Computer-based Decision Support Systems to Assist Small-scale Farmers In Taking Advantage of Relevant Technology

摘要

Soybean (Glycine max) is one of the most important and extensively studied agricultural crops. Since 1991, USDA scientists have collected over 156 data sets from the soybean fields of cooperating large-scale growers. GLYCIM/GUICS, a contemporary crop stimulation model, has been used to increase efficiency of crop management, yield prediction, increase profits, and manage resources on large farms. In an effort to develop and test efficient soybean models for small farmers in the mid south, USDA-ARS assigned a cooperative agreement with Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, an 1890 Land Grant Institution. The majority of farms in the United States are small farms. Approximately 90% of all US farms are small farms. Approximately 90% of all farms in the world are small farms. Small farmers need an opportunity to make informed decisions in managing their farm enterprises more efficiently.