January 2001 Soy News

Soybeans Today January 2001

Computer program helps farmers with irrigation

by Phillip Fruechting

A computer program developed by U of A Division of Agriculture scientists can help producers manage water resources. (photo by Fred Miller)

An irrigation scheduling computer program developed by the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture is helping producers cut production expenses while increasing the profitability and efficiency of their operations.

The program was developed by Jim Ferguson and Don Scott, professors in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas.

"The farmer can use a personal computer to schedule irrigation," said Phil Tacker, extension agricultural engineer.

Tacker said the program was developed with two main goals in mind. First, it stresses the importance of scheduling when a crop should be irrigated. "Timing irrigation is important so the crop gets a good start growing and develops properly for harvest," he said.

Second, the program can be adapted for different methods of irrigation.

The computer program is Windows-compatible and can be downloaded for free from the Cooperative Extension Service web site at www.aragriculture.org/computer/schedule/default.asp.

Tacker said the program is becoming a favorite among farmers because it is easy to use and accurate.

"It is another management tool farmers can use in becoming more efficient and profitable," said Tacker.

Earl Vories, an agricultural engineer at the Northeast Research and Extension Center at Keiser, said, "Most of the funding for the development of the program came from the Soybean Promotion Board."

Vories said that the program has been in use for several years by farmers in Arkansas, Missouri, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. This year, the program also is being used by farmers in Kentucky," said Vories.

"The program was originally developed for use in soybeans but has been used for crops such as cotton, corn and grain sorghum," said Tacker. He estimates 350 Arkansas producers are using the program.

"The program has become the standard for irrigation used on the experimental and research stations in Arkansas," said Tacker.

Soybeans Today January 2001
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For additional information about any board-related activity contact:

Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board
ATTN: Brandy Carroll
P.O. Box 31
Little Rock, AR 72203-0031
Phone: 501-228-1268

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