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ARS Home » Plains Area » Mandan, North Dakota » Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #131701
Title: CROP SEQUENCE CALCULATOR, V.2, A REVISED COMPUTER PROGRAM TO ASSIST PRODUCERS.

Author
item Krupinsky, Joseph
item Tanaka, Donald
item Merrill, Stephen
item Liebig, Mark
item Hendrickson, John
item Hanson, Jonathan
item Anderson, Randal
item Archer, David
item Charlet, Laurence
item Wright, Sara

Submitted to: Proceedings Sunflower Research Workshop
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/29/2001
Publication Date: 1/17/2002
Citation: Krupinsky, J.M., Tanaka, D.L., Merrill, S.D., Liebig, M.A., Hendrickson, J.R., Hanson, J.D., Anderson, R.L., Archer, D.W., Charlet, L.D., Wright, S.E. 2002. Crop sequence calculator, v.2, A revised computer program to assist producers. p. 63-66. IN: Proc. of the 24th Sunflower Research Workshop, National Sunflower Assoc., Bismarck, ND, 191 p.

Interpretive Summary: The 'Crop Sequence Calculator' (CSC) is designed to help producers assess crop production and the potential returns of ten crops (barley, bean, canola, crambe, flax, pea, safflower, soybean, sunflower, and wheat) as part of a diverse cropping system. The revised CSC was expanded to include an additional year of research data, new information on economics and insects, and a new introduction to the Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory's crop sequence research projects. The 'more information' sections on crop production, economics, plant diseases, weeds, insects, water use, and surface soil properties were improved with additional data, management principles, and internet links. The CSC runs directly from a CD-ROM eliminating the need for additional disk space or installation procedures. By typing in expected crop prices and expected loan deficiency payments, rapid calculations of potential returns are shown. By clicking the 'More Info' buttons adjacent to each summary, research results, management principles, photographs, graphs, and additional information are easily accessed. For example, additional information for plant diseases includes an introduction to plant diseases, plant disease research results, websites for additional plant disease information, and photographs of plant diseases to aid in their identification. Overall, the CSC is a user- friendly tool to help sequence crops when designing diverse cropping systems.

Technical Abstract: The 'Crop Sequence Calculator' is designed to help producers assess crop production and the potential returns of growing ten crops (barley [Hordeum vulgare], bean [Phaseolus vulgaris], canola [Brassica napus], crambe [Crambe abyssinica], flax [Linum usitatissimum], pea [Pisum sativum], safflower, (Carthamus tinctorius) soybean [Glycine max], sunflower [Helianthus annuus], and wheat [Triticum aestivum]) in a diverse cropping system. The revised CSC was expanded to include an additional year of research data, new information on economics and insects, and a new introduction to the Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory's crop sequence research projects. The 'more information' sections on crop production, economics, plant diseases, weeds, insects, water use, and surface soil properties were improved with additional data, management principles, and internet links. The CSC is designed for computers running Windows and works best with a screen area of 800 X 600 pixels or greater. The CSC runs directly from a CD-ROM eliminating the need for additional disk space or installation procedures. By typing in expected crop prices and expected loan deficiency payments, rapid calculations of potential returns are shown. By clicking the 'More Info' buttons adjacent to each summary, research results, management principles, photographs, graphs, and additional information are easily accessed. For example, additional information for plant diseases includes an introduction to plant diseases, plant disease research results, websites for additional plant disease information, and photographs of plant diseases to aid in their identification. Overall, the CSC is a user-friendly tool to help sequence crops when designing diverse cropping systems.