Author
 |
McMaster, Gregory |
|
Dunn, Gale |
|
Weltz, Mark |
|
Palic, Daniel |
|
Submitted to: Biological Systems Simulation Group Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 1/22/2001 Publication Date: 3/26/2001 Citation: Mcmaster, G.S., Dunn, G.H., Weltz, M.A., Palic, D.B. 2001. Application and testing of gpfarm: a farm and ranch decision support system for evaluating economic and environmental sustainability of agricultural enterprises. Biological Systems Simulation Group Proceedings, March 2001. Interpretive Summary: GPFARM is a decision support software package being developed by the Great Plains Systems Research Unit of USDA-ARS. The software package incorporates three stand-alone components: a simulation model, an economic tool, and an agricultural information system. GPFARM can be run with either historical or generated climate data. The economic tool calculates returns and expenses from either simulation output or actual enterprise data. The goal of GPFARM is to provide farmers and ranchers with strategic tools to evaluate long-term effects of management and resource allocation on economic and environmental sustainability. Currently, GPFARM is being tested on farms by producers in three states. Two levels of on-farm testing are being done to validate GPFARM. In the first, referred to an enterprise testing, detailed whole farm or ranch enterprise data are collected on resources, management practices, and ecnomics. The information is input to GPFARM, simulations are run, and output is given to the cooperator for evaluation. The second level of testing, referred to as scientific testing, involves collecting the same information as in enterprise testing, but in addition, soil sampling and analysis is conducted at planting and harvest on select fields. Crop yields are determined by yield monitors and GPS. Recording rain gauges track rainfall events during the growing season. An overall evaluation of the GPFARM decision support system will be presented and reviewed. The presentation will include comparisons of actual and simulated yields, predicted versus measured residual NO3 content, and economic input Technical Abstract: GPFARM is a decision support software package being developed by the Great Plains Systems Research Unit of USDA-ARS. The software package incorporates three stand-alone components: a simulation model, an economic tool, and an agricultural information system. GPFARM can be run with either historical or generated climate data. The economic tool calculates returns and expenses from either simulation output or actual enterprise data. The goal of GPFARM is to provide farmers and ranchers with strategic tools to evaluate long-term effects of management and resource allocation on economic and environmental sustainability. Currently, GPFARM is being tested on farms by producers in three states. Two levels of on-farm testing are being done to validate GPFARM. In the first, referred to an enterprise testing, detailed whole farm or ranch enterprise data are collected on resources, management practices, and ecnomics. The information is input to GPFARM, simulations are run, and output is given to the cooperator for evaluation. The second level of testing, referred to as scientific testing, involves collecting the same information as in enterprise testing, but in addition, soil sampling and analysis is conducted at planting and harvest on select fields. Crop yields are determined by yield monitors and GPS. Recording rain gauges track rainfall events during the growing season. An overall evaluation of the GPFARM decision support system will be presented and reviewed. The presentation will include comparisons of actual and simulated yields, predicted versus measured residual NO3 content, and economic input |
