Electronics
Feb 1, 1999 12:00 PM
Analyze your farm's potential
Pinpoint areas of strength and weakness in your operation and streamline your paperwork with the Perception Ratio/Index Analysis program from FMS/Harvest.
The program includes various ratio and index calculations for analyzing your farm financial data and gives you guidelines for ratios and indices developed by the Ferguson Group. By using this system, you also can increase your profits, reverse negative trends, improve strengths, examine long-term profitability and pinpoint where management skills need to be concentrated, according to the software company.
The system integrates with the company's Perception Accounting program, and the ratio/index program gets all the information for analysis from the data you've entered in the accounting program. Minimum system requirements include a Pentium 90 Mhz, 16 mb of RAM, VGA monitor, Windows '95, 25 mb of free hard-drive space, Windows '95 compatible printer and a CD-ROM. A free trial version of
Perception Accounting, Perception Payroll and Perception Ratio/Index Analysis is available. Contact FMS/Harvest, Dept. FIN, 1200 E. Haven Ave., New Lenox, IL 60451, 800/992-2814 .
Control inputs as you go
Micro-trak Systems is touting its new MT-9000 automatic rate control system as its top-of-the-line unit. The system monitors 3 to 6 boom sections and is GPS or PC compatible.
It monitors liquid, dry or anhydrous application rates and can provide automatic rate control using a flowmeter, a pressure sensor or a combination of the two. Calibration is six simple steps and you're on your way. It comes equipped with a 1-in. stainless steel flowmeter, a 1-in. servo valve, speed and flow sensors and weatherproof connectors. The unit also features a port for laptop hookup. Price range: $1,950 to $2,050. Contact Micro-Trak Systems Inc., Dept. FIN, Box 99, Eagle Lake, MN 56024, 800/328-9613.
Field task controller
Take crop scouting to the next level with Springhill Engineering's AIM navigation system, the new task controller for GPS guidance, control, navigation and mapping.
A Pentium 133 Mhz microprocessor computer with a 1.2-gigabyte hard drive and 32 megabytes of RAM features a Windows '95 operating system. A waterproof Lightbar unit can be mounted in the cab or on the hood of your machine for easy viewing. Rows of lights with bright red, yellow and green LEDs show you if you're on track and flash if you're nearing a hazard in the field.
Software programs include Field Mapping, Sample & Waypoint Navigation, Parallel Swath Guidance, Application Rate Management and Yield Mapping. AIM interfaces with most common electronic rate controllers, yield monitors and other similar equipment. Contact Springhill Engineering, Dept. FIN, 90 W. Central Ave., Belgrade, MT 59714, 406/388-1993.
Track records in the field
Track input and machinery use while in the field when you use Farm Works' new Trac Mate software program for handheld PCs.
First you set up a spreadsheet with fields for the inputs and/or machinery you would like to track using the company's Farm Trac software for desktop PCs. Th is information is downloaded into a palmtop PC using the Trac Mate software. You can then update information out in the field or in the machine shop. To update and calculate records in Farm Trac, simply connect your handheld PC to your desktop computer and transfer all the entries into your spreadsheet.
Price $200.
The company also is planning to create Stock Mate for livestock records and Site Mate for GPS-based mapping. Contact Farm Works Software, Dept. FIN, Box 250, Hamilton, IN 46742, 800/225-2848.
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