University of Wisconsin - Extension

MADISON -Potato and vegetable growers throughout Wisconsin are successfully using a newly released software system, called RealToolbox Farm Management System, to collect collect, manage and analyze information about their operations.

Deana Sexson, UW-Madison Nutrient and Pest Management specialist, and personnel from RealToolbox designed the system to provide record-keeping and reporting data for potatoes, snap beans, sweet corn, soybeans, peas, carrots, onions, field corn, and alfalfa. The system's simple, functional layout could be modified for use in other industries such as dairy, swine or poultry.

RealToolbox Farm Management System can be downloaded onto a hard drive from CD. An easy-to-use interface allows farmers to report pesticide applications, scouting results, irrigation data, fertilizer applications, cropping histories, and planting, harvest and weather data.

The system was set up to gather information both for individual operations and for the Wisconsin potato and vegetable industry. Data submitted from individual farms to the industry-wide database will be kept confidential; and the combined information will be extremely helpful to growers for comparison of their own operations with industry averages. The software allows collection and analysis of information to establish trends in pest management and will be useful to the industry in setting research priorities.

The RealToolbox Farm Management System was field tested by a group of 16 growers and their comments and suggestions were integrated into the 2003 version of the software. Because of its straightforward and uncomplicated design, and because of its usefulness on-farm, this software system could be of interest to other industries as a data-tracking program to aid in the implementation of best management practices. The 2004 release will include an educational component for training sessions and within-program help.

For more information contact Deana Sexson at the UW Nutrient and Pest Management Program, (608) 265.9798 or dlsexson@wisc.edu"> dlsexson@wisc.edu.