Progress 07/01/01 to 06/30/05
Outputs
This overall project began with development of computer software for inexpensive (and sometimes inept!) microcomputers in the late 70's. Microcomputer programs were developed on TRS-80 microcomputers and distributed to farmers for use on their farms. As more modern home computers were developed, programs were migrated to them. Computer languages used included FORTRAN, BASIC, QUICKBASIC, CLIPPER, and Visual FoxPro. When Windows systems came out in the mid- 90s, some of the programs were rewritten for Windows. Dr. John E. Waldrop (MSU AGECON Professor, deceased) played a major role in getting this project started. He was a special person with many gifts. He was a sounding board for many computing concepts embodied in early programs and publications for the project. Wes Wolfe (currently in MSU AGECON department) was heavily involved in the project at one time, and has several publications (Landform was very important and popular for several years) to his credit that were
partially developed through the project. The first students involved in the project were Computer Science students. Six CS students [Mike Argo - 1980 (Currently in MSU ITS, Mike played a major role in an early Farm Records program that Quicken tended to mimic), Lee Fouche'- 1981 (who assisted me in development of the first Fishy program), Sid Ishee - 1985, Bill Macphail - 1985, Jason Leng - 1987, and Anthony Prince - 1988], used this project as the basis for their Masters' Thesis. Ten other CS students (Pam Webb, Dwight McWilliams, Terry Lee, Norman Wilkes, Ellen Walker, David White, Leah Livingston (Currently MSU ITS), Ryan Hickel, Jay Burrell (Currently MSU ITS), and Mike Whitten) were Research Assistants / Programmers on the project, and assisted in preparation of bulletins supporting the project. One Agricultural Economics student - Brent Marshall used the project as the basis for his Masters' Thesis in 1998. Corey Miller - 1999-2000 (currently on AGECON Staff) was a driving force
in several computer programs and supporting bulletins for the project. Computer program development areas included Farm Records, Catfish, Timber, Rural Taxation Systems, and Animal Management. The idea was to blend Computer Expertise with sound Agricultural knowledge and principles. Current programs include Farm-Raised Catfish production management, Timber Inventory, and animal (mainly cattle) production management.
Impacts
The Farm Records program was distributed in all 50 states and several foreign countries. It was used 12 years before being replaced by a commercial product (Quicken). Fish Production Management. Fishy is the most durable product produced. It was first published in 1983. After getting established, Fishy has been used each year since then on 20%-50% of all U. S. farm-raised catfish acreage. Savings are difficult to estimate, but since 2002, catfish producers have been paying in excess of $20,000 yearly for the use of Fishy. By conservative estimate, Fishy has saved catfish farmers at least $25,000 per year for the past 21 years. Current Fishy paid installed base is around 35000 acres (22% of U. S. catfish industry). Timber programs developed are mainly standing tree inventory programs. Tallyman has been distributed to more than 550 Forestry Consultants and timberland owners. There is a strong demand for such programs, mainly from small Forestry Consultants. Estimated
direct benefits to consultants and timberland owners are $30,000 per year, for the past 25 years. Rural Taxation Systems programs have been replaced by commercial offerings. At one time they were used in 55 MS local governments, including county and city governments in 11 MS counties and city governments in six additional MS cities. Estimated savings by MS local governments (from 1985 - 2000) are $400,000. The Animal Management programs benefited cattle and swine producers. MSU Cattle was distributed to 120 producers. Its main impact was on the MSU Experiment Station system. Estimated economic impact is $150,000.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02
Outputs
This project is used for development and support of computer software for use by farm production units. Some of the software is of interest for other Researchers, and many Extension personnel use it in their work. Software supported includes Fishy, a Catfish production management program, TallyMan, a Timber Inventory program, and MSU Cattle, a Cattle Management program. On-line distribution of all these programs is done via: http://www.agecon.msstate.edu/wek.
Impacts
Usage of Visual Fishy has increased to around 481 producers (90%+ in MS, AR, AL, and LA), which translates to around 40% of the U. S. farm-raised catfish industry in numbers of producers. The Fishy industry 'share' would be much higher, since Fishy is used by most large catfish operations. Fishy is also used abroad. Economics: FISHY helps fish farmers increase profits by enabling them to create organized historical records, by giving them a look into the future for future harvests, feed needs, and fingerling needs. It can help them decide whether or not to build new ponds, since it can do multi-year projections. Visual Fishy will determine profitability at harvest. Ecology: Fishy encourages production of a healthy, environmentally sound product, with almost no released effluents, and no waste disposal problems at production sites. There are 108 users of MSU Cattle, the most prominent users being MSU Experiment Stations. This program is used to maintain cattle
inventories, and to record and report major events associated with production of cows, calves and stockers. Although TallyMan is a DOS-based application, it is still popular with Forestry Consultants and forest industries. Since it is used mostly on private landowner's properties, it greatly impacts small private timberland owner. Economics: Forestry is usually the number two 'crop' in Mississippi. TallyMan, a public domain computer program, lowers transaction costs. There are 575 copies of TallyMan in use worldwide. The Principal Investigator retired on June 30, 2002 but supported software through December 31, 2002.
Publications
- Killcreas, Wallace E. Fishy 2002: A Windows-Sensitive Computer Program for Pond-Raised Catfish Production Management Decisions and Reports, Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station Bulletin 1120, April 2002.
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