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Title: THE GPFARM DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR WHOLE FARM/RANCH MANAGEMENT

Author
item Ascough Ii, James
item Hanson, Jonathan
item Shaffer, Marvin
item BUCHLEITER, GERALD - USDA-ARS
item Bartling, Patricia
item Vandenberg, Bruce
item Edmunds, Debora
item Wiles, Lori
item McMaster, Gregory
item Ahuja, Lajpat

Submitted to: Workshop on Computer Applications in Water Management Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The USDA-Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is developing the Great Plains Framework for Agricultural Resource Management (GPFARM) decision support system (DSS) for agricultural resource management. We are concerned that producers nationwide and particularly in the Great Plains, and consultants who support these producers, do not have sufficient access to research results. We are trying to determine if improvement of farm and ranch management decisions can be accomplished through the development and delivery of a DSS for Great Plains agriculture. The general purpose of GPFARM is to provide an operational framework for a whole farm/ranch DSS across the Great Plains including site-specific management, economic and environmental impact analysis; and site database generation; from which alternative agricultural strategies can be developed and tested. GPFARM will result in the development of a DSS that is capable of analyzing 1-10 year farm/ranch level, management plans based on the predicted productivit of selected management options and associated environmental and economic risks. Expected benefits from the development of GPFARM include the following: 1) GPFARM will integrate the most appropriate research findings and associated economic and environmental risks into a whole-system package; 2) GPFARM will provide agricultural consultants, producers, and action agencies with information for making management decisions that promote sustainable agricultural; and 3) GPFARM will provide feedback concerning the most effective technologies and assist in determining areas requiring further research and development.

Technical Abstract: Sustainable agriculture in the Great Plains has become a complex problem that demands consideration of many interrelated factors, processes, and institutions. Across the Plains, agriculture is challenged by the availability of water and nitrogen. Central to meeting this challenge, a need was identified to develop the Great Plains Framework for Agricultural Resource Management (GPFARM) PC-based decision support system (DSS). The basic concept and components of GPFARM are introduced in this paper. GPFARM will provide management support at the whole farm/ranch level with emphasis on cropping and ranching systems, water and nutrient management, pest management, economics, environmental impacts, and risk analysis. GPFARM is targeted for use by agricultural consultants, advanced computer-oriented producers, action agencies, federal and state extension personnel, and research scientists.