,agri,data ,resources1 ,inc4 #bje ,west ,highland ,ave4 ,milwaukee1 ,,wi #ecbjc #d4 ,agri-,markets ,data ,service 7,,amds7 ,agri-,markets ,data ,service is an agricultural data base service offered by ,capital ,publications in ,arlington1 ,va4 ,the service provides market information1 such as prices and shipments1 as well as commentary and other information4 ,it gives daily and weekly market commentary on local and national market activity in livestock1 grain1 fruits and vegetables1 and poultry and dairy products4 ,,address3 ,agri-,markets ,data ,service #acjj ,north #agth ,st41 ,suite #afjj ,arlington1 ,,va #bbbji #e4 ,,ams ,market ,news ,network ,the ,,usda ,agricultural ,marketing ,service 7,,ams7 has a ,market ,news ,telecommunications ,system that reports up-to-the-minute information on commodity prices1 demand1 and movement4 ,the system transmits between #gjj and #ijj different reports each day on more than #aej farm commodities4 ,each report is re-transmitted an average of #cj times4 ,the initial use of this market news system is to transmit reports to the news media and among market news offices2 firms and individuals may also subscribe at their own cost4 ,in addition1 ,,ams and the ,public ,broadcasting ,service deliver market information directly to farmers via a television captioning system called ,farm ,market ,,infodata1 available in several cities around the country4 ,by selecting a special channel on a closed captioning decoder1 anyone within the broadcast coverage area of the participating public television station may receive the market information4 ,additional stations in a number of ,states have instituted this service on their own4 ,for more information1 contact3 ,,ams ,communications and ,operations ,branch ,administrative ,services ,division1 ,room #jjib ,u4,s4 ,department of ,agriculture ,washington1 ,d4,c4 #bjbej #f4 ,aut,ex ,systems ,aut,ex ,systems designs and operates computer-based communications systems which link buyers and sellers in specific industries4 ,two agricultural services are its ,produce ,network and its ,floral ,marketing ,network4 ,subscribers to the networks use ,aut,ex supplied terminals to access a nationwide communications network that includes buyer and seller offers4 ,this online data communications system offers pretrading information4 ,the terminal prints information needed to compare buying and selling opportunities in fresh fruits and vegetables1 as well as floral products4 ,the company is owned by ,xerox4 ,,address3 ,aut,ex ,systems #ee ,william ,st4 ,wellesley1 ,,ma #jbaha #g4 ,chase ,econometrics ,chase ,econometrics1 a subsidiary of ,chase ,manhattan ,bank1 offers economic and financial information and analyses in the areas of industrial economics1 energy1 fertilizer1 minerals1 international economics1 ,u4,s4 economics1 and agriculture through its information system4 ,data and forecasting services on agribusiness cover international1 national1 regional1 and statewide levels4 ,subscribers receive regular reports and analyses1 and also have access to a number of historical and forecast data bases acquired through internal data collection activities or from other organizations4 ,many of its customers are large food and agribusiness firms4 ,,address3 ,chase ,econometrics #aej ,monument ,rd4 ,bala ,cynwyd1 ,,pa #aijjd #h4 ,,cmn 7,computerized ,management ,network7 ,developed by ,virginia ,polytechnic ,institute and ,state ,university as a national information system for use by ,state ,extension ,services1 ,,cmn helps ,extension workers in solving problems1 retrieving information1 and evaluating programs4 ,to date1 many ,,cmn programs have provided the foundation for several highly successful ,extension programs4 ,two of the most popular are the ,simplified ,dairy ,cattle ,feeding ,program1 which has had a substantial impact on the economics of feeding dairy herds1 and ,,coin1 which provides low-cost user access to ,,usda reports on marketing1 futures1 and summary information on all major crops and livestock enterprises4 ,the ,,cmn system is designed to be used by people who have no special training with computers1 and is available nationwide and in ,canada4 ,,address3 ,,cmn ,virginia ,cooperative ,extension ,service ,plaza ,i1 ,bldg4 ,d ,blacksburg1 ,,va #bdjfa #i4 ,,coin 7,computerized ,outlook and ,information ,network7 ,,coin is a nationwide source of information from the ,extension ,service1 which can be accessed by ,state and county extension staff1 as well as by researchers1 farmers1 and agribusiness4 ,it contains ,,usda outlook1 market1 and other information on a national computer network4 ,information from the ,,usda which is available through ,,coin includes ,statistical ,reporting ,service 7,,srs7 ,crop ,reporting ,board reports4 ,economic ,research ,service 7,,ers7 economic situation summaries4 ,world ,agricultural ,outlook ,board reports on world agriculture supply and demand4 ,foreign ,agricultural ,service 7,,fas7 weekly roundup of world production and trade reports4 ,agricultural ,marketing ,service 7,,ams7 summary of daily grain market prices1 and ,,usda news releases4 ,some ,states use a multi-,state computer network1 or an in-,state computer system1 or both1 to transfer agricultural outlook and production information to county offices and disseminate it to the general public4 ,state ,extension outlook specialists load their outlook analyses directly onto ,,coin 7with a remote terminal7 many times throughout the year4 ,,coin is available on the ,computerized ,management ,network 7,,cmn7 and through ,,usda ,,online 7see those entries on this list74 #aj4 ,compu,serve ,compu,serve ,information ,service offers access to more than #ejj data bases4 ,some of the subjects of particular interest to farmers include agribusiness1 agricultural news1 finance and investment1 news1 weather1 specific commodities including cotton futures prices and cattle prices1 and the ,commodity ,news ,service data4 ,it also offers electronic shopping and banking1 electronic mail1 hobby and special interest newsletters1 and games4 ,,address3 ,compu,serve ,incorporated #ejjj ,arlington ,centre ,blvd4 ,post ,office ,box #bjbab ,columbus1 ,,oh #dcbbj #aa4 ,,cris--,current ,research ,information ,system ,,cris--,current ,research ,information ,system--is a computer based information storage and retrieval system4 ,it covers most of the ,nation's publicly supported agricultural and forestry research1 and contains about #cj1jjj summaries of research projects4 ,the data base is updated monthly4 ,,cris summaries provide information about ongoing research projects conducted or sponsored by ,,usda research agencies1 #eh ,state agricultural experiment stations1 #ag ,state forestry schools1 #bh schools of veterinary medicine1 #af land-grant colleges of #ahij1 ,tuskegee ,institute1 and other cooperating ,state institutions4 ,it went online in #aigg4 ,through this retrieval system1 an individual can obtain a brief description of the research1 along with the investigators' names1 performing organization and location1 current progress1 and a list of the latest publications resulting from the research4 ,,cris inhouse search services are provided primarily to research scientists and research managers in ,,usda and ,state participating institutions4 ,the public can directly access the ,,cris data base through the ,,dialog online retrieval system4 ,researchers in public and private institutions are the main users of ,,cris4 ,,address3 ,customer ,service ,,dialog ,information ,retrieval ,services1 ,inc4 #cdfj ,hillview ,avenue ,palo ,alto1 ,,ca #idcdj #ab4 ,,dri 7,data ,resources1 ,inc47 ,,dri is a private forecasting service with regional models that forecast acreage planted and harvested1 and yield for all commodities4 ,this service does independent forecasts of production1 prices1 and demand for livestock1 and has a separate program for fertilizer4 ,,dri has software programs for potato producers4 ,some of its main clients are big agricultural supply companies and food processing firms4 ,,address3 ,data ,resources1 ,inc4 #bd ,hartwell ,ave4 ,lexington1 ,,ma #jbagc #ac4 ,,estel 7,extension ,service ,telecommunication ,system7 ,,estel is a pilot project from the ,university of ,maryland's ,cooperative ,extension ,service4 ,it provides farmers with information via a microprocessor or videotex equipment1 which receives the information and displays it on a video screen4 ,the videotex equipment may be cheaper to purchase than a microcomputer4 ,,estel provides current information on market news1 local weather conditions1 pesticides1 production information1 and energy conservation tips1 as well as home economics and #d-;,h programs4 ,,address3 ,,estel 7,extension ,service ,telecommunication ,system7 ,maryland ,cooperative ,extension ,service ,university of ,maryland ,college ,park1 ,,md #bjgdb #ad4 ,farm ,bureau ,,acres ,the ,american ,farm ,bureau ,federation has a program to provide marketing information and advice for its members4 ,known as ,farm ,bureau ,,acres1 this marketing information project involves several ,state farm bureaus4 ,,afbf members can retrieve information from the host computers via telephone hookup and1 at the same time1 send messages to ,state computers1 thereby providing a two-way daily contact between ,state coordinators and farmer-members4 ,for more information1 contact your county or ,state ,farm ,bureau4 #ae4 ,firsthand ,based on ,french videotex technology known as ,teletel1 ,firsthand is a transactional videotex system originally started by the ,first ,bank ,system of ,minneapolis and now available in other areas too4 ,with this system1 participants can access agribusiness bookkeeping systems2 weather1 commodity1 and financial reports2 and domestic and international news through a local telephone number4 ,clients can also do their shopping electronically from a catalog1 and obtain commodity reports and other agribusiness information offered by other information providers4 ,they can see their bank statements and balances1 make transfers between accounts1 and pay bills electronically4 ,,address3 ,videotex #bbj ,soo ,line ,bldg4 ,minneapolis1 ,,mn #eedjb #af4 ,grassroots ,grassroots is a ,canadian videotex system that provides agribusiness with comprehensive1 up-to-date information4 ,it helps farmers make effective purchasing1 operating1 financing1 and marketing decisions4 ,it offers market information on current and future prices of all major agricultural commodities1 and carries farm management programs as well4 ,it also offers information from companies offering products and services of interest to agriculture1 including material on chemicals1 fertilizers1 equipment1 real estate1 seed1 feed1 grain1 and livestock4 ,material on financial services1 banking1 and insurance is updated daily4 ,,address3 ,infomart #afd ,merton ,st4 ,toronto1 ,ontario1 ,,canada ,m#d,s #c;,a#h #ag4 ,instant ,update ,instant ,update is a timesharing information delivery system designed for the ,professional ,farmers of ,america4 ,the system offers its users a variety of services and information1 including electronic mail1 agribusiness news and analyses1 weather reports1 and technical information4 ,,address3 ,instant ,update ,professional ,farmers of ,america #bai ,parkade ,cedar ,falls1 ,,ia #ejfac #ah4 ,market ,data ,systems1 ,inc4 ,market ,data ,systems carries information from #ac commodity exchanges for the benefit of customers4 ,it leases terminals on which to receive the information4 ,,address3 ,market ,data ,systems1 ,inc4 #chce lamar ,ave4 ,memphis1 ,,tn #chaah #ai4 ,,nema 7,national ,electronic ,marketing ,association1 ,inc47 ,,nema offers marketing firms computerized marketing systems for many agricultural products4 ,it is a way of linking buyers and sellers without having to first transport the products to market4 ,electronic marketing enables buyers and sellers to negotiate transactions in a public market while remaining in their own offices4 ,,nema is developing several marketing systems for agricultural markets4 ,,nema was developed by ,virginia ,tech ,extension and ,research staff in cooperation with the ,virginia ,department of ,agriculture and ,commerce and ,,ams4 ,through a telephone hookup to computer terminals in any location1 buyers and sellers are brought together at a specific time to determine the price1 on a competitive basis1 for the products being offered for sale4 ,prospective buyers can obtain written descriptions of the products before sale time4 ,one pricing technique is a computerized auction process1 where the computer acts as the auctioneer4 ,during the auction1 the computer drops the asking price until a bid is received1 then raises the price from that point until there is only one bidder left4 ,at the end of a sale1 the highest bidders receive summaries of their purchases4 ,the products are shipped efficiently from seller to buyer4 ,state ,cooperative ,extension ,services1 producers' organizations4 ,state departments of agriculture1 and other agencies have developed and implemented ,,nema1 as well as some other electronic marketing systems in the ,united ,states4 ,today computerized systems sell slaughter and feeder livestock1 cotton1 and shell eggs4 ,this system is for market agents and buyers4 ,,address3 ,national ,electronic ,marketing ,assn41 ,inc4 ,p4,o4 ,box #gbb ,christiansburg1 ,,va #bdjgc #bj4 ,,npirs 7,national ,pesticide ,information ,retrieval ,system7 ,,npirs is a nationally accessible online data base containing information about all pesticides registered with the ,environmental ,protection ,agency1 and indicating which are registered for use against specific pests on specific crops or sites4 ,states can also insert information about ,state pesticide registrations4 ,purdue ,university is developing the system under a cooperative agreement with ,,usda and is managing the data base1 which uses facilities provided by ,martin-,marietta1 ,inc4 ,,address3 ,national ,pesticide ,information ,retrieval ,system ,entomology ,hall ,purdue ,university ,west ,lafayette1 ,,in #dgijg #ba4 ,rural ,ventures ,rural ,ventures offers courses and data1 recommends solutions to problems of small farmers1 and promotes economic efficiency in small-scale agriculture and food processing enterprises4 ,it is a joint venture by ,control ,data ,corporation and other groups1 which started with a project in ,princeton1 ,minnesota4 ,a ,rural ,venture project gives farmers the capability to determine the optimum selection of crops1 livestock1 and equipment1 and offers a full range of computer-based education and training programs4 ,,address3 ,rural ,ventures1 ,inc4 #abj ,south ,la,grande ,ave4 ,princeton1 ,,mn #eecga #bb4 ,the ,source ,the ,source1 a subsidiary of ,reader's ,digest1 provides access to more than #a1bjj programs and services in a variety of subject areas1 including agriculture4 ,it carries the ,commodity ,news ,service general news reports and daily price activities for major commodities4 ,the system also supplies news and commentary on current business trends along with updated listings of stocks1 bonds1 commodities1 and futures4 ,,address3 ,the ,source ,source ,telecomputing #afaf ,anderson ,road ,mc,lean1 ,,va #bbajb #bc4 ,telplan ,telplan is a timesharing computer service with several interactive problem-solving packages4 ,its agricultural programs are in the areas of farm finance and animal nutrition1 and it offers family finance and human nutrition programs as well4 ,it is operated by ,michigan ,state ,university and is available nationwide4 ,,address3 ,telplan--,michigan ,state ,university ,room #bg ,agriculture ,hall ,department of ,agricultural ,economics ,michigan ,state ,university ,east ,lansing1 ,ml #dhhbd-ajci #bd4 ,,usda ,online ,,usda ,online delivers news and other current information from ,,usda's ,office of ,information4 ,services include the following reports as they are released3 7#a7 ,,usda national news releases about policy and program announcements1 7#b7 ,,usda regional and ,state news releases about program announcements1 7#c7 outlook and situation report summaries1 7#d7 ,crop ,reporting ,board reports1 report highlights1 and summaries1 7#e7 ,foreign ,agricultural ,service reports and announcements on foreign crops1 world production1 and trade1 7#f7 ,economic ,research ,service report abstracts1 7#g7 a daily agricultural news summary called ,,ag a4m41 and 7#h7 a weekly ,farm ,paper ,letter for farm magazine and newspaper editors and others interested in the summary and highlights of ,,usda reports for the week4 ,through ,,usda ,online1 users can also access ,,coin 7see p4 #bd-be7 and several other data bases4 ,another communications network available to users of ,,usda ,online is an electronic mail service linking various offices at ,,usda and the ,state ,extension ,services1 land-grant ,universities1 ,state ,departments of ,agriculture1 other ,federal and ,state agencies1 and other organizations interested in agriculture4 ,,address3 ,news ,division1 ,room #djd-;,a ,office of ,information ,u4,s4 ,department of ,agriculture ,washington1 ,d4,c4 #bjbej ,rural ,telephone ,lines ,one question to consider when you are selecting a computer system to be used in a rural area is whether your telephone line is adequate for potential users in your area4 ,you must have a private line4 ,line quality is also important2 excessive line noise or dips and surges in power may cause the communications system to disconnect you4 ,in the future1 farmers will be able to get information by satellite rather than through the phone1 which could eventually be a cost saver for those who are far from the information source4 ,other ,computer ,developments at ,,usda ,besides online information services1 there are several other computer developments available through ,,usda that are of use to farmers and ranchers4 ,many ,,usda agencies are using computers to disseminate information4 ,here is a partial list3 ,since #aiha1 the ,foreign ,agricultural ,service 7,,fas7 has been releasing information electronically that previously had been distributed as publications through the mail4 ,the ,,fas electronic information system includes agricultural trade leads received from agricultural attaches relating to potential purchases of commodities by foreign buyers4 ,the ,federal ,crop ,insurance ,corporation 7,,fcic71 in cooperation with the ,extension ,service1 has developed two software packages to help farmers make decisions about the kind and amount of crop insurance they will need4 ,,arcie 7,all ,risk ,crop ,insurance ,evaluation7 comes in mini and complete versions4 ,mini-,,arcie takes individual farm data and calculates a projected cash flow under various yield conditions with and without crop insurance4 ,it takes about #ae minutes to run4 ,complete-,,arcie1 which takes about an hour1 analyzes risk and loss probabilities over an extended period4 ,it prompts farmers to enter expected prices and yields1 and to include historical data4 ,both programs examine the insurance options available--both public and private--and show how these options compare and how they complement each other4 ,federal ,crop ,insurance is currently available on about #cj major crops nationwide4 ,these programs are designed to run on most microcomputer models4 ,your ,state ,extension ,service1 ,state ,vocational ,education ,office1 or your local crop insurance agent may already have the programs4 ,for further information1 including how to obtain a copy of the program1 write to3 ,the ,,arcie ,project ,department of ,agricultural ,economics #ajg ,agricultural ,building ,texas ,a,m ,university ,college ,station1 ,,tx #gghdj ,the ,agricultural ,stabilization and ,conservation ,service 7,,ascs7 is planning to put small computers into all its county offices starting in #aihe4 ,they will keep lists of farmers and their acreage allotments and bases1 record set-aside histories1 and record and maintain the other myriad facts necessary to make the ,,usda farm programs work4 ,the system will keep farm records1 addresses for mailings1 election registers1 and records of payments4 ,even checks to pay farmers will be produced by the decentralized county computer systems4 ,the computers will also be tied into ,state systems and a central computer for some recordkeeping functions1 and can be used for electronic mail and other communications4 ,one function of the new system will be to mesh ,,fas trade opportunity leads into the ,,ascs data base4 ,this will permit a farmer or local agribusiness person to go into the ,,ascs office and immediately learn about trade leads reported by agricultural attaches4 ,this program will go into operation during the mid-#aihj's4 ,the ,economic ,research ,service 7,,ers7 releases its ,outlook and ,situation reports through ,,agnet4 ,summaries of these are available through ,,usda ,online4 ,learning ,more ,about ,computers on the ,farm ,the computer field is changing so fast that it is difficult to keep up with the changes4 ,one way to keep current is to join a users group for your particular brand of computer1 or an agricultural users group4 ,another way to get up-to-date information about new computer hardware and software products is to read a private newsletter4 ,some of these are3 ,agri,comp #ajja ,east ,walnut1 ,suite #bja ,columbia1 ,,mo #febja ,agricultural ,computing ,doane-,western1 ,inc4 #hijj ,manchester ,road ,st4 ,louis1 ,,mo #fcadd ,agricultural ,microcomputing ,ridgetown ,college of ,agricultural ,technology ,ridgetown1 ,ontario ,,canada ,,nop #b;,,co ,compu-,farm ,alberta ,agricultural ,box #bjjj ,olds1 ,alberta ,,canada ,,tom #a,,po ,computer ,farming ,newsletter ,lloyd ,dinkins ,p4,o4 ,box #bbfdb ,memphis1 ,,tn #chabb ,farm ,computer ,news ,successful ,farming #agaf ,locust ,street ,des ,moines1 ,,ia #ejccf ,friendly ,farm ,computer ,newsletter ,,fbs ,systems1 ,inc4 ,p4,o4 ,box #bja ,aledo1 ,,il #fabca ,glossary of ,computer ,terms ,listed below are some of the shorthand or jargon terms in the computer field4 ,understanding these terms will help you discuss hardware and software systems and their operation4 ,,address3 ,a number specifying a particular location in the computer's memory4 ,,basic 7,beginner's ,all-purpose ,symbolic ,instruction ,code73 ,a relatively easy-to-use computer language that comes with most small and personal computer systems4 ,,baud ,,rate3 ,the speed at which information is exchanged over communications lines1 generally expressed in characters per second4 #cjj baud is the most common rate4 ,it is equivalent to #cj characters per second4 ,,binary3 ,a two-digit numbering system based on the digits #j and #a4 ,it is the basis for calculations on all computers1 and the basis for storing and retrieving information1 including alphabet characters4 ,,bit3 ,the smallest unit of information the computer recognizes4 ,a bit is represented by the presence or absence of an electronic pulse1 #j or #a4 ,,bug3 ,a fault or error in a computer program4 ,,byte3 ,a byte is composed of several bits1 and is used to represent one character--such as a letter1 number1 or punctuation mark4 ,the older microcomputer systems used #h bits per byte1 but the newer ones are based on #af or #cb bits per byte4 ,,chip3 ,a thin silicon wafer on which electronic components are deposited lithographically in the form of integrated circuits4 ,,cobol 7,common ,business-,oriented ,language73 ,a high-level programing language widely used in business applications4 ,,computer ,,network3 ,two or more computers that are connected so they can exchange information4 ,,computer ,,program3 ,a collection of instructions that together direct the computer to perform a particular function4 ,,cp_/,m 7,control ,program for ,microprocessors73 ,a popular operating system for small computers4 ,,cpu 7,central ,processing ,unit73 ,the part of the computer that controls and organizes the operations of the other parts of the computer and does the calculations4 ,,crt 7,cathode ,ray ,tube73 ,a video screen that can be used for viewing output4 ,,data3 ,the information1 such as numbers or letters1 that are put into the computer system4 ,,debug3 ,to remove the errors in a computer program4 ,,diagnostic3 ,a program for detecting and isolating a problem or mistake in the computer system2 features that allow systems or equipment to self-test for flaws4 ,,disk3 ,a revolving plate on which data and programs are stored4 ,also called ,,diskette4 ,,disk ,,drive3 ,a part of the computer system that reads and writes material on the disk4 ,it can be part of the main hardware or a peripheral attached to the system4 ,,documentation3 #a4 ,the instruction manual for a program 7software7 or piece of hardware4 #b4 ,the process of describing a computer program so others using the program can see how it works4 ,,downtime3 ,any time a computer is not available or not working because of a machine fault or failure4 ,downtime includes repair delay time1 repair time1 and machine-spoiled work time4 ,,edit3 ,to change or add data to an existing document or program4 ,,floppy ,,disk3 ,a small1 flexible storage device made of magnetic material4 ,it looks like a soft phonograph record and is usually #e inches or #h inches in diameter4 ,,fortran 7,f,o,rmula ,t,r,a,nslation73 ,a computer language widely used to solve scientific and engineering problems1 mainly for large commercial systems4 ,,garbage3 ,meaningless information4 ,,hard ,,copy3 ,a printout on paper of information from the computer4 ,,hardware3 ,all the physical parts of the computer system1 including the computer itself1 the input and output equipment and peripherals1 and the physical disk or tape equipment4 7,the computer programs are software47 ,,input3 ,the data that are put into the computer1 or the process of putting it in4 ,,instruction3 ,a group of bits that designates a specific computer operation4 ,,integrated ,,circuit3 ,an electronic circuit or combination of circuits contained on semiconductor material1 or chip4 ,,interactive3 ,a computer system that allows two-way communication between the user and the computer4 ,,interface3 ,a piece of equipment used to connect two parts of a computer system that cannot interact directly with each other4 ,k 7kilobyte73 ,a measure of computer memory capacity4 ,each ,k of information is #a1jbd bytes4 ,,load3 ,to put data or programs into a computer4 ,,magnetic ,,tape3 ,a recording device used to store programs and data4 ,it resembles audio tape used in tape recorders4 ,,memory3 ,that part of the computer that stores information4 ,also1 the external material1 such as floppy disks1 hard disks1 or cassette tapes that store information4 ,,microcomputer3 ,a small computer in which the ,,cpu is an integrated circuit deposited on a silicon chip4 ,,microprocessor3 ,a silicon chip that is the central1 controlling part of the computer4 ,,minicomputer3 ,a computer that is usually larger1 more powerful1 and more expensive than a microcomputer1 but is smaller than a mainframe in memory and functions4 ,,modem 7,m,o,dulator_/ ,d,e,modulator73 ,a device used to attach a computer or one of its devices to a communication line1 often a telephone4 ,,operating ,,system3 ,a special group of programs which controls the overall operation of a computer system4 ,it mediates between the hardware and the particular software program4 ,,output3 ,the information generated by a computer4 ,,peripheral3 ,a device1 such as a ,,crt1 disk drive1 or printer1 used for entering or storing data into1 or retrieving it from1 the computer system4 ,,printer3 ,an output device to print the information from a computer4 ,,program3 ,a set of coded instructions directing a computer to perform a particular function4 ,,programing ,,language3 ,a special language of words and rules that is used to write programs so the computer can understand them4 ,,ram 7,random ,access ,memory73 ,the portion of the computer's memory in which data1 instructions1 and other information are stored temporarily4 ,also called read-write memory4 ,,rom 7,read ,only ,memory73 ,the portion of the computer's memory that contains information and instructions that are stored permanently4 ,this memory cannot be altered or added to4 ,,semiconductor3 ,a material such as silicon with a conductivity between that of a metal and an insulator4 ,it is used in the manufacture of solid-state devices such as diodes1 transistors1 and the complex integrated circuits that comprise computer logic circuits4 ,,software3 ,a general term for computer programs1 procedural rules1 and sometimes the documentation involved in the operation of a computer4 ,,system3 ,the computer and all its related components1 including hardware and software1 that work together4 ,,terminal3 ,a peripheral device through which information is entered into or extracted from the computer1 usually with a keyboard and an output device such as a ,,crt or printer4 ,,timesharing3 ,a method by which more than one person can use a computer at the same time at separate terminals4 ,,turnkey ,,system3 ,a computer system that has all hardware and software installed4 ,supposedly1 all you have to do is turn it on4 ,,word ,,processing3 ,typing1 editing1 storing1 and printing text with a computer4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the mention of commercial products1 services1 or companies does not constitute endorsement by the ,u4,s4 ,department of ,agriculture4 ,if additional computer services of interest to the agricultural community are available1 we would be glad to consider them for inclusion in possible revisions of this bulletin4 99 99 99 99 99 ,transcribers ,note ,the title ,computor ,system ,components 7p4 #ag7 was changed to ,computer 4444 ,under ,,coin 7p4 #be7 the reference to ,computer ,management ,network was corrected to ,computerized 4444